Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Opinion
Tuesday, June 30, 1998
OBSERVATIONS
By Mac McKinnon
Howdy, welcome to
all the rodeo fans!
This is the BIG week in Pecos, Texas.
I don't believe I have to explain that statement to anybody
as everybody knows Pecos is the home of the World's First
Rodeo and our 116th annual rootin', tootin' event is
underway.
Tomorrow of course is the big parade which is one of the big
events along with the Old Timers' Reunion and all that goes
with it. Of course, things got underway last week with the
Golden Girl pageant and Little Miss Cantaloupe contest. Then
came Fiesta Night in Old Pecos along with the Cantaloupe
Festival.
It's a week and a half long party that has fun for
everybody. In the many communities I've lived, this is
probably one of the most exciting events that takes place
anywhere that I know of and one that involves just about
everybody, not only from Pecos but the surrounding area.
It is one of Pecos' many claims to fame!
To all the visitors who are here, a great, big HOWDY, and
WELCOME! We're glad you're here and hope you have a good
time.
For people who've never seen a rodeo, the West of the Pecos
Rodeo is one of the most exciting rodeos you can see
anywhere. It's full of action and there are no dull moments.
It's not like other rodeos that have become showcases for
entertainers, this is rough and tough rodeo action from
start to finish.
There's actually six nights of the rodeo, starting last
night and there will be additional action Saturday morning.
We've heard it said over and over by many visitors - some
who've seen rodeos and others who are seeing a rodeo for the
first time - that this rodeo is the best.
This is the time of year when many former residents return
home to see old friends and renew acquaintances. A number of
classes will hold reunions. We've tried to post much of that
information from individuals who will be here on our
Internet page - www.pecos.net/news under rodeo information.
As usual, we also have all of the winners from last year
posted on the West of the Pecos Rodeo internet page, one of
the best pages on the internet about the rodeo (again that
is available under the Pecos page).
Many of the cowboys and cowgirls enjoy coming to Pecos for
this big event, not only because of the big prize money
available but because the stock provided by Bad Company is
the best anywhere in the country and the committee that runs
the rodeo does a bang up job making people feel welcome and
providing needed information.
There's a lot of work that goes into putting on such an
event as this and the work goes on all year long. Things
really get intense for the two to three months prior to the
rodeo.
That translates into fun for the spectators and a great
opportunity for the competitors. Take time to take part in
this fun time in Pecos, Texas. It's something you'll never
forget and you'll find out why this is such a legendary
place in the annals of history.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mac McKinnon is the editor and publisher of
the Pecos Enterprise whose column appears each Tuesday. He
can be e-mailed at: bigmac@bitstreet.com.
Your View
Pecosite upset over rapper's performance
Dear Editor:
I was embarrassed and ashamed of being there with the kind
of vocabulary used in rap music at the Night in Old Pecos
Saturday night on the Oak Street Stage.
We don't need this kind of thing in Pecos at social events
or family gatherings. Soon we will have the 16th of
September Fiesta, Fall Fair and other events. They are very
family oriented and we don't need that kind of music.
I was so embarrassed and upset that I left the fiesta.
David Reyes
Critic's Corner
Cartoons highlight kids' point of view
Have you ever stopped to wonder what young people think and
feel about current events?
You can find out in the 10th anniversary edition of a series
of books that spotlights the funniest and most enlightening
editorial cartoons by K-12 students nationwide. Published by
Zino Press Children's Books, Editorial Cartoons by Kids 1998
features the winners of the 1998 NewsCurrents Student
Editorial Cartoon Contest.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the book and contest,
this year's winners were selected by Mike Luckovich, the
Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for the Atlanta
Constitution. Luckovich writes in the book's foreword that
"these kids are not only aware of what's going on in the
country and world, they also have the intelligence to
comment on issues in a cogent and often funny way.
The paperback book costs $10.95 and is in paperback with 208
pages. It contains information on how kids can enter the
yearly contest. The contest is open to those 7 years old and
up.
The book will be available in September through Amazon Books
on the Pecos Enterprise web page link, www.pecos.net/news or
at your favorite book store.
Cartoons are by youngsters from all over the country and are
very insightful. If you wonder what kids are thinking about
current political issues, this book is a must see.
MAC McKINNON
Guest Column
Memories of the Fourth of July and our flag
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a guest column provided by Fayanne
Teague and reprinted in the Pecos Enterprise with her
permission. Teague is from Irving and the subject of her
editorial is the Fourth of July.
By FAYANNE TEAGUE
The year I was in the third grade was my first memory of the
Fourth of July. The following September, when I was in the
fourth grade, the daily flag ceremonies took on a new
meaning for me.
I remember all the students in our school gathering around
the flag pole in the school yard. We stood at attention and
held our right hand with arm out-stretched as the flag was
raised. When it reached the top of the pole and the rope was
securely tied, everyone recited the pledge of allegiance.
This continued every school day until 1941. During the
second World War, we were taught to place our right hand
over our heart to pledge allegiance.
The students chose to raise the flag were instructed to
carefully unfold it without letting any portion touch the
ground. If it touched the ground they were never allowed to
raise it again.
Every afternoon it was lowered, properly folded and
carefully carried into the school office for safe keeping
until the next morning.
We all had great respect for our flag, but little knowledge
of its deep history and origin. We all knew there was a star
for each state and the thirteen red and white stripes
represented the 13 original colonies. It was common
knowledge that it became our official flag after the signing
of the Declaration of Independence.
Back then we were taught that Betsy Ross made the first
flag. Today, most historians do not support that theory. It
is amazing how the facts of history suddenly change.
Through the years, I discovered other interesting facts
about the flag. Originally, a star and a stripe were to be
added for each new state. Our congress soon discovered that
more stripes was an impossible task so they proposed there
would only be 13 stripes. After a state joined the Union a
new star was added the next July fourth.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a flag as a piece
of cloth of individual size, color, and design used as a
symbol. Most flags will use at least two or three of the
seven basic colors.
I always believed the colors, red, white and blue were
chosen because they looked patriotic. Each color has a
meaning. Red represents hardiness and courage. White is
purity and innocence. Blue stands for vigilance,
perseverance and justice. This information has reinforced
the meaning of the flag.
Our teachers taught us to respect the flag. Today, I am
appalled at the flag being printed on shirts, jackets, ties,
napkins, boxes and hundreds of other items. Flags are flown
twenty-four hours a day and left in place even during rain,
hail, sleet or snow. To wear or use the flag in this manner
should be considered a punishable offense.
There are many ways to celebrate their fourth of July. You
can have a cookout or picnic. You can celebrate with family,
neighbors and friends. You can shoot fireworks, observing
all safety precautions.
However, the three most important ways to celebate are to
properly fly the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing
the Star-Spangled Banner.
Our flag is still a "grand old flag" two hundred and
twenty-one years after the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. Long may it wave over the land of the free and
the home of the brave. Have a happy Fourth of July.
Return to top
Pecos Enterprise
Mac McKinnon, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise
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