Legislature approves $4M to help relocate USS Batfish

After five years of languishing following the 2019 Arkansas River flood, the USS Batfish finally has some good news: 

Top: April 2019 - middle: May 2019 - Bottom: June 2019

OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE APPROVES $4 MILLION TO RELOCATE USS BATFISH

Oklahoma City, OK (May 29, 2025) - One of America’s most decorated World War II submarines—and a beloved Oklahoma landmark—is one step closer to safe harbor. On May 22, the Oklahoma Legislature approved HB2794, allocating $4 million in FY26 funding to the USS Batfish. The state appropriation will be used to relocate the historic military vessel to its future home at Three Forks Harbor.

Folds of Honor lends support in effort to save USS Batfish

Almost six years later, the USS Batfish submarine at Muskogee's War Memorial Park continues to languish in limbo, with desperately needed repairs and a monumental move needed due to Corps of Engineers efforts to stem future river flooding at the Port of Muskogee. 

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell and local legislators have been helping lead an effort to secure much-needed funding for the Batfish. Recently, the CEO and founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation lent his support to the campaign. You can sent an email of your own to legislators by going to this link. OklahomaWarMemorial.com has more details and renderings of the proposed new location and museum for the USS Batfish and associated military history artifacts, including a 45-foot section of the mast from the USS Oklahoma (sunk at Pearl Harbor with a loss of life second only to the USS Arizona).

Efforts underway to save USS Batfish with proposed Oklahoma War Memorial & Museum

Count me in. The USS Batfish is a hero of WWII, and an Oklahoma treasure, and deserves saving. A big thanks to Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell for his years of support for securing the Batfish for generations to come.

EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO SAVE THE USS BATFISH WITH PROPOSED OKLAHOMA WAR MEMORIAL & MUSEUM

Muskogee, OK (March 10, 2025) - The USS Batfish, a legendary World War II submarine and beloved Oklahoma landmark is at risk of being lost forever if not relocated to a new site. After devastating floodwaters in 2019 displaced the vessel from its foundation, the submarine suffered damage and was forced to permanently close to the public. With critical flood mitigation efforts underway and necessary controlled access measures required at the entrance to the current site, relocating the Batfish to a permanent home at Port Muskogee’s Three Forks Harbor is essential to its preservation.

OK Congressional delegation asks Navy to name ship in honor of Checotah's heroic WWII sailor Paul Henry Carr

This is such a great idea. A year ago, I read 'The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors' by James D. Hornfischer (highly recommend), which focuses on an major but lesser-known naval engagement in the Pacific during WWII, the Battle off Samar (part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf). 

Oklahoma had several native sons who received the highest military honors for their gallant service during this unequal conflict between a lightly armed/armored American naval task force ("tin cans") and the biggest, baddest ships the Japanese navy had afloat - including the battleship Yamato, heaviest ever built and with the largest guns ever placed on a ship. Checotah's Paul Henry Carr is one of those heroes; you can read more about him here, here, and here (Muskogee's Ernest E. Evans was another).

Lankford Leads Oklahoma Congressional Delegation to Request US Navy Ship Naming to Honor Oklahoma WWII Sailor

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today led the Oklahoma congressional delegation in a letter to Secretary of the United States Navy Carlos Del Torro to recommend the naming of a new Constellation-class frigate in honor of Oklahoman Paul Henry Carr, from Checotah, Oklahoma, who gave his last full measure of devotion to our nation aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II.

Memorial to WWII 'Taffy 3' hero to be dedicated in Muskogee this morning

If you've never read the story of Task Force 3, the Battle off Samar, and the heroes of that cataclysmic clash of sea and steel like Oklahomans Ernest E. Evans and Paul Henry Carr, you need to remedy that immediately. Go read The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, by James D. Hornfischer. It's a story of unparalleled heroism and sacrifice that has been largely forgotten.

I'm thrilled that Muskogee is recognizing Commander Evans with this memorial.

From the Muskogee Phoenix:

A dedication ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. at Depot Green to dedicate a memorial to a Muskogee soldier who was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts during World War II. Commander Ernest E. Evans was killed in battle on October 25, 1944. 

Bill promoting Holocaust education curriculum passes House

Bill Promoting Holocaust Education Curriculum Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to ensure Oklahoma students are taught the history and horror of the Holocaust - the systematic, state-sponsored persecution, and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its allies and collaborators – passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Monday.

House Bill 3720, authored by Reps. Mark McBride, R-Oklahoma City, and John Waldron, D-Tulsa, requires Holocaust education to be taught in all public schools in a manner that:

• Generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust.
• Develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination.
• Encourages tolerance of diversity.

"The horrors of the Holocaust resulted in the extermination of six million people of Jewish descent as well as many of their sympathizers during World War II," McBride said. "And yet, it is proven that too few students in Oklahoma schools are taught or know about the Holocaust. With the war that is happening currently in Ukraine and that is threatening other parts of the world, this topic has never been more timely."

The measure requires the State Board of Education to work in consultation with experts to develop and distribute curricula for students in grades 6-12. 

USS Batfish submarine in Muskogee moving downstream to Three Forks Harbor

One of Muskogee's overlooked treasures is the USS Batfish (SS-310) submarine, a vessel which operated with great success in the Pacific Theater of WWII, at one point sinking three Japanese submarines in a 76-hour period.

During the historic flooding of May 2019, the Batfish came loose and began to float for the first time since she was moved to Muskogee in 1973. Her ballast tanks were filled in order to ground her and stabilize her position during the flooding. As a result, the venerable warship was moved significantly out of position, and the entire grounds were severely damaged and undermined by the floodwaters.

Top: April 2019
Middle: May 2019
Bottom: June 2019

Victor Lezama, the director of the War Memorial Park which houses the Batfish, posted this update the other day, confirming rumors that plans are in the beginning stages to move the Batfish downstream a mile or so to the Three Forks Harbor:

World of Warships joins effort to raise funds for USS Batfish

World of Warships, a 'free-to-play naval warfare-themed massively multiplayer online game', is joining the effort to repair the USS Batfish submarine in Muskogee.

Here's the release from the gaming site:

Save USS Batfish - Fundraising for the Muskogee War Memorial Park

A titan of submarine history needs your help!

Commissioned in August of 1943, USS Batfish is the only Allied submarine to ever sink three enemy submarines in a single patrol. This Balao-class submarine sunk a total of six ships over the course of her career. She received six battle stars for her service during World War II.

Her transformation into a museum ship would begin in 1971. The Oklahoma Maritime Advisory Board acquired the sub and began the long process of transporting up the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers to Batfish's final resting place in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

On May 22, 2019, the Muskogee War Memorial Park experienced the second highest flood in Muskogee history. The USS Batfish was at the center of the disaster! Knocked around and corroded by the flood surge, the legendary submarine is in dire need of repair and stabilization.


How You Can Help

• Purchase the exclusive USS Batfish Patch bundle below. 100% of bundle sales go to the Muskogee War Memorial Park's Batfish preservation efforts
• Donate directly via the USS Batfish GoFundMe

LtGov Pinnell coming to Muskogee for trivia night fundraiser for USS Batfish repairs

As a result of the record flooding in May, the USS Batfish submarine located at Muskogee's War Memorial Park was severely damaged, breaking loose of her moorings and had to be secured to prevent it from slipping downstream. The damage is estimated to cost at least a half million dollars, possibly more.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell is gallantly pitching in on the effort to raise funds to restore and repair the Batfish, an Oklahoma treasure that deserves the attention.

From the Friends of the Muskogee War Memorial Park:

Please join us for Save the Batfish: Trivia Night W/ LT. Gov Matt Pinnell at the Muskogee Civic Center!

The USS Batfish was severely damaged in the record-level flooding of May and the Friends of the Muskogee War Memorial Park have banded together with local businesses and Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor - Matt Pinnell to test our minds at trivia and raise money for good cause!

November 22, 2019
Happy Hour: 5:00 pm
Trivia: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Muskogee Civic Center 425 Boston Street
Cash Bar • Snacks • 50/50 • Dessert Auction & More!

Individual tickets are $40 and a table of 8 may be purchased for $300

Sponsorships are available!

Enlisted ($500)
•Receive table of 8 for Save the USS Batfish Trivia
•Logo on all advertisements
•5 mulligans for trivia gameplay

Officer ($750)
•Exclusive Meet and Greet with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (Before Event)
•Logo displayed during trivia intermissions
•8 USS Batfish T-shirts for your crew!
•Receive table of 8 for Save the USS Batfish Trivia
•Logo on all advertisements
•5 mulligans for trivia gameplay

Admiral (Two Available) $1500
•Exclusive Meet and Greet with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (Before Event)
•Logo displayed on all trivia slides during event
•Logo sign placed at entry to USS Batfish for calendar year
•Logo displayed during trivia intermissions
•8 USS Batfish T-shirts for your crew!
•Receive table of 8 for Save the USS Batfish Trivia
•Logo on all advertisements
•5 mulligans for trivia gameplay


For more information please contact brent@warmemorialpark.org | 918.682.6294 or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/ussbatfish.

*tickets, sponsorships, and donations are eligible for a tax write off.

As a trivia nut, this sounds like a great event, and if I wasn't already going to be headed out of town I'd try to make it!

Winston Churchill, 77 Years Ago: "We Shall Fight"

As the United Kingdom reels from yet another terrorist attack, today marks the 77th anniversary of one of Winston Churchill's greatest orations -- his We Shall Fight speech to the House of Commons.

"We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

This seems like a fitting response to the threat posed by the new radicalism threatening Europe and the Western civilization.

D-Day: 70 Years

70 years ago today, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, in the largest amphibious assault in history. Less than one year later, Hitler's Nazi Germany fell.

To the soldiers who put their lives on the line (and even died) for freedom and Western civilization, we thank you.

Pearl Harbor: 70 Years

70 years later, a grateful nation remembers the sacrifices at 

Pearl Harbor, and during the rest of World War II. 

We salute our heroes - living and fallen.

Never Forget

OK Supreme Court Justice Marian Opala has died

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Marian P. Opala has passed away, according to court officials. He was 89 years old.

Opala, who has been on the Supreme Court since 1978, was born in Lodz, Poland, in 1921. When war broke out between Nazi Germany and Poland in 1939, he enlisted in the Polish Army. After the defeat of Poland, he joined the Polish Underground. He left Poland for a few years, with orders to connect with Polish troops serving in the British armed forces in the Mediterranean and Africa. He served with them briefly in Italy, before parachuting back into Poland to rejoin the Underground.

Opala was captured by the Nazis in the brutal put-down of the Polish Warsaw Uprising of 1944, and was imprisoned in Flossenbürg concentration camp (where theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed). When the U.S. Army liberated the camp, he became friends with a captain in the 45th Infantry Division from Oklahoma City. Opala emigrated to Oklahoma in part due to this friendship. He became a U.S. citizen, attended law school, and entered the judicial system. Gov. David Boren appointed him to the Supreme Court in 1978, and he had been retained as judge ever since then.

Hiroshima, 65 Years Later

Today is the 65th anniversary of the first use of atomic weapons in warfare. On August 6th, 1945, the Enola Gay (piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets, Jr.) flew over Hiroshima, Japan, and dropped the atomic bomb "Little Boy" at about 8:15am local time.

The mushroom cloud as viewed from the Enola Gay

The explosion and aftermath is thought to have killed 100,000-150,000 people. Three days later, another nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and six days after that, Japan surrendered to the Allies.

President Harry Truman decided to use the atomic weapons in hopes it would cause the Japanese to surrender, and prevent an Allied ground invasion of Japan (Operation Downfall). Casualty estimates for the proposed invasion ranged from half a million to a million American casualties, and several million Japanese casualties.

An interesting side note - about 500,000 Purple Heart medals were manufactured in advance of the preparations for invasion, in anticipation of mass American casualties. In 2003, there were still 120,000 medals left.

The mushroom cloud, as viewed from Hiroshima

Loss of life is tragic, as is war, but sometimes drastic measures are necessary in order to save lives. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are prime examples. Had the atomic bomb not been used, the war could have dragged on for another year, and millions more may have died on both sides.

As History looks back at Hiroshima, it deems it a necessary tragedy.

Political Theatrics: "Blitzkrieg" Does Not Equal "Holocaust"

Politics oftentimes results in over-dramatic misrepresentations of statements by political adversaries. Quotes are taken out of context, or applied to things that don't even remotely apply.

Sometimes, I just get tired of the sensationalizing. And frankly, I'm not afraid to call out my own side of the political spectrum when I see the need to.

Take this, for instance, from the New York Daily News:

Vice President Biden is out with an alarmed e-mail cash appeal warning that the GOP will mount a “blitzkrieg” against Democrats in the fall.

Comparing GOP tactics to the fast-striking forces of Nazi Germany, Biden warns in a message sent by the DCCC today: “As things heat up, you can expect House Democrats will be hit with a GOP blitzkrieg of vicious Swift-Boat-style attack ads, Karl Rove-inspired knockout tactics, thinly veiled attempts at character assassination and tea party disruptions.”

And while the GOP is mounting a blitzkrieg, Democrats are the allies.

“Our Democratic allies in the House need your help, and the President and I hope we can count on you to come to their defense so we can hold onto our Democratic Majority and continue moving American forward in a new direction,” Biden writes in the appeal.

Subtle? Not so much.

Update: Republicans were not amused by the implications of the e-mail.

Kevin Smith, spokesman for Minority Leader John Boehner, e-mailed a comment that seems sure to get under Democrats’ skins: “When will Democrats learn that invoking the Nazis’ crimes against humanity in a political debate is simply inappropriate?”

Herein lies my problem with the statement by Smith: the Nazi German blitzkrieg tactic had absolutely nothing to do with the Holocaust.

Blitzkrieg refers to the strategy that the Nazis used early in World War II, namely the use of concentrated tanks in swift-moving offensive campaigns in coordination with air power, artillery, and motorized infantry. The blitzkrieg wasn't related to the Nazi's horrific Holocaust war crimes.

Can we stop with the political theatrics, and focus on the issues, please?

USS Oklahoma Mast Arrives at Muskogee's War Memorial Park

Perseverance pays off - a perfect example was the recent acquisition of the mast from the USS Oklahoma by Muskogee's War Memorial Park.  This historical artifact made the long trip from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to its new home.  But the process was not an easy one according to museum director, Rick Dennis.

"Honestly I didn't think we were going to get it here, but now that it's here, it's real," said Dennis.  "It's just very exciting."

The USS Oklahoma was part of the fleet of American ships attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The ship capsized within 12 minutes after being struck by Japanese torpedoes. 429 lives were lost when the ship went down, many trapped inside the submerged vessel.  More than 65 years went by before an official memorial was erected to honor those fallen servicemen.  The USS Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island, Hawaii, was dedicated on December 7th, 2007. 

State Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee) began working on this project nearly 3 1/2 years ago. “There have been many ups and downs along the way, but we are thrilled that this valuable piece of history has finally arrived at the War Memorial Park," he said 

Faught said his office first got involved when Rod Mish, a volunteer at the Park, contacted him to ask for help.  Mish explained that early in 2007, he called the curator at the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii to see if any pieces from the USS Oklahoma were available for display in Muskogee's war museum.  The curator told Mish that a section of the mast to the battleship had recently been discovered during a dredging operation at Pearl Harbor, but that the Navy was planning to cut it in pieces and dispose of it.

At the time Mish placed that phone call, his landlady, Judy Moody, was vacationing in Hawaii.  He contacted her to see if she could take a look at the piece for him.  She agreed, and the decision was then  made by the War Memorial Park to pursue trying to acquire the mast for display at the museum.

Moody, a computer technology instructor at Northeastern State University, volunteered to fill out the appropriate paperwork, but soon discovered that there was a lot of "red tape" to get through.  Since approval from the Navy was required, assistance was sought from Senator Tom Coburn's office, as well as that of Congressman Dan Boren. “Getting the Navy to relinquish the section of mast turned out to be a lengthy process,” said Moody.

Faught's office was tasked with arranging for transportation from Pearl Harbor to Muskogee.  His legislative assistant just happened to be a long-time family friend of then Major General Loren Reno, the commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base.  This connection opened doors for possible transport in conjunction with training flights and other missions.  "About 18 months ago, we thought we had a date set for a training flight from Hawaii, but then someone in the Navy decided to stall the project and the waiting game was back on", explained Faught.

Then they were notified that General Reno had received a promotion to the Pentagon.  When he transferred, so did his assistant who had been heavily involved in making arrangements for the mast.  So the process was once again delayed.

"Each completed step in the process revealed more hoops to jump through", said Faught, "and many delays seemed to take us back to square one."

But, not easily discouraged, museum director Rick Dennis, Moody and Faught continued to work on moving forward. Then, rather unexpectedly, earlier this month Moody received a phone call from a contact at Tinker Air Force Base, telling her that an Air National Guard training flight that could accommodate the large cargo had been scheduled and the mast was being crated for transport.   

Rod Mish, Judy Moody, Rep. George Faught, Rick Dennis

When the C-17 touched down at Tinker Air Force base on Monday, the four individuals who persevered were on hand to witness the mast arriving in Oklahoma.  They were joined by USS Oklahoma survivor, Ed Vezey, 90, who recently moved to Moore, OK from Denver, CO.  "This is a piece of the Oklahoma coming home,” Vezey said.

The mast was transported to Muskogee on Wednesday by the Oklahoma Air National Guard.  As the truck pulled into the War Memorial Park bearing a banner that read “From Pearl Harbor to Muskogee – Mast of USS Oklahoma”, a crowd of around 50 people gathered in anticipation.  Some had come specifically to see the mast arrive, but several groups just happened to be there, not knowing of the scheduled delivery.

The mast was offloaded by a crane from Cook Construction  of Fort Gibson. The 45 ft. artifact weighs over 22,0000 pounds and is covered with barnacles from 65 years of being underwater.  The piece from the mast is technically “on loan” from the U.S. Navy and is planned as the centerpiece of a new building that Dennis hopes to see built at the War Memorial Park.  Preservation efforts will be performed on the mast and plans for establishing a foundation for the USS Oklahoma exhibit are being discussed.

Members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard help offload the mast

“This is an opportunity to help students in Oklahoma to realize the value of our history,” said Moody.     

“It took an awful lot of work,” stated Mish, recalling the journey over the past 3 ½ years.

"I am honored to have been a part of this project and to have played a role in bringing this to Muskogee.  I look forward to helping the War Memorial Park expand this exhibit, commemorating the service and sacrifice of our armed forces,” stated Faught.   

A dedication ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 10th at 10:00 a.m.  The War Memorial Park will unveil the mast at that time.  It is expected that numerous Pearl Harbor Survivors, including several from the USS Oklahoma will be in attendance, along with veterans groups, state officials and other dignitaries.  

Memorial Day - We Remember

I have posted this previously on Memorial Day, but the message is so profound that I feel compelled to post it again.

America's European Arrogance

1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France. A total of 2,289 of our military dead. We apologize.

2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium. A total of 5,329 of our dead. We are so ashamed of our arrogance.

3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France. A total of 4,410 of our military dead. Excuse us.

4. Brookwood, England American Cemetery. A total of 4,680 of our dead. We are such an evil country.

5. Cambridge, England. 3,812 of our military dead. What on earth were we thinking?

6. Epinal, France American Cemetery. A total of 5,525 of our military dead. Please forgive us.

7. Flanders Field, Belgium. A total of 3,680 of our military. We are so sorry.

8. Florence, Italy. A total of 4,402 of our military dead. We are a bully nation.

9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. A total of 7,992 of our military dead. They deserved what they got.

10. Lorraine, France. A total of 10,489 of our military dead. FDR and Truman were lying war criminals.

11. Luxembourg, Luxembourg. A total of 5,076 of our military dead. Arrogant oppression, pure and simple.

12. Meuse-Argonne. A total of 14,246 of our military dead. Just think of how many civilians they killed.

13. Netherlands, Netherlands. A total of 8,301 of our military dead. They were murderers.

14. Normandy, France. A total of 9,387 of our military dead. Baby killers, one and all.

15. Oise-Aisne, France. A total of 6,012 of our military dead. They were torturers, too.

16. Rhone, France. A total of 8,61 of our military dead. Remorseless killers doing the bidding of an evil nation.

17. Sicily, Italy. A total of 7,861 of our military dead. What can America ever do to redeem itself?

18. Somme, France. A total of 1,844 of our military dead. Arrogant war-mongers of an arrogant nation.

19. St. Mihiel, France. A total of 4,153 of our military dead. War criminals.

20. Suresnes, France. A total of 1,541 of our military dead. Oh, God in heaven, please forgive us for being such an arrogant country.

This quote of Colin Powell's from 1998 is powerful.

"The world remembers well that several times in the course of this century, the United States was at the height of the world, the height of power. After World War I, or World War II, or even at the end of the Cold War, we could have imposed our will on the world but we didn’t. All we ever asked for was the opportunity to raise up our former enemies, and to get back to the business of peace and democracy. The only other thing we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead. We never wanted anyone else’s land or sovereignty over anyone. No other nation on the face of the earth possesses that kind power, possess that kind of power today in such abundance." - General Colin Powell speaking at West Point on Sept. 15, 1998

Today, we honor the memory of those who gave all in order that we might live free. I encourage you to attend a Memorial Day ceremony today (there will be one at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery at 2:00pm, for those in the Muskogee area - more events listed here).

God bless our soldiers, veterans, and their families on this day of remembrance.

The Conservative View: A Necessary Evil

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

A Necessary Evil

It would be nice if we humans were creatures that could resolve all of our problems in a non-violent and civilized manner. The money that we could save on not having to build planes, tanks, ships, etc. could build a utopia on this planet. It is a sad fact that we humans are incapable of building such a world. There is always a group ready to destroy another group or civilization for the land or wealth that they possess. It is a sad fact that many people are not interested in history. I have found that it is far easier to avoid mistakes in our lives when we listen to the stories of past generations. As for myself, I cherish the memories of my grandparents and the common sense philosophy that they learned from the school of hard knocks. I remember them telling of the hardships of World War 2 and the sacrifices that the Americans of that day endured. I have also watched many programs of that era and have seen the carnage that our forefathers endured. I believe that that war would have been much worse if it had not been for the strength of our military. Over the past week much has been in the news about the nuclear agreement with Russia and how this will make our world so much safer.

I believe that peace is only achieved when our adversaries know that our strength and resolve is so strong that it would be suicide to attack us. Nuclear war would be a horror that no sane person would want to be involved in, but when the bomb was used on Japan that act saved that island nation from being burned to the ground along with countless Japanese and American soldiers. It is sad that civilized people cannot understand the barbarian mind. Our forefathers understood that the only reasoning that barbarians understand is force. Throughout history military superiority can change overnight. Rogue nations like North Korea, Iran and a host of other terrorists groups are in the process of acquiring the bomb. We Americans like to pat ourselves on our backs and claim that we are making the world a safer place when we make ourselves weaker. Granted we have many enemies, but I believe that our biggest enemies are apathy and arrogance. We take our safety for granted. Our weapons and military are a necessary evil; we need to remember that the lack of weapons never makes us safer; only having them makes us safer.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.

The Conservative View: Where's the Work Ethic

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Where's the Work Ethic?

One of the virtues that has defined us as a nation is our desire to go the extra mile and have pride in our workmanship. We Americans owe a lot to our ancestors; they did the hard work that made our standard of living possible. I was raised to believe that if you were willing to sacrifice and do the work and devote the time that most people refused to do you would get ahead in life. I believe that prosperity does not come cheap; it requires sweat and a willingness to get our hands dirty. I have noticed that many Americans have gotten into the mindset that we are too good to do hard work.

A few days ago I watched a report on how we Americans are not building anything anymore. Our manufacturing base has been on a steady decline for several years. One example given was on the building of computers. Most all of the computers today are built in countries like Korea and China. The proponents of the current system claim that we make the money on the software and programming of the computers. While that may work today, we Americans had better start to look at the potential problems that can bite us in the backside in the future.

We would be foolish to think that the people building the computers lack the intelligence to design the software and programs that future generations will need. Information can be one of the least kept secrets in the world. Just look at any of our major universities and you will see students from all parts of the world enrolled there. When other countries build their research and development facilities, we could find ourselves outside looking in. It would be a perfect world if we Americans could all work in air conditioned offices and just type on a computer and make six figures a year, but we live a long way from a perfect world. Our parents and grandparents knew the need to roll up their sleeves and be willing to get their hands dirty. During WW 2 it was the manufacturing capacity of our nation that was the deciding factor in our country winning that war. For a country to be strong it must have the ability to build the things that its people need. Government handouts are not the answer, the embracing of freedom and allowing people to prosper or fail on their own merits is the only answer.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.