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Paul Harvey, Jason Aldean promote small-town values the woke hate
PAUL HAMBY
Special to the Post-Telegraph
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MAYSVILLE, Mo. “In small towns as well as large, good people outnumber bad people by 100 to 1.” Paul Harvey wrote decades ago. “In big towns the 100 are nervous.
“But in small towns, it’s the one.”
Harvey, who grew up in Tulsa, Okla., would regularly showcase examples of small town Midwest values on his radio show.
Country singer Jason Aldean grew up in Macon, Ga. He has been a target of some of the tragedy and terror seen in the past decade. In response to this decline in our culture, on July 14 Aldean released the music video Try That in a Small Town. His song illustrates Paul Harvey’s words.
Here is a sample of the lyrics: “Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk / carjack an old lady at a red light / Well, try that
Liberty Thoughts
in a small town / See how far you make it down the road / Around here we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won't take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don't / Try that in a small town”
Jason Aldean's video was pulled from CMT’s (County Music Television) rotation after just a couple of days. CMT staff and liberal leaning journalists are claiming his video is racist because it has the Maury County, Tenn., Courthouse in the background. That was the location of a lynching 96 years ago. In typical leftist hypocrisy there was no outrage when an episode of Disney’s Hannah Montana TV show was filmed in front of the same courthouse!
Aldean made a statement about the content of his video: “This week I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” he wrote in his statement. “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it - and there isn't a single video clip that isn't real news footage - and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music, this one goes too far. Aldean continued. As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91 - where so many lost their lives and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy, referring to the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart. Try That In A Small Town is about the feeling of a community I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief.”
Word of CMT pulling Aldean’s video went viral. The next day the song shot to number 1 on iTunes and continues at the top spot as of this writing. The video had 346,000 views on YouTube before CMTs announcement. A week later, it had 15 million views and was the highest trending music video on YouTube.
The silent majority spoke supporting Aldean because the values he is singing about are American values - not about dividing people, not about creating violence, but about small communities where folks have each other's back. That is the American culture that made America great.
In small towns, the majority work together to protect the rights of the individual.
Paul Hamby is a free-thinking, conservative farmer and small businessman from northwest Missouri’s DeKalb County.
Practice summertime safety rules in state parks, all of the outdoors
TISHA HOLDEN
Special to the Post-Telegraph
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
School is out and it’s time for summer vacations and many families will be heading outdoors for recreational activities. Don’t turn those days of fun into a trip to the emergency room. Follow these safety tips for a fun-filled vacation!
• Master water safety. Swimming is a favorite summertime activity; however, drowning is a leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4. Always supervise kids and remember, not everyone knows how to swim. Wear a properly fitted life jacket while swimming in lakes and rivers, and while out on the boat.
• Beat the heat and the sun. Overheating and sunstroke can occur in all ages while participating in strenuous activities during hot weather. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing when you’re planning to be outside. Whenever possible, schedule outdoor activities in the morning or evening. If someone starts to show signs of overheating, move them to a cool location immediately, make sure they get plenty of water and seek medical assistance if their condition doesn’t improve or worsens.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. A few serious sunburns now could lead to skin cancer in the future. To prevent sunburn, cover up and use sunscreen every time you go outside. Sunscreen also prevents hyperpigmentation and premature aging.
The American Association of Dermatologists recommends wearing, at minimum, an SPF 30 and choosing water-resistant and broad-spectrum products. Apply more sunscreen than you think you should - a quarter teaspoon on your face, neck and ears, and at least a shot glass-sized amount for an average adult body. Reapply every two hours during continuous sun exposure to maximize protection.
• Keep bugs at bay. Did you know there are 176 species of mosquitoes in the U.S. and more than 90 species of ticks? Protect yourself from bites and diseases, such as Zika, West Nile virus and Lyme disease, all of which can be transmitted by insects. Use insect repellent con- taining DEET that provides long-lasting protection. Check for ticks after being outdoors and if you find one, remove it immediately using a recommended safe method.
• Drink right. Nothing says summer like a fruity umbrella drink, but you really should stay away from alcohol when you’re outside in the sun and heat. It’s easy to get dehydrated in the sun, particularly if you’re active and sweating.
• Check the weather before heading outside. Summer weather can be unpredictable, but thanks to cell phones, we can usually access accurate weather forecasts. It’s im- portant to prepare for the weather so you can dress accordingly and help determine what to bring to keep you safe, protected from the sun and hydrated.
• Wear your helmet. While we don’t recommend you wearing it all the time, we do recommend wearing a helmet when riding a bike, horse, motorcycle, dirtbike or UTV. Be sure your hel- met fits properly and is secure.
• Tell someone. Be sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return. Once you return home safely, let them know. This helps in the event things go awry so they know to look for you if you’re not back in the expected timeframe.
• Keep wildlife wild. While it might be tempt- ing to feed the cute little ducklings by the pond, the baby deer that’s left alone or even get up close and personal to get that perfect picture, remember wildlife is just that –wild! They can be unpredictable and possibly bite or attack out of fear or defense. Be sure to give them plenty of space.
See Outdoors, Page 12
