The Joy of Reading

Editorial

By

-

December 2, 2022

This past week I received a surprise package from Jon Harris who lives in Berkeley, California.

Many of you know Jon was raised in the Irving community and is one the local historians who has recorded much of the history of Ryan, Irving and Jefferson County.

The package he sent me contains various books. Some of these I know Dennis Underwood will enjoy.

The one that caught my eye (it was also the one Jon suggested I read) was by James W. Loewen titled, Lies Across America: What our Historic Sites Get Wrong.

Although, I’m still in the early pages of this very well written, well argued text, it’s clear to me that we as human beings have grown complacent in our thinking.

In our quest to save time, much of the news and information we consume is scaled down to 30 second sound bites.

We are also cheating ourselves by taking everything we see and hear at face value.

In his book, Loewen illustrates with many examples how monuments and historic sites are often designated and or erected by people who have an agenda to protect or prejudice to perpetuate.

Sadly, many of the messages these historic sites convey are misleading or just factually wrong.

What’s even more surprising to Loewen is the number of visitors to these sites who never question the validity of the messages they are receiving.

I’m ashamed to confess that in times past, I have been one of those people.

By now, most have heard about confirmation bias. This occurs when people only read and consume information that reinforces their prejudices.

What’s even worse are those who will “make up sources” in order to confirm their arguments when debating a point of view.

So not only are we not questioning the facts that are given to us. We tend to make up our own to further our agenda.

I can’t count the number of times, someone has cited a source to validate their argument, then I learn later their so called source was either misunderstood or simply non-existent.

Many years ago, I was watching one of my favorite ministers online. During his very moving and well crafted sermon, he told a heart wrenching story about a young man who died tragically during the Oklahoma City Bombing. The story was very compelling and made an excellent point.

Being a student of history and having a curiosity about the Bombing itself, I did some research to find out more about this young man.

It didn’t take more than a few minutes of research to discover the entire story had been a fabrication. It made the rounds on social media before it was eventually debunked. The young man in question never even existed.

It was a valuable lesson for me.

I’d followed this minister for years and have little doubt he used the illustration in good faith, thinking it was true. However, in this case he had failed to do his homework. This is surprising considering this man has an earned PhD and was once a president of a prestigious Bible College.

This brings me to my point.

We all have biases and beliefs we hold on to dearly and will fight for till Jesus returns.

That being said, it would do us all good if we would simply learn to slow down. Absorb facts and information more thoroughly. Take time to do our own (unbiased) research to verify if what we are hearing and seeing is true.

Become a student again. Learn to read. Let your curiosity run wild. Start questioning things. Develop a true hunger for learning.

I think that’s why I enjoy reading. It challenges me on so many levels. When you read you have to slow down. You have to think. You have to question what is on the page. You have to examine your own biases. It makes you a deeper broader person.

So, thanks Jon. I appreciate the books. More importantly, I appreciate the lessons they are attempting to convey.

What are you reading?

Editorial

By

Curtis Plant

-

January 3, 2019

0

Stories have a way of cheering us up, opening our minds, mending our hearts, and taking us on journeys we would otherwise never be able to enjoy.

That’s what I love about a good book.

I especially love a good mystery.

Reading was something that was encouraged in our home from the time I was old enough to go to the local library in Moore, Oklahoma.

There’s nothing like a well written book.

Over the years, I’ve amassed a formidable library, if I may be so presumptuous.

Therefore, when I’m not writing for the paper or writing the weekly sermon, it’s not uncommon for me to have a book in my hand.

During the holiday season I found a series on Amazon Prime called the Great American Read. It was filmed during 2018. PBS was on a quest to find out the top 100 favorite books of American readers.

I won’t go into the entire list here, but I would like to share a few.

Coming in at number 83 was Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness.”

I was pleased to see Novels with a Christian theme included on the list.

“Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan was number 80.

The “Left Behind” series did somewhat better by landing at number 77.

A classic, “Gulliver’s Travels” was number 75.

Ralph Ellison, one of two writers from Oklahoma whose books made the list, was recognized by having his award winning book, “Invisible Man” listed as number 72.

A timeless classic, “Don Quixote,” made it to number 68 on the list.

“A Separate Peace,” by John Knowles, a book I was required to read in High School, was number 67.

The book that came in at number 58 is one enjoyed by myself and Ryan native, Jon Harris. I talked to him this week while preparing for the story about the Ryan Drug store. During our conversation I let him know about this editorial and that the book he introduced me to was on the list. He wasn’t surprised. In case your wondering the book is titled, “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole. It won the Pulitzer Prize.

Those of you who enjoy a moving romantic story will be pleased to know that “The Notebook” was number 56.

If you have time this year, and you will need plenty to finish the book that was listed as number 50, “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy.

Do you know where the phrase “Catch-22” comes from? You guessed it. It’s number 47 on the list. “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller.

“The Outsiders,” by S.E. Hinton made number 32. She is the there Oklahoma writer who made the top 100. Susie Hinton was born and raised in Tulsa. She still lives there today.

Charles Dickens made the list with his book “Great Expectations” coming in at number 29.

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll listed at number 28.

A man who lives not from here wrote the book that was listed as number 22. His name is Larry McMurtry. The book is titled, “Lonesome Dove.”

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain made the list at number 17.

The favorite book of those who submitted their favorite titles to the PBS website was none other than “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.

What’s your favorite book? Do you have more than one? That’s okay. So do I.

We are curious to find out what yours are. Use the form below or email us at waurikanewsjournal@gmail.com with your list of favorite books. You can send us as many as you want. We will accept your list all year until the last week in November. We will announce the list in a December issue.

The Tuskegee Airmen

Editorial

By

Curtis Plant

-

February 16, 2018

0

tuskegee-Airman — source www.redtail.org

In September, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt set in motion a highly controversial experiment. The “experiment” was the training of African American’s to be military aviators.

The men who took part in this experiment would go on to form the 99th Fighter Squadron, one of the more efficient and successful squadron’s during WWII.

At the time of President Roosevelt’s decision, the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama was under construction. The air base was located at the renowned Tuskegee Institute that had been founded by Booker T. Washington.

The first instructor on the base to train the future aviators was Lt. Col. Noel F. Parrish. His first aviation class began in July 1941 and consisted of 13 cadets, only 5 would graduate. However, by the end of the war, nine hundred and ninety-two pilots would graduate. Many serving with distinction.

The 99th Fighter Squadron earned quite a reputation for their tremendous success at escorting bombers on their missions. According to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, the squadron was able to conduct 200 out of their 205 missions without losing a single bomber. “No other escort group can claim such low losses.” In 1945 the airmen participated in the longest bomber escort mission of the war for which the members received a Presidential Unit Citation. During that mission they destroyed three German ME-262 jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters without losing any bombers or any of their own fighters.

During the war they became known as the “Red Tail” fighters because of the red that had been painted on the tail of their planes. The red tail became so recognizable that enemy aircraft tended not to even engage with them in combat.

Fortunately, the Tuskegee Air Field trained more than just pilots. During the war they trained pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes and pilots in the air.

Despite their huge and shinning successes, the Tuskegee Airmen faced dreadful and inhumane discrimination.

On many bases they were not allowed to enter the officer’s clubs even though they themselves were decorated and deserving officers.

However, they bravely continued on defending their country and setting examples of what a honorable soldier should be and how he should act.

Tuskegee Airmen will go down in history as some of the greatest aviators to ever pilot planes.

Hopefully we are closer to that day when we begin to judge others not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

As a part of Black History Month, we salute the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen. May their memories and deeds live on forever!

Picture Source: www.redtail.org

Thanksgiving Moments in History

Editorial

By

Curtis Plant

-

November 21, 2018

0

This Thursday over 54 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends according to the AAA travel website.

The preferred meal, obviously, will be turkey and dressing. Eighty-eight percent of us will indulge our appetite on the bird Benjamin Franklin wanted to be the symbol of America. All total, 46 million turkeys will be eaten this Thanksgiving.

Stuffing is an important part of the traditional meal. Fifty-percent like their stuffing on the inside of the bird. How do you like yours?

The celebratory feast has its roots in the early days of American history. Names like Squanto, William Bradford along with the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth rock come to mind.

It has been recorded that William Bradford was the first to organize a “Thanksgiving” feast that brought Native Americans and Pilgrims together. It lasted three days.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president given credit for making the holiday a permanent annual event. However, the idea of making Thanksgiving a national holiday was the idea of Sarah Josepha Hale, author of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. She worked tirelessly for 36 years to achieve her goal through editorials, letters to governors, senators and presidents. Lincoln heeded her request in 1863.

One of the traditions of the day is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The first one took place in New York City in 1924. This week around 3.5 million people will attend the parade while another 50 million will watch it on television. This year’s parade will include 16 giant character balloons, 43 novelty balloons, 26 floats, 1,200 cheerleaders and dancers, 1,000 clowns, and 12 marching bands. The parade should last around 3 hours.

The song “Jingle Bells” was originally meant to be a Thanksgiving song. It was written in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont and published under the name “One Horse Open Sleigh”. The song became so popular that it became a part of Christmas.

During World War I the government printing office published cookbooks so members of the armed forces could cook their favorite Thanksgiving meals.

A poster from WWI urging Americans to ration sugar.

Newspapers did their part during the Thanksgiving season during WWI. Newspapers published recipes and ideas to help families enjoy the holiday with limited resources due to rationing.

Because sugar was in such short supply, cranberry sauces were discouraged in many of the newspaper articles.

Of course, the best WWI Thanksgiving feast occurred on November 28, 1918, the Thanksgiving immediately after the war, which ended on November 11th at 11:00 am. That was a hundred years ago this year.

How do you like to celebrate Thanksgiving? What family traditions do you enjoy? What memories bring you happiness during this festive time of the year?

We at the Waurika News Journal & The Ryan Leader wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

The Typewriter

Editorial

By

Curtis Plant

-

April 5, 2018

0

It made that …rat-a-tat-tat-tat..sound that was so very satisfying.

Satisfying for some people. For story tellers, journalist, letter writers, and poets.

For those up against a hard deadline for their term paper or homework assignment, the sound conjures up disquieting memories.

That sound comes from only one source…the typewriter.

Believe it or not there are many on our planet who still use the old fashioned typewriter.

Actor Tom Hanks uses one. Actually, Hanks has over 250 in his personal collection. He says that 90% of them are in good working condition.

Musician John Mayer uses one.

My good friend and fellow Jefferson County historian Jon Harris uses one. I get typed letters from him quite often. It is a reminder of a simpler time.

In Berkley, California there is a small shop that sells and repairs typewriters.

The famed store is known as California Typewriter.

Herbert L. Permillion, III purchased the store in 1981.

By trade he is an IBM man who serviced Selectric Typewriters for almost 20 years.

It is a family owned and operated business.

Their master typewriter repairman is a man by the name of Kenneth Alexander, a Smith Corona man. He has been working on typewriters for over 38 years.

The store is featured in a film applicably named California Typewriter.

The Show features Tom Hanks as well as other notable people.

Some sources say the typewriter dates back to 1714. However, the first typewriter that actually worked was produced by a man named Pellegrino Turri, circa 1808. He was an Italian and he produced his machine for Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzano—she was blind.

Ironically, the first successful commercial production of the typewriter was facilitated by a Danish pastor Rasmus Malling-Hansen in the year 1870.

The Sholes & Glidden Type Writer was the first production company to achieve success in America. Their machine went into production in 1873 and was on the market by 1874.

The company was owned by Christopher L. Sholes. He was a newspaperman and a poet and thankfully an inventor.

Typewriters since then have advanced and helped change the way individuals work and communicate with one another.

Sam Shephard, who is another actor/writer featured in the movie, California Typewriter, crafted his scripts and plays using an old fashioned typewriter.

Shepherd says there is something tactile about using a typewriter.

Bob Dylan wrote some of his songs on a typewriter.

I suppose if the typewriter had been popular during his life, Abraham Lincoln would have used one.

Sadly, using a typewriter is going the way of the Abacus.

Some argue that the computer is more efficient. Perhaps.

But I wonder if by using one we are loosing touch with who we were as a society?

Maybe I’m just being nostalgic.

I just wonder what technology will erase next? The pencil?

Memorial Day

Editorial

By

Curtis Plant

-

May 24, 2019

0

Monday we will take time to remember those who have died in the service of our country.

It’s important that we never forget many have paid a great price so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Lincoln referred to these brave soldiers as those who have given the last full measure of devotion.

It’s more than just a day off from work.

It’s more than just a time to roast hot dogs and barbecue.

For a long time it seemed as if those activities of leisure were disrespectful.

After further consideration, that’s possibly not the case.

The men and women who gave their lives for freedom believed in the American dream.

Part of being an American is enjoying freedom, each in our own way.

In other words we get to chose how to remember and honor our fallen.

If a friend or loved one would have wanted you to remember them by spending quality time with family then do so.

However you chose to remember them, remember them.

Never forget!

Editorial

Learning to live in the moment.