Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Opinion
Tuesday, July 14, 1998
OBSERVATIONS
By Mac McKinnon
Adults should remember
kids learn by example
I know that everybody has certain things that annoy them.
I'd like to hear about things that you don't like as it may
help to get things off your chest.
At the top of my list is the intense heat that we've been
having and the lack of rain. There's nothing we can do about
it but endure but tempers seem to be running short because
of the heat and lack of rain.
Plus, I know that it is a big economic factor in this area.
The lack of rain and high temperatures may be helping a few
crops but the cattle people are really having a tough time.
Bumper stickers that have a crude message also bother me. We
try to watch what we print as this is a family newspaper.
Yes, I'm aware that occassionally we let things slip in that
probably shouldn't be read by children but we do try to not
do that.
People should remember that young people also see bumper
stickers. One such sticker that I find really bad is "My kid
can whip your honor student." What kind of message does that
send?
There is a window decal that has gained popularity with the
Calvin and Hobbs character shown "relieving" himself. I
don't think that is appropriate. Some people may find it
funny but the humor is lost on me.
There are a number of other bumper stickers that I'm sure
infuriate some people because of their message as well as
being inappropriate. Some I don't agree with but that's
beside the point as everyone has the freedom to express
their thoughts.
I guess you could call me a prude but I'd like to think I'm
old fashioned in that some things are better left unsaid and
certain thoughts are not subject to public display.
Some bumper stickers are just plain vulgar and it wouldn't
do to print those here but I'm sure most people have seen
those kind. People need to remember that adults aren't the
only ones who see such stickers. If young people see such
language on public display used by people they know and
respect, what are they expected to think and do.
Remember that kids learn and do what they see adults doing
by example.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mac McKinnon is the editor and publisher of
the Pecos Enterprise whose column appears on Tuesdays. He
can bee-mailed at: bigmac@bitstreet.com
Your Views
Old heroes, friends will be sorely missed
To The Editor:
You know, one of the toughest things about growing old is
that you begin losing your friends and your heroes. I lost a
couple these past few weeks...one was just a celluloid hero
that I spent hours upon hours watching in the Cactus Theatre
down at the end of Oak Street across from Brownlee Hardware.
The other one, well, he was a hero and a friend and sort of
a relative...his momma and my granddad were half brother and
sister.
Both were cowboys. Now my heroes haven't always been cowboys
but certainly a princely number of them are and were. These
two were among the very best. Roy Rogers was handsome, clean
cut, always played fair and could ride like the wind. Howard
Collier (we called him Howard Junior to differentiate him
from his father who left us way too soon, also) was the same
but just not as well known. As a little boy all I could do
was watch Roy on the screen but, Howard Junior, now that was
another matter. He always had time to show me a rope trick
or put me up on his horse or just talk to me like a real
person. On top of it all, I was fortunate to know him as an
adult and count him among my very best friends. I loved him
very much and even now as I write this it is hard for me to
accept that he is gone...
...no, that's not right. They're not gone but they're just
in another place where, by the grace of the good Lord, we
might be someday. And you know what, I'll bet that Roy and
Howard are riding all over heaven having the time of their
after-lives. That notwithstanding, however, we'll still miss
'em like the dickens, won't we.
ROBERT N. HUGHES
Dallas, Tx.
Musician thanks everyone for support
To The Editor:
To the People of Pecos.
As a child, I remember when I used to pretend to be every
singer I could possibly think of. I remember watching the
Super Bowl or the World Series and anxiously awaiting to see
who was going to sing the National Anthen. I remember
learning the song and performing in my room, in front of my
mirror, with a can of hairspray as my microphone. It's
funny, though no one was there, I could still see thousands
of screaming people as I sang our nations song.
Growing older, the struggle became tougher in making my
dreams come true. I would practice every day and dream a
little bit more. In the sixth grade, a couple of buddies and
I formed our first band. It lasted for about a year, but
throughout that year I realized what I wanted to do for the
rest of my life.
I began setting goals for myself, and shortly after, my
dreams became the goals I was setting. As the years rolled
by, I have experienced life in a more positive way,
regardless of what I had to deal with. The music has kept me
alive and has helped me in every which way I can think of.
On April 27, 1996, a local band came into the music market
and took off faster than what was expected. Where ever we
performed, the people came. We immediately learned the
meaning of hard work. We never tried to be anyone on the
stage or off, and you accepted us for being our own selves.
For that, I am deeply in debt to the people of Pecos, Texas.
It seems like where ever I perform, you are there to support
me whether it's with the band or not. Now that Imprezion is
fixing to part, and spread their own individual wings, I
would like to spread my most sincere thanks and love to
everyone in this city for all the support and love you've
shown towards me. I wish I could thank everyone
individually, but unfortunately, I am limited to space.
For all of those who read this, and wonder who I am
thanking, it's you. Words cannot express my feelings for
everyone who made a lot of my dreams come true. Thank you!
P.S. Watch me conquer the rest!
Musically yours,
Mark Anthony
Imprezion 1996-98
Our View
Extra five miles will help on lonely highways
Texas roads, without a doubt, are the best in the world.
That's particularly true of our Interstates although all are
funded by the federal government.
The Texas Department of Transportation apparently just knows
more about how to maintain roads plus our weather is better
for roads than in other states.
All of that being said, the question arises of why other
states have higher speed limits than Texas?
Montana does not have a speed limit, except at night, other
than speed must be reasonable.
Many other states such as New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado,
Wyoming and others have a speed limit on Interstates of 75.
Texas has vast, wide open spaces much more so than any of
the other states although Arizona, Wyoming, Montana and
South Dakota do have wide open areas, but not as much as
Texas.
We would like to encourage TxDOT and the state legislature
that convenes in Austin to consider taking up this issue.
This extra five miles an hour can make a big difference in
covering the vast areas we have to drive in West Texas.
GUEST COLUMN
Casablanca should be named best movie
By DON WHITLEY
The American Film Institute released their 100 best American
movies on June 17 and named "Citizen Kane" as the best
movie. "Casablanca" came in second. I beg to differ.
"Casablanca" is the best American film.
Humphrey Bogart never said "play it again, Sam," in
Casablanca. What he did say was "play it, Sam." It was just
one of several famous lines from this classic movie.
Claude Raines had the best lines, "I'm shocked, shocked to
see gambling going on here" and "round up the usual
suspects." These quotes have been used down through the
years without most people realizing their origin.
How many lines have you ever heard quoted from "Citizen
Kane?" None, I'd venture.
"Casablanca" captures for all time the uncertainty,
heartbreaks and separation of global war. The movie was
released in 1943, at the height of World War II when the
outcome was still in doubt. Many a tearful goodbye was said
in those days and many a fear came true. Even after more
than 50 years this movie conveys this feeling.
Everyone has their favorite movies, ones they can watch over
and over.
My favorites are the old westerns and I'm not talking about
the Saturday afternoon offings of powder-burn shoot'em-ups.
These westerns played on the main marqee, and most were made
between 1945 and 1955. I would like to list my ten best
westerns of all time.
1. Red River (1946) - John Wayne, considered by many as best
western ever made.
2. Shane (1953) - Alan Ladd. Ladd's greatest role and his
classic confrontation with Jack Palance is unforgettable.
3. High Noon (1952) - Gary Cooper. The laconic Cooper won
the Academy Award for this movie.
4. Winchester '73 (1950) - Jimmy Stewart and Dan Duryea are
on opposite sides in this film.
5. Stagecoach (1939) - John Wayne. This western was directed
by master John Ford and propelled Wayne to major stardom.
6. The Searchers (1956) - John Wayne in a rough and tumble
role. Director Ford used monument Valley as its background
in vivid technicolor.
7. Ramrod (1947) - Joel McCrea. McCrea made many fine
westerns and "Ramrod" featured his best works in his prime.
8. The Plainsman (1940) - Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan
play off each other in this movie loosely based on Judge Roy
Bean, Law West of the Pecos.
9. Big Country (1958) - Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston
clash in a big western.
10. Panhandle (1950) - Rod Cameron. Cameron was a tall,
lanky man who fit perfectly in a western. This was probably
his best.
We can't end this bit on westerns without mentioning the
passing of Roy Rogers last week. His life and his works are
models for everybody. Only Gene Autry survives from this
heyday of westerners.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Don Whitley is a staff artist of the Pecos
Enterprise and a member of press room group.
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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
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Copyright 1998 by Pecos Enterprise
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