Page Eight Wednesday, March 6, 2013 The Anadarko, Oklahoma, Daily News

EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARY

How 'bout that .....
WISE WORDS from Will Rogers. GOOD JUDGMENT comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. IF YOU get to thinkin' you're a person a some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. IF YOU find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. AFTER EATING an entire bull, the mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral of the story is when you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

Stolen Valor: The Mickey Mouse Medal

By Dr. WILLIAM HAMILTON There is a scene in the 2010 novel: The Berlin Conspiracy by William Penn, that deals with how to recognize and compensate military personnel who sit in air-conditioned trailers or buildings on U.S. soil as they, with just the click of a computer mouse, employ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (AKA drones) to kill terrorists on foreign soil. What was a fictional problem back in 2010 became a troublesome reality on February 13, 2013, when the Obama Administration announced the Distinguished Warfare Medal (DWM) to recognize the men and women who kill suspected enemy combantants by using armed rones controlled from the United States. Under certain circumstances, the DWM can even be awarded to individuals for fending off a cyber-warfare attack. Doubtless, service members who kill the enemy or even ward off cyber attacks merit our nation's thanks for their services and even merit a decoration to wear on their uniforms. But just where do you place the DWM in the Order of Preference, within the already existing awards for valor when valor is defined as actually risking your life and limb on or over a foreign field of battle? Sitting state-side in an air-conditioned van does not put the operator of a computer mouse at risk of life and limb. And there is no "risk" of earning the Purple Heart which is awarded to those who have actually shed their blood on the battlefield in defense of the nation. Now, let's review the medals awarded for "valor" on the battlefield. The top is the Medal of Honor. Next, come the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and Air Force Cross -- all equal in rank. They are followed by the Silver Star. Next is the Distinguished Flying Cross. Then comes the Bronze Star for Valor followed by the Purple Heart. So, guess where the Obama Administration placed the new DWM within the Order of Precedence? Right above the Bronze Star and above the Purple Heart. For the record, there are two kinds of Bronze Stars: The Bronze The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle The pope is much more than the head of the Catholic church. He is the head of a city-state called Vatican City that actually issues passports and has a population count (about 800). That makes him a world leader. And even though he heads the smallest city-state on the planet, no world leader's reach comes close to the pope's. This is a position for which national boundaries mean little. His jurisdiction and followers are scattered all about the countries of the world. A papal visit can be a life-changing, even world-changing event. Moreover, ours is a world starving for moral leadership, regardless of religion or denomination. What other leaders in peace, love and morality come quickly to mind? Indeed, many believe that John Paul II was one of the great world leaders of the 20th century. The Poland native's gentle staff stood up to Eastern Bloc communism and fractured it in much the same way Moses' own freed the Israelites. John Paul II was a decidedly difficult act to follow and Pope Benedict XVI also was cast into the fire of a blazing pedophilia scandal. Benedict's fatigue and his frustrations even about a lack of privacy were evident in his last public addresses before becoming the first pope in six centuries to walk away from the job.

Rebtcmaing Woishingtoh Politician$ cipitER.

GOVAiCS COM 2013

Central View
By

William Hamilton
Star with "V" for valor is awarded for being on the ground in a combat zone and performing an act of valor on the field of battle. The other Bronze Star is for meritorious service while being on the ground in an active combat zone. By placing this new DWM above the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, the Obama Administration has effectively downgraded the service and sacrifices of those who have earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Maybe not a big deal to the 91percent of Americans with zero military service. Maybe it's not a big deal in Congress where only 118 members are veterans. But it is degrading to those who have earned their awards on the field of valor. And, even if the awardees are dead, their heirs must feel that the valorous achievements of their loved ones have now been diminished. Congress can fix this injustice by passing a law that places the DWM below the Bronze Star and below the Purple Heart. Meanwhile, GIs are likely to call the DWM the "Mickey Mouse Medal" because, instead of a firearm, it involves a computer mouse. Or, if they feel charitable, the "Mighty Mouse Medal." Given the misplaced ranking of the DWM in the Order of Preference, it is hard to imagine that anyone would want to wear it. William "Bill" Hamilton, longtime featured columnist for USA Today and former paperboy for THE ANADARKO DAILY NEWS is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval College and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the U.S. Army War College. He was also educated at the University of Oklahoma, George Washington University, the University of Nebraska and Harvard.
2013. WILLIAM HAMILTON

Sequestration
The Sun Journal Lewiston, Maine To hear President Barack Obama tell it, we should begin feeling something like the apocalypse. Sorry, Mr. President, but most of us have already shrugged our shoulders. We have become so accustomed to near-misses, lastminute deals and cans being kicked down the road that we don't get very excited anymore. You say the restrooms won't work at Acadia, some federal workers will work four days rather than five and an aircraft carrier is stuck in Norfolk? Yeah, whatever. The federal sequestration that went into effect March 1 cuts $85 billion from this year's $3.6 trillion budget, or about 2.3 percent. But it is very difficult for the average person to determine what that means, and politicians aren't making it any easier. Obama has been barnstorming the country predicting that the "brutal" cuts will "eviscerate" government programs. Republicans, meanwhile, point out that federal spending has increased 17 percent since the president first took office and even after the cuts the government will spend more than it did the year before. Indeed, these cuts will only slow the growth of the federal debt, not reduce it. ...

DONKEY

ELEPHANT
For The Common
opposed a ban on texting while driving in the past because he believes that there is a slippery slope argument to be made about what people are doing inside their cars. At this time, the bill is being blocked from being voted on by the full House of Representatives and Oklahoma law does not allow local control by municipalities across the state. The Cities and Towns that could otherwise adopt texting and tobacco laws are being stopped by the state legislature. Ninety-Seven percent (97%) of teens say that texting and driving is dangerous. What is your opinion? Do you want HB1503 to die without a vote or do you want it to be heard on the House Floor? It is your civic duty to let your voice be heard. Take action for the Common Good. Call or eMail a member of the House Calendar Committee or the Speaker of the House and let them know your opinion about HB1503. Their phone numbers and eMail addresses can be found at www.okhouse.gov. If the House Calendar Committee will allow the bill to be heard, I will vote in favor of it. It is my opinion that the need for a ban on bear wrestling has taken a back seat to the need for a ban on texting while driving. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative. If there is ever anything that I can do to assist you, please call me at 405-557-7401 or eMail me at David. Perryman@okhouse. gov I look forward to seeing you soon. On this day Ten years ago: A somber President George W. Bush readied the nation for war against Saddam Hussein, hurling some of his harshest invectives yet at the Iraqi leader during a prime-time news conference. The United States ratified a treaty on cutting active U.S. and Russian long-range nuclear warheads by two-thirds. Democrats blocked President Bush's nomination of Miguel Estrada to a federal appeals court.

From bear westling to texting while driving

By DAVID PERRYMAN The first live bear I ever saw was on Main Street in Kinta, Oklahoma. The year was about 1962 and the Ursus Americanus had not wandered into town from the mountains south of town. Nor was it an escapee from the zoo in Tulsa. Technically, it was not even a part of a circus. This black bear was chained to a tree in front of a tent and was the property of a promoter of one of those rural American holdovers of the 1800's. The event being promoted was bear wrestling and the barker was looking for both spectators and contestants. I was not old enough to qualify as either, but tickets were selling like hotcakes. I don't remember if my older brothers were allowed to go, but I am pretty certain that they did not wrestle the bear. We lived seven miles from town and they would not have had transportation at the time. The tent that was set up was not large enough to keep the crowd very far from the ring, but by the looks of the tired old bear, vicious animal bites were not likely. Apparently the sport of bear wrestling first became popular in France and came to the United States in December 1877. Rural America provided circuits of communities where there was just not a lot of constant commotion. To say that times were slow is an understatement and for decades, into the 1960's any type of entertainment was welcomed. However, before you get too uppity, please realize that once in a while we did get to attend some really special events. For instance, in my home town of around 350 residents in the 1960's , we actually got to meet Meadowlark Lemon when the Harlem Globetrotters came to our old WPA gym. My point is that until 1996 bear wrestling was legal in Oklahoma. The statute that prohibits bear wrestling also prohibits horse tripping. I don't know how bear wrestling and horse tripping were addressed in the same statute. In fact horse tripping doesn't sound fun at all. Historically, Oklahoma has taken the lead and enacted statutes that are needed for the safety of Oklahomans. One of the hottest topics that I have been contacted about over the past ten days is the proposal to ban texting while driving. Unfortunately the majority leadership of the Oklahoma House of

Good
By

David Perryman
Representatives has its head in the proverbial sand and is playing politics with lives concerning this extremely dangerous issue. House Bill 1503 by Rep. Curtis McDaniel (D-Smithville) is a proposal to make texting while driving illegal. Over 80% of Oklahomans support a ban on texting while driving. According to AT&T, a Virginia Tech study showed that persons who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than persons who are not texting while driving. Rep. McDaniels' Bill passed out of committee, but is being blocked from being heard on the house floor. AT&T reported that a Texas Traffic Institute study showed that When drivers read or send a text message, their reaction time is doubled and when asked to respond to a flashing light while texting behind the wheel, drivers were more than 11 times more likely to miss the light altogether. The telephone giant has dedicated millions of dollars to its "It Can Wait" campaign and says that "No text is worth dying for. And that is why AT&T is committed to putting an end to texting and driving." AT&T says that, "Our goal is to save lives and to make texting and driving as unacceptable as drinking and driving." Under current law, an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman cannot stop a driver who is texting and driving at the very instant that the highway patrolman passes the driver. Thirty-nine other states prohibit texting while driving. Should Oklahoma? According to the Associated Press, House Speaker T.W. Shannon (R-Lawton) stated last week that he is among those who have

Also a world leader

The leader of 1 billion Catholics, and the voice of conscience for many others, a pope carries the world on his shoulders. What a burden it must be for even the holiest among us. And that weight is usually added at an advanced age... The process to choose Benedict's successor is shrouded in smoke literally. But here's hoping the next pope can be a shepherd of peace not only for his own flock but for a world awash in conflict, confusion and chaos. Catholics and non-Catholics alike could sure use a John Paul the third.

UniversalAlmanac
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Today is the 65th day of 2013 and the 76th day of winter. TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1836, the Alamo mission and fortress compound in Texas fell to Mexican forces after a 13-day siege. In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that slaves were property in Dred Scott v. Sandford. In 1899, the German pharmaceutical company Friedrich Bayer & Co. patented aspirin. In 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off for the last time as "CBS Evening News" anchor, a post he had held for 19 years. TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Michelangelo (1475-1564), painter/sculptor/architect; Cyrano de Bergerac (1619-1655), soldier/writer; Lou Costello (19061959), actor/comedian; Will Eisner (1917-2005), cartoonist; Ed McMahon (1923-2009), TV personality; Alan Greenspan (1926- ), economist; Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927- ), novelist; Rob Reiner (1947- ), actor/director; Connie Britton (1967- ), actress; Shaquille O'Neal (1972- ), basketball player. TODAY'S FACT: The median age for an American man getting married for the first time in 2011 was 28.9 years old. The median age for women was 26.9. TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1964, world heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay announced that his spiritual mentor, Elijah Muhammad, had given him the new name Muhammad Ali. TODAY'S QUOTE: "It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams." -- Gabriel Garcia Marquez TODAY'S NUMBER: 25 cents - price for 1 pound of Oreo cookies in a novelty can when the cookie was introduced by the National Biscuit Co. (today known as Nabisco) on this day in 1912. TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter moon (March 4) and new moon (March 11)
COPYRIGHT 2013 UNIVERSAL UCLICK

Dark alley
The Washington Post The president's team has formed Organizing for Action, a group intended to advance his priorities using the potent grass-roots technology and troops from his winning re-election campaign. But how the Obama people are going about it stinks. They have registered the group as a 501(c)4 organization, under a section of the Internal Revenue Code that provides tax-exempt status for "social welfare" organizations, a broad category that was originally envisioned for civic leagues and the like but which has become a favored dark alley for political operators. Such groups are not required to publicly disclose donors or amounts of contributions, as they would be if they operated under the rules of the Federal Elections Commission.

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE,

CANNES FIR FESTIVAL & THE FILM ACADEMY.

IT WAS NOMINATED Bc

THE FIRST AMENDMENT

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.... Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (The Supreme Court ruled that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applies the First Amendment to each state, including all local governments.)

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Bible Thought
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. The Proverbs 9:13-18

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