Inalienable Rights

About 70 some-odd years ago there was a notorious couple that visited this area on a regular basis. You may have heard of them, they were known as Bonnie and Clyde. There reportedly camped for about a week in the area that is now known as Washita-Point Hide-a-Way. The late Ross McCorstine said that he saw them on more than once occasion at the rooster fights at (old) Woodville.

In the Declaration of Independence we find the following: "We hold these truths to be self-evident—that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Every dictionary that I have checked shows inalienable (Or unalienable) as meaning: "Incapable of being changed." Yet, it seems that our rights are slowly eroding and changing, leaving us at the mercy of answering to a judicial system if we engage in an activity which was once recognized as an inalienable right.

On a recent trip to Oklahoma City, I took the 240 by-pass to get to the state fair. At a Church of God, on the sign where these words: "Happiness is connected to happenings, joy is connected to Jesus." If happiness is connected to happenings and we are guaranteed the pursuit of happiness, then why are we trying to outlaw things that make people happy?

I don't condone or condemn rooster fighting. It is something that others do that makes them happy. Maybe if the rooster fights had been held only behind Abortion Clinics, the offensiveness of the rooster carcasses would have been miniscule compared to what is happening in the front. I run rabbits with my beagles, and yes they do catch and kill some of the rabbits. Sitting on a stump, listening to the music made by a pack of beagles is something that makes me happy. How long do you think it will be before some do-gooder tries to take this right to my pursuit of happiness away from me? Well, it has already been attempted in our state legislature, but thankfully in never got out of committee.

I recently attended the Southeastern Oklahoma State University's NAIA Rodeo. Our own local clown, Cameron Keeton put on a good show and the cowboys and cowgirls did a great job of riding and roping. When the Chickasaw's WinStar Casino hosted a rodeo, Frank Johnson (who is in charge of the Nation's utilities) said that it was the largest crowd he had ever seen. How long do you think it will be before we are voting on outlawing rodeos?

This weekend there were nearly 100 boats just south of Alberta Creek fishing for Stripers. This activity brings in millions of tourist dollars to this area. How long do you think it will be before we vote on whether or not to outlaw fishing?

The so-called animal rights advocates are determined to outlaw every practice that affects a fish, fowl or animal in any way. Why do I call them "so-called"? Because they drive cars, and more animals are killed by cars daily than are harmed in any other way. In my humble opinion, only a hypocrite would claim to be an animal rights activist and still drive a car. How many of you are aware that on the same day that foreign terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, domestic terrorists fire-bombed a Burger King in Arizona? Why? Because they serve beef! I'm a member of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA), which pits out a quarterly publication, exposing the illegal activities of PETA and other so-called animal rights organizations. You can check out NAIA at www.naiaonline.org and receive information concerning domestic terrorism related to animals.

At the Oklahoma State Fair a few years ago, a local animal damage control specialist (known in days gone by as a government trapper) was working a booth for the Wildlife Department. Miss goody-two-shoes came by and started berating him concerning three stuffed coyotes. He informed her that they were eliminated because they were sheep killers. Her response was that they should have been live-trapped and moved to an area where there were no sheep. He then pointed to one and told her that it was killed by an automobile, where-upon she declared that in that case, it was acceptable. He quickly responded, "I had to run off the road and across the ditch to hit it." She ran out of the building screaming "I hate you! I hate you!" In my opinion she was nothing but a self-righteous hypocrite.

Situational ethics may be found in the dictionary, but in my way of thinking, it's a means of justifying our own sins. If I do it and it feels right, it must be right.