Commentary

There are several pending bills in the Oklahoma Legislature that, if passed, will send a clear message to the nation that the state does not support diversity, multiculturalism and women’s reproductive rights. The bills could have a detrimental effect on the state’s economic development.   State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, has introduced a bill that […]

It is time for the franchise tax to go.   Interestingly, it may well be on its way out. Senate Bill 636 provides a needed first step in abolishing this pernicious levy by raising the tax’s liability exemption from $10 to $250. By so raising the exemption, more than half of the filers would no […]

Norman cleanly broke free of the long-term domination of local politics by developers to elect a “smart-growth” mayor, Cindy Simon Rosenthal, over local developer Trey Bates.   Why did the race turn out the way it did? The campaign pitted a strong grassroots-plus-mail effort by the smart-growth candidate (university, core-redevelopment type) against the top-down, targeted […]

In case there is anyone out there who hasn’t heard yet, filmmaker James Cameron, who gave us such believable movies as “Titanic,” has made a new documentary called “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” In it, he claims that several “ossuaries” or limestone tombs unearthed by construction workers in Jerusalem in 1980 once contained the bones […]

America is a nation of immigrants. With the exception of American Indians, all of us are from somewhere else. Many would argue (including me, the grandson of four Italians) that America’s greatness comes from its diversity. Indeed, most who came here over the last 100 years came with little or nothing, and were poorly educated […]

This is the story of a 70-pound greyhound that has brought back the joy of living to an ancient, timid cat.   I’ve always had cats. Fourteen years ago, five cats were on hand to greet Tigger, the first dog to enter my life. Irish and Annie came later, followed by Ashley, the male stray […]

Sometimes I think America has a death wish. As the national nightmare of the Bush administration enters its final months, an amazing candidate steps forward with a constellation of traits rarely seen in a politician. His race is mixed, his education is classical, his powers of expression are superb, and he understands the role that […]