Commentary

An excerpt from the high school textbook “The Story of Oklahoma,” fourth edition, published in 2057: The second decade of this century began during the “Great Recession,” which initially did not affect Oklahoma as significantly as other states. There was ongoing investment in public works, enthusiasm over the new NBA franchise and an increasingly diverse […]

“Five die as tornadoes hit Oklahoma,” Derrick Henry reported on The New York Times website. “Four dead in Oklahoma tornado outbreak,” according to Little Rock’s KATV-Channel 7 broadcast. “The Oklahoman was reporting Tuesday afternoon that the death toll had been upped from five to seven,” according to an Associated Press story. “Seven lives have been […]

The recent tornadoes that killed two people, injured many more and destroyed or damaged dozens of homes, and businesses should encourage Oklahoma leaders to come up with renewed comprehensive safety plans to protect the state’s residents and visitors. This plan might include requiring mobile home parks and apartments to have at least evacuation plans if […]

When I walked into Carolyn Hill’s office in March of 1995, little did I know that my life and the cultural life of our city was about to change. We hit it off immediately. Both of us were native Oklahomans who’d recently moved back. We recognized in each other a passion for the arts and […]

The corporate suits whisked through the newsroom and into the publisher’s office. A visit wasn’t scheduled, so what were they doing in Oklahoma? Something was up. Nothing good ever came from a surprise corporate visit. A few minutes later, the phone rang in my office. The publisher wanted to see me. I panicked, and my […]

Hysteria is coming this November, and every vote is precious. Get ready to hear from the candidates how very important this election is and how both the republic’s and the great state of Oklahoma’s future is in their hands. Yet, I must ask: Why don’t more people actually vote in the elections that touch their […]

These days, as the ground keeps moving out in Jones, I ponder the cultural earthquake and re-drawing of the political landscape we have been going through.  It will probably surprise you to learn that from adolescence into early adulthood, I identified as a conservative. Fiscal restraint, environmental conservation, expanding economic opportunity for average citizens, defending […]

My friend Scott Buchanan says, “When we rode trains, we were more civilized.” I recently tested his proposition, riding a train home from a conference in Houston. If you’re in a hurry, don’t take the train. I’ve often used trains, but this was my first “local” trip. And the train is a trip.  There are […]

As an Oklahoma City resident who celebrates religious diversity, I was alarmed when I heard about the “I Don’t CAIR” conference sponsored by Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ and was held at Trinity Baptist Church in Yukon in March. I decided to attend because I was curious. I was a guest at the dinner sponsored by […]

In the Bible, pastors are referred to as “shepherds” and “watchmen.” God has called us not only to feed and care for our flocks, but also to protect our flocks. The pastors of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ were happy to sponsor the “I Don’t CAIR” conference. Is the Council on American-Islamic Relations a “civil rights […]