The Fourth of July is a great holiday in Oklahoma. From fireworks to hot dogs, watermelon to a weekend on the lake, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The sunny Oklahoma weather makes it a perfect time to be outside, enjoying the natural beauty of our state and celebrating our great nation with friends and family.
As we celebrate these carefree summer days, it’s all too easy to forget why we can be so carefree — for more than 200 years, brave men and women have fought and died to defend our freedoms and ensure our sacred liberties.
Independence Day commemorates the day when our founding fathers declared their independence from Great Britain, but that declaration would have had little effect without the commitment and courage of soldiers to fight the Revolutionary War. Soldiers in subsequent American wars up to the present day have continued to protect our liberties and ideals.
The freedoms and blessings we enjoy are so expected and commonplace now that we often forget how exceptional our way of life really is. The United States is the freest, most prosperous society the world has ever known, and it is our responsibility not only to protect that legacy for future generations but to use those resources to make the world a better place.
Half a world away, American troops — including many Oklahomans — are fighting to bring freedom to people who have never known it. Each day the newspaper brings another reminder of the true cost of our way of life and how precious our freedoms really are.
Even as we celebrate America’s independence, that’s a lesson we cannot forget.
I hope each of you have a happy and safe Independence Day with your loved ones. To the soldiers and veterans, I want to thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do, in defense of our proud nation.
GOV. BRAD HENRY may be reached via his Web site at www.governor.ok.gov.
Opinion
Independence Day a time for celebration, remembrance
- Opinion
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
If you read any of the letters to the editor in the past two weeks regarding Tuesday’s District 2 Edmond school board race, then you already know that this election is not about the individual candidates so much as it’s about what type of school board do Edmond residents really want governing their school district?
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What are your presidential 10 Commandments?
As we brace for the upcoming presidential campaign, we should be honest about our responsibility in the process. Before we get pushed, pulled, bribed, frightened, bullied, flattered, fooled or charmed into voting for a candidate, let’s take a mature thoughtful look at what the profile of the president should look like. In order to do that, let’s do an exercise. Sit down with a pencil and paper and draft your proposal for the Ten Commandments to be obeyed by the president. Let me share some of my suggestions.
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What would Reagan do today in Oklahoma?
As we celebrated the 101st anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth on Feb. 6, several of us at Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs started discussing what Reagan might do today. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.
- LETTER: School counselor says Roy ready to help all students
- LETTER: Supporter calls Duncan 'a firecracker'
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Consequences of an overregulated nation
Overreaching government regulations are costing jobs and killing our economy. They are a heavy burden on our nation and its citizens — in some cases worse than our nation’s increasingly out-of-control debt.
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LETTER: Supporter: Duncan shows passion for children’s needs
To the Editor:
The families in the Edmond Public School District are fortunate to have Kathleen Duncan as their advocate on the Edmond Board of Education. Duncan has worked tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of the Edmond schools’ students. -
LETTER: Teacher supports Duncan’s re-election
To the Editor:
On Feb. 14 patrons of District 2 have an opportunity to re-elect the current president of the Edmond School Board, Kathleen Duncan. Duncan has served as a board member for 10 years. When people move to the Oklahoma City area, they buy a home here because of the exceptional quality of Edmond Public Schools. This speaks to Duncan’s goal of “Excellence in Education for All Edmond Public School Students.” -
LETTER: Supporter: Duncan understands diverse issues
To the Editor:
Kathleen Duncan understands the diverse issues that effect our schools. She carefully studies the district’s issues and works tirelessly as an advocate for all students. Her votes as a board member have an impact for years to come and she takes that responsibility very seriously. - LETTER: Reader says incumbent's personal agenda in the way
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
