Oklahoma City FRIDAY, Friday, December 7, 2018, Page 10
Editorial Page
OPINION OUR STAND “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (quoting Jesus). The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” – Edmund Burke paraphrase, 1767. If you want it in the paper, it’s advertising. If you don’t want it in the paper, it’s news.” – Ancient Chinese Proverb. “Without, or with, offense to friends or foes, We sketch your world exactly as it goes.” – Byron, 1818. “Every violation of truth is a stab at the health of human society.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1878. “We must always stand – alone if necessary – as the conscience of this community.” – J. Leland Gourley, 1959.
M EMBER OF ON THIS OKC FRIDAY EDITORIAL OPINION PAGE: We urge courtesy in disagreement. We view with favor wise public choices and view with alarm flawed public choices. We give good advice to public officials at federal, state and local levels, and society in general, on what to do right. So, if they don’t take our advice, it’s not our fault. EMAIL YOUR OPINION to: vicki@okcfriday.com
Forget the bows, just stuff it in the bag
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hursday last week I threw the rolls of wrapping paper back in the closet with all the fancy ribbon and tags I purchased at 50 percent off after last Christmas and raced off to get gift bags. Secularly speaking, these bags are the greatest thing to ever happen to Christmas. Stuff the present in the bag, a dab of tape to hold it shut and throw it under the tree. By 2 p.m. Saturday, even that was too
In MY Opinion by VICKI CLARK GOURLEY vicki@okcfriday.com
much. I reasoned my grandsons wouldn’t care about wrapping or bags.
At Crossings Community Church service, I found Pastor Marty Grubbs agreed with me. “The Bible says the Wise Men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. No where does the Bible say they were gift wrapped. “There are two reasons there was no gift wrapping. One is they were wise and two is... they were men.” I love beautifully wrapped packages. It’s just not one of my gifts. (Pun intended)
Christmases to remember Reprinted by request from OKC FRIDAY, December 25, 1980 •••••• ome Christmases I can’t forget, and don’t want to.
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I was 11 years old, living with my uncle, a doctor in Jenny Lind, Arkansas. My mother was bedfast in a hospital at Talihina, Oklahoma, a place that seemed a million miles away. She was dying of tuberculosis. I was going to get to go see her on Christmas Day. I stood by her bedside and she embraced me with the weakened and dwindling arm. She gave her last Christmas present to me. It was a leather-backed, red-letter edition of the Bible. She said, “This is to use. Don’t let it gather dust.” I still have it, lying on the bookshelf near
OKC FRIDAY
The Best of Just One Man by Founder of okc friday
my desk in my study at home. I often think of her commission and sometimes it seems I’ve let it gather too much dust. -jlgMy son Jay, the Washington journalist, was barely 8 years old and a second-grader. It was Christmas Eve. He left Santa the traditional cup of cocoa and plate of cookies on the hearth by the fireplace. When he was permitted to charge into the living room Christmas morning, the chocolate and cookies were gone and there was a note on the tray: “Dear Jay, as you know, I have millions of little boys and girls to take care of every Christmas. I know you will understand, now that you’re getting bigger, that from now on I’m turning my job of visiting you each year to your parents. Love Santa Clause.” He read the note, looked up at me and smiled knowingly.
OKC FRIDAY Nichols Hills Publishing Company PHONE 405-755-3311 www.okcfriday.com 10801 N. Quail Plaza Drive, OKC PO Box 20340 Oklahoma City, OK 73156 VICKI CLARK GOURLEY, CEO & Publisher ROSE LANE, Editor & Deputy Publisher MARY McCUTCHEON, Publisher’s Assistant LOVINA MORGAN, Senior Advertising Account Excel. JASON JEWELL, Production Mer., Web & Sports Editor JENNIFER CLARK, Circulation/Classifieds/Legals Mgr. JOY RICHARDSON, Social and Travel Contributor RON VAVAK, Production, Graphics Designer -------------------------KELLY CLARK, CIO/CISO --------------------------JAY L. GOURLEY, Vice Chairman Emeritus JANNA L. GOURLEY ROUSEY, Secretary Emerita J. LELAND GOURLEY, FOUNDER
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