Quest for a horse and a kingdom

“A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!”
That Shakespearian quote from King Richard III has been running through my mind quite a bit these past few years and more so recently. No, I am not prepared to give up all that I have for a horse. I am, however, interested in horse ownership.
It’s my daughter’s fault. Heather, who is pushing 17, has been enamored with the beasts since she was 4. At first it was enough to let her ride the ponies at fairs and festivals. As she got older she started taking riding lessons.
Three and a half years ago we moved from Colorado to Amarillo. That was horse heaven. We made many friends with people who owned horses. Heather’s best friend, Cheyenne Wyly, is just like her. Horses are at the center of their worlds.
During Heather’s summer visits with me (she lives with her mother out of state), she would spend a lot of time working with horses, reading horse books and magazines, drawing pictures of horses and studying them on the Internet. She would go on day-long horseback trips with a group led by G.A. Gossett. She once went on a week-long trek with Gossett’s group.
Regrettably, Heather has not had any opportunities to ride since we moved down here. We have not yet been able to connect with horse owners as easily as we did in Amarillo. I hope that will change soon.
Heather’s passion for the animals is addictive. As the owner of the Lone Ranger Fan Club, I have found myself wishing I had a big, white horse to ride.
I really wish I had one during the Watermelon Festival parade. That was a long way to walk and I had a lot of people asking me where my horse was. They also wanted to know where Tonto was. I just told them I was looking for them and asked if they found an Indian with a big, white horse to let me know.
Horses have also played a big role in the book series that I have just finished listening to on CD. I’ve gotten into the “Left Behind” series and just this last week finished “Glorious Appearing” which ushers in the return of Jesus to Earth. One thing I’ve noticed while listening to the books is the use of horses.
The biblical book of Revelation has horses throughout it. The plagues of the end times are delivered by horsemen. Jesus returns riding on a white horse and his army behind him is also mounted on white horses. That, to me, means there are horses in heaven. Heather got really excited when I told her that.
Out of curiosity, I looked up “horse” in the Bible and found that it appears 175 times. That is more times than “lion” appears and almost as many times as “lamb.” Both animals are used to describe Jesus.
I guess it is logical that if there are horses in the life after this that we should know how to care for them in the here and now. These and other creatures obviously have importance to God and thus ought to have importance to us. They are not creatures to be worshiped, but respected.
I now find my family in an interesting spot. We are within a year or so of being able to buy a home again. When that happens, we want to get a place with enough land to have horses. With me working in Hempstead and Sandy in Richmond, we are hoping to find something centrally located.
Of course, that means we are looking for both land and livestock. Ideally, I would love to get a white horse and a paint, in keeping with the Lone Ranger theme. But anything safe for children to ride would be our first priority.
If anyone has good suggestions on either the real estate or equestrian fronts, please feel free to contact me at jsouthern@hcnonline.com.
Looking back, I guess I should not be thinking about giving up my kingdom for a horse, but rather about obtaining a horse for my kingdom. Actually, a horse and kingdom would be kind of nice.

Hot time at Watermalon Festival

I wasn’t here for any of the first 20 Watermelon Festivals, but I’m sure glad I was here for the 21st celebration last weekend.
It was a hot time in the old town in more ways than one. Mostly it was just plain hot – over 100 degrees. I think I consumed more ice cold water and watermelon in one day Saturday than I ever have in a single day before. Nor have I sweat so much since two-a-day practice for high school football.
Despite the sunburn, blistered feet and sheer exhaustion from a 15-hour day, I had a great time, as did my family. I’ve got to hand it to John Stanley and all the crew at the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce for the hard work and dedication that went into pulling off such a top-notch celebration. Kudos all around!
There was much more to do at the festival than one person could take in. I tried to get to as many activities as I could, but I also had a duty to help man our booth. I didn’t spend as much time in the booth as I should have, so I must thank Mayda, Buckie and my daughter Heather for helping out there.
The festival parade marked the Lone Ranger’s debut in Hempstead and second appearance in Waller County. The next time I’ve gotta get a horse to ride and find me a faithful Indian companion. I was impressed, however, with the number of people who recognized the masked man.
Of particular enjoyment to me were the Brazos Bottom Cowographers and the Civil War re-enactors. I love American history, particularly the mid- to late-1800s. The skits performed by the Cowographers were highly entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the 11th Texas Cavalry fire off their cannons.
There was an amazing variety of vendors, some offering the usual fare and others of the likes I’ve not seen before. I wish I had more time (and money) to spend with them. The food selection was outstanding. You can’t mention the food, however, without gloating over the selection of barbecue. It may have been the Watermelon Festival, but barbecue made it go ’round!
I must also give a shout out to Boy Scout Troop 108. Even though they had their struggles raising the flag (I can’t criticize them; I’ve done worse), they did serve up lots of cold, sweet watermelon.
I got to catch Chef Vladimir Shmirnov craft his magic by transforming watermelons into works of art. I’m afraid I missed the headline performers at the street dances. I also missed the car show and the quilt show, though I hear they were great.
I’ve been told that attendance was lower than expected, but I suspect a combination of the hot weather and a weak economy were major factors in that. In no way should the chamber look upon the event as anything less than a huge success. The festival is something I definitely want to be a part of next year.
Other than finding a way to cool the temperatures, I would only have a few suggestions for the 22nd Annual Watermelon Festival. My biggest concerns were safety. Having traffic cut through the middle of it on Austin Street was dangerous. At the very least there should have been police escorts to stop the traffic and allow pedestrians to cross.
Also, the placement of the cannons so close to traffic would have me nervous were I the owner of the cannons or a driver coming down the road and facing them.
I think it would have been helpful for there to be an information billboard with a map of the festival so some of the off-site events like the Cowographers and the quilt show could get better attendance.
From our perspective at the Waller County News Citizen, I have a lot of ideas for making our special Watermelon Festival section even better and more useful. The next time we have a booth, I will make sure that our name appears somewhere on it. While we offered a great deal on subscriptions, there was nothing there to let folks know it was us. Everything we had said Houston Community Newspapers on it rather than Waller County News Citizen.
All in all, the compliments far outweigh the complaints from the festival. It’s an event that the community can be proud of and a tradition to build upon.

No such things as 'victimless crimes'

I was taking a poll on Facebook the other day when the question came up of doing away with laws governing “victimless” crimes such as drugs, gambling, prostitution and the like.
My gut reaction was fast and firm – no, no, no, and a thousand times no! There are no such things as “victimless crimes.” It infuriates me that people think what they do in the privacy of their own homes doesn’t affect others. It does. And with negative actions come negative reactions.
Mankind is inherently evil. We are born to sin. Humans spend their first years learning to overcome their innate selfishness. We are naturally greedy and self-serving. Some of us never overcome any of that and all of us never overcome all of it. If we did, there would be no such thing as temptation. We would be perfect beings and not in need of the grace of God.
There has been much clamoring of late in this nation for the legalization of marijuana. The argument is that it doesn’t affect anyone else – it’s a victimless crime. Let’s explore that, shall we?
First of all, the users victimize themselves in the damage they do to their lungs and brains. Smoking marijuana is as addictive and cancer-causing as cigarettes.
The user suffers permanent brain damage from pot. It diminishes their capacity to reason and function in society. They lose time from work (and thus productivity) and being high causes them to have negative interactions with others around them.
Then there is the issue of second-hand smoke. The second-hand smoke has the same effect on those who breathe it as it does on the user, and it is not always the bystander’s choice to be exposed to it, especially children.
Those under the influence of marijuana are as dangerous as a drunk, especially when they drive. That puts everyone on the road at risk. And those who are high on the job have more accidents, lost productivity and more screw-ups than those who are sober. That victimizes everyone around the user.
As for pornography and prostitution – sex addiction in general, I could write a whole book on the subject. Both destroy marriages and wreck families. The worlds of porn and prostitution are wrought with slaves and drug addicts (many of them children). They spread disease and teach us to devalue other humans, especially women.
How many men do you know who feel their home life would be improved by prostitution? Will they become a better husband and father by viewing pornography? How much more productive will you be at work with a picture of a naked woman on your computer?
A great resource on this subject is the XXX Church (www.xxxchurch.com). It’s a ministry aimed at rescuing porn actors and actresses from the industry, but it has numerous resources to help those caught in the trap of using porn.
Gambling is a compulsive, addictive crime that causes a lot of damage, especially that which is unseen. Gamblers not only place their addiction above their families, they often sacrifice their fortunes and the well being of those dependent on them for their survival, just for another toss of the dice or pull of a lever.
The reason casinos are in business is because they make money – they win. Their customers lose. Oh sure, some come away with the jackpot, but most of the time it is the gambler who will walk out with less than he started. And too often there is a spouse and/or child at home who will have to do with less, in addition to the time lost with the person who is gambling.
When it comes to state-run lotteries, well, I quit paying those taxes when they became optional. Don’t be fooled for a minute – lotteries are taxes. It’s a gullibility tax.
There are reasons we have these various laws on our books. These so-called victimless crimes are mired in a sea of victims and only the willfully ignorant refuse to see it.
As you can see, it’s not a matter of a bunch of goody-goody puritans trying to force their own viewpoints and beliefs on others that we have these laws. Those laws are there to protect not only the true victims, but the stupid from themselves.
These self-gratifying pleasure seekers who think there are no consequences to their actions need to know and understand that there are very grave consequences to the things they do in private.
So, should we do away with these laws and get government out of our homes? I think not. As long as others are at risk from the behaviors of those who lack self-control, there will always be a need for laws to protect us.

Stay the course to the moon

I was three weeks shy of my fourth birthday when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon.
It’s hard to believe that the 40th anniversary of that historic walk on the moon is coming up on July 20. I’m enjoying all the hype of that anniversary here in the Houston area. I love being near NASA!
I think there are too many people out there – our commander in chief in particular – who do not appreciate enough that milestone in human achievement. For centuries mankind has looked up to the heavens, longing to know what’s out there.
Forty years ago we took our first steps to find out. Not since Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt left the last footprints on the moon nearly 37 years ago has man ventured any farther from the planet than low-earth orbit.
In the wake of the Columbia disaster, former President Bush set the nation on a course that would take us to the moon, Mars and beyond. President Obama seems intent on grounding NASA. His lack of vision will do more to hinder progress in space than President Kennedy did to inspire it.
I understand that he feels compelled to focus on the needs at home. To be sure, those needs should not be forgotten. But I would submit to you that the government did more to spur employment and technological advances while it was making plans to go to the moon than it ever will in rewarding failure through increased welfare programs (read universal health care and government bailouts).
This country has achieved more greatness by going to the moon than any nation in history. It is truly mankind’s greatest achievement and yet we seem content to let it rest in the dustbin of history. Why?
I remember well that day when man reached the moon. I was busy playing and my mother called me over to the TV to watch. I could have cared less about man walking on the moon. My 4-year-old brain was conditioned to seeing the adventures of man in space. I did, after all, watch “Star Trek.”
It took my mom a while to explain to me that the Enterprise and her crew were make-believe and that humans were reaching the moon for the first time. It would be years before the significance of that would register with me.
Since then I have had the pleasure of interviewing two men who have walked on the moon – Buzz Aldrin and Alan Bean. I’ve also met and interviewed would-be moon walker Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame.
I consider Vance Brand – who was on the Apollo-Soyuz mission and commanded three space shuttle flights – to be a friend of mine. I have met and befriended several astronauts over the years and continue to be impressed with their high caliber of character.
I’ve also watched a shuttle launch from the main viewing area. I have to tell you that it is an awesome sight and a memorable experience that I will never forget. You can feel the heat and vibration, even three miles away.
Unfortunately, the days of space shuttle launches are numbered and those huge beasts will thunder into space no more. In their place will come a dependency on Russian rockets to ferry people and materials to the space station. And if our president has his way, we’ll be content to thumb a ride for the foreseeable future – say nothing of going beyond to the moon or Mars.
Mr. President, I implore you – if “Star Trek” can have a successful reboot after 40 years, certainly mankind’s greatest adventure deserves no less. Please don’t lose sight of our future. Please don’t quash the spirit of adventure and discovery that made this nation great. Keep us on a path to explore the stars.
Greatness lies ahead in the final frontier. Don’t let politics and a lack of vision blind us to the possibilities that await in space. Great men use opportune moments to achieve great things. Don’t use the 40th anniversary of the first men on the moon to be your moment to define failure. Use this moment to inspire us to even greater heights and adventure.

Waller Freedom Fest
It was a hot time in the old town Saturday night. Though the heat was the Waller Freedom Fest’s worst enemy, those that braved the 103-degree temperatures had a great time at the “first annual” event.
Kudos to City Secretary Jo Ann London and the many volunteers who made the event happen. My family particularly enjoyed the inflatable water slides and getting sprayed by the water canon fired by the Waller Volunteer Fire Department.
The evening was capped by some wonderful live music, particularly that of the Robbie Seay Band. And the fireworks display was beautifully choreographed to music and was very pleasant to behold. I look forward to next year’s event.

Patriotism extends beyond the 4th of July

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I was the first reporter in the office of the Longmont (Colo.) Daily Times-Call.
A small group of editors who arrived at about the same time were huddled together making the decision to print an “Extra” edition of the company’s three daily newspapers. I didn’t even have to wait for the decision to be made. I was already flooding city hall with phone calls.
Reporter Joyce Davis arrived right after I did and began calling churches to find out about prayer vigils and other gatherings in recognition of the terror attacks that were still unfolding.
The police chief’s secretary – who was still nursing a grudge against me for a column I had written some months earlier – was suddenly very polite and responsive to my queries for information and an interview with the chief.
It was understood by all that the world had changed that day and how the rest of us were to survive depended greatly on how well we pulled together and communicated.
As I sat at my desk banging out a story about Longmont’s emergency plan should the attacks come inland, I couldn’t help but look at the small flag standing atop my computer monitor amid all the little Star Wars figures I had accumulated. It was the only flag in the newsroom, but not for long.
As an Eagle Scout, I have always had a strong sense of patriotism and a healthy respect for the U.S. flag. The little flag was on my computer years before the 9/11 attack and has always been in my office, even when flat-screen monitors left no room for its display.
Even now, there is a full-size flag hanging on the wall behind me. On a cabinet there are three small American flags in prominent display. There is another flag on the wall outside my office in the main room of the newspaper’s office.
I don’t have to wait for the Fourth of July to roll out the flag and inflate myself with a sense of patriotism. While I have never been in the military, I can relate to the feelings our soldiers have about this country and its banner. I think our soldiers and sailors are about the only ones I’ve met with a better understanding of what freedom really means and the price that has to be paid for it.
I never grow tired of seeing public meetings opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Likewise, I continuously grow weary of hearing people say it wrong. Almost all the time you hear people say “one nation (pause) under God.” There is no comma, and thus no pause between the words “nation” and “under.” It should be said “one nation under God.”
I remember trying to teach this years ago to the Cub Scout pack that I led. It worked for a while, but school re-conditioned the boys to pause between the words again.
Still, it pleases me to no end when the Pledge is recited or the National Anthem sung at sporting events. It’s our identity as Americans that unifies us as a people no matter how diverse we may be.
As the saying goes, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” It’s that right that we have to speak our minds that is so precious and worth defending.
Our right to free speech and the defense of that right it what keeps me stoked about working in newspapers. The state of the industry should frighten most people – especially those who feel newspapers are past their prime. Newspapers have long been the watchdogs of government. Ever hear of a thing called Watergate? You wouldn’t have were it not for a newspaper.
As newspapers are forced to tighten belts and shrink staff and resources, the ability to play that crucial role in society diminishes. When readers look at the smaller papers today, they know what they see. It’s what they don’t see that is alarming. Many stories are missed that the public will never know about. I experience that painful truth every day as a one-man reporting staff.
I guess what it boils down to is the price for free content on the Internet is the loss of information and knowledge due to a lack of resources and people to dig it up. I would ask you to look out in your yard Saturday morning as you put your flag out to look around and see where your newspaper is and also that of your neighbors.
Newspapers have always been the cornerstone and top defender of free speech. As newspapers go, so will flags and the freedoms for which they stand.