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Don’t Mess with Texas
Opinion: Let’s become tolerant of intolerance
Is there a way to overcome religious intolerance? In America, the question holds critical importance because American society is highly religious and remarkably diverse and – on religious matters – considerably more politically polarized than 25 years ago.
The United States prides itself on welcoming people of different faiths. The Bill of Rights begins with a guarantee of freedom of religion.
Over the last generation Americans have grown more comfortable talking about race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation, but not faith. It’s too personal and divisive – too explosive. We haven’t completely figured out how to conduct a productive conversation among people whose cherished religious beliefs – exclusive God-given truths – cannot be reconciled.
Many Americans harbor unfavorable attitudes toward those who harbor different beliefs, notably Muslims and Mormons, but also evangelical Christians, Catholics, Jews, and the most disdained group of all, atheists.
The Bill of Rights also promotes freedom of speech – even hateful speech. When it comes to free speech, it is always edifying to see how people deal with opinions, particularly religious opinions they despise.
Take for example, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church. That name always gets folks’ blood boiling. Anyway, this group is based in Topeka, Kansas, and their point of view may reasonably be described as loathsome to most people in America.
Westboro’s philosophy is rooted in Marxism – Groucho Marxism. “Whatever it is, I’m against it,” Groucho sang in “Horse Feathers.” That pretty much sums up this ugly, hateful group. It seems to be anti-everything and is conspicuously anti-gay and anti-Semitic, and has gone the extra mile to earn the scorn and contempt of most Americans by picketing the funerals of soldiers and Marines killed in combat. It calls those deaths God’s punishment for America’s acceptance of homosexuality.
Since being obnoxious and intolerant does not violate the Constitution, and since these people are clearly beyond reasoned argument, and since there are so few of them, you might have thought that a wise response would be to ignore them. That’s what prudent people have sensibly urged. However, good, decent citizens– and more than a few indecent ones – have started gathering around to taunt the Topekans.
They do so in a manner that makes America an inspiration to the world: They shout sexually charged vulgarities and other choice insults and threats. These are not exactly teachable moments. Free expression has been reduced to distasteful simultaneous monologues between the bigoted and the crude.
“A free society must oppose absurd attempts to silence people and to suppress ideas or to ban books that disagree with us,” according to Michael Meyers, executive director of a major metropolitan civil rights coalition. “The fable of ‘protecting’ our children from the ‘hate speech’ is exactly the cry of those who have long opposed positive social and cultural change.”
Even so, isn’t hate speech deplorable? Some people define hate speech as an opinion they dislike, Mr. Myers said. Besides, he said, “hate speech is not unconstitutional or illegal.”
A censorious streak runs stubbornly through this country that regards itself as a bastion of tolerance. It has led to the removal of a billboard that challenged immigration policies and of another that quoted a biblical passage condemning homosexuality. It kept an antiwar message from being put up in Times Square during the 2004 Republican National Convention. It stripped shelters of notices about a free health care information line for gay men and lesbians. Many other examples abound.
Besides being “lazy and disreputable,” censorship can boomerang, Mr. Myers cautioned. Let it prevail and there will be nothing to top other towns and cities from suppressing the speech that we revere – that in favor of pro-life, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-defense of marriage act, plus many other examples.
Even though we may hate each other’s hate speech, we must not become intolerant of intolerance. When we do that we get on that slippery slope that is a very real threat to our republic, and put democracy and the free exchange of ideas, regardless of how loathsome they may be, at great risk.
District Court hears several pleas
The District Court heard seven please resulting in three convictions and four deferred adjudications when it met in Clarendon on Monday, October 1.
District Attorney Luke Inman, assisted by Greg Buckley, prosecuted the cases for the State of Texas with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding.
A total of $14,500 in fines was assessed as a result of the pleas that took place on October 1. In addition to the fines, the defendants were required to pay a total of $3,091.50 in court costs and $52,042.81 restitution.
Jacque Tonnette Martin was placed on probation for a period of three years for the third degree felony offense of driving while intoxicated 3rd or more. Martin pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ, but the sentence was probated for a period of three years.
Martin, 52-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County by Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson for the offense that took place March 7, 2012. Martin was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on August 29, 2012.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Martin is required to pay a $3,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $558 in court costs, complete 200 hours of community service, and all DWI requirements under Chapter 49.
Isaias Ramirez was placed on probation for a period of six years for the third degree felony offense of unlawful restraint. Ramirez pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.
Ramirez, 22-year-old resident of Hedley, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place January 8, 2011, and was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on March 7, 2011.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Ramirez is required to pay a $6,000 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $383 in court costs. If Ramirez violates probation, he could face up to ten years in Institutional Division of the TDCJ.
Jerry Lynn Norwood was placed on probation for a period of two years for the state jail felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. Norwood pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.
Norwood, 47-year-old, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place December 1, 2011 and was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on June 27, 2012.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Norwood is required to pay a $500 fine to Donley County, and is also required to pay $443 in court costs. If Norwood violates probation, he could face up to 2 years in TDCJ.
Allen DeWayne Brown was placed on probation for a period of two years for the state jail felony offense of evading arrest. Brown pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.
Brown, 26-year-old resident of Childress, was arrested in Childress County by Childress Police Sergeant Justin Hunter for the offense that took place March 10, 2012. Brown was indicted by a Childress County Grand Jury on June 25, 2012.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Brown is required to pay a $1,000 fine to Childress County, and is also required to pay $385.50 in court costs. If Brown violates probation, he could face up to 2 years in the State Jail Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Clinton John Stevens was convicted for the state jail felony offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Stevens pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to six months in the Donley County Jail.
Stevens, 35-year-old resident of Wichita Falls, was arrested in Donley County for the offense that took place June 22, 2010 and pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on August 12, 2010.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Stevens is required to pay $473 in court costs.
Shayne Aric Spindler was placed on probation for a period of four years for the third degree felony offense of money laundering. Spindler pleaded guilty and was placed on deferred adjudication for the offense.
The 26-year-old Spindler was arrested in Hall County by Estelline Chief of Police Mike Warren for the offense that took place May 23, 2012. Spindler pleaded guilty to a complaint filed by the State on September 24, 2012.
Laura Hommel King was convicted for the third degree felony offense of aggregated theft. King pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to five years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ after a contested punishment hearing.
King, 33-year-old resident of Clarendon, was arrested in Donley County by Donley County Sheriff Charles “Butch” Blackburn for the offense that took place June 7, 2011.
King was indicted by a Donley County Grand Jury on August 29, 2012.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, King is required to pay $473 in court costs and $51,902.81 restitution.
City sales tax revenue increases
Clarendon’s sales tax revenue ticked up for the second month in a row when Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered September allocations last week.
The city showed an increase for the month of 10.21 percent for a total of $26,327.62 compared to $23,886.43 for the same period one year ago.
The September allocation keeps the city just slightly ahead for its year-to-date figure with $274,415.32 collected since January, which is up 0.97 percent from this same point in 2011.
Howardwick, which increased its sales tax rate last fall, posted an increase of 26.28 percent for the month with an allocation of $1,555.09; and that city is running 25.22 percent for the year-to-date at $14,134.31.
Hedley continued its trend of declining sales tax revenues, dropping 39.25 percent for the month to $174.58 and now reporting a 32.94 decline for the year-to-date at $4,035.62.
Statewide, Combs said sales tax revenue in September was $1.96 billion, up 11.6 percent compared to September 2011.
“Continued strength in the manufacturing and oil and natural gas sectors led to the sales tax revenue increase,” Combs said. “Collections were also boosted by improvement in consumer spending at restaurants and retail stores. State sales tax revenue has now increased for 30 straight months.”
The sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in August.
Officials warn about cases of distemper
Local veterinarian Dr. Guy Ellis reports that there have been several cases of neurologic disease in raccoons recently in and around the Clarendon vicinity that has been diagnosed as canine distemper.
Dr. Ellis urges everyone to reduce exposure to wild animals and vaccinate pets to prevent this deadly disease.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease that is seen in dogs worldwide. Though its incidence has diminished greatly due to vaccination, distemper cases and outbreaks are still seen sporadically.
Canine distemper is caused by the canine distemper virus. This virus can also infect several other species including ferrets and wild animals such as coyotes, foxes, wolves, skunks, and raccoons. Animals usually become infected by direct contact with virus particles from the secretions of other infected animals (generally via inhalation). Indirect transmission (i.e., carried on dishes or other objects) is not common because the virus does not survive for long in the environment. The virus can be shed by dogs for several weeks after recovery.
Puppies under four months of age (before vaccinations are fully protective) and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk. Because canine distemper also occurs in wild animals, contact with wild animals may contribute to the spread of distemper to domestic dogs.
Canine distemper causes symptoms in multiple body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and the brain and spinal cord. The appearance of symptoms and course of distemper can be variable, ranging from very mild illness to fatal disease.
Vaccination is effective at preventing distemper. Puppies are typically vaccinated starting at 6 weeks of age and at regular intervals (every 2-4 weeks) until they are 14-16 weeks old (as with other vaccines, presence of antibodies received from the mother can interfere with vaccines so a puppy is not considered fully protected until the final vaccine in the series has been given). Vaccination should be repeated a year later, then at regular intervals.
For information or to get your pets vaccinated, call the Clarendon Veterinary Hospital at 874-3544.
Aldermen set performance goals for administrator
The Clarendon Board of Aldermen gave City Administrator Lambert Little several goals to work towards if he is to get back in their good graces last week.
Following a closed session that lasted more than an hour, aldermen gave the administrator suggestions about his job during last week’s regular city meeting on Tuesday, October 9.
Little had asked for “measurable goals,” but aldermen led by Abby Patten and Tommy Hill mostly discussed subjective areas for improvement, such as wanting the city to be “run more effectively and efficiently” and asking for better “day to day operations.”
Patten did tell Little specifically to finish up any proposed city policies that were needing approval, and Hill said he’d like to see a report to the board each time Little travels to meetings to let them know what was learned at said meeting.
Mayor Larry Hicks recommended Little also spend more time in the field to see what was happening around the city and also to make sure that employees were doing what they had been asked to do.
The suggestions followed a September 25 meeting during which aldermen gave Little a performance evaluation and then gave him three months to meet their expectations.
In other city business last week, the board opened bids on a Community Development Block Grant project to replace aging sewer lines on the north side of the city.
The low bid from LA Fuller & Sons came in at $267,594, which is about $7,500 more than the funds available through the grant and the city’s match. Aldermen voted unanimously to accept Fuller’s bid.
The board approved a backup agreement with the City of Pampa for solid waste disposal and approved a letter to the State Comptroller’s office reaffirming the city’s power of eminent domain as required by the state legislature.
Aldermen considered and unanimously approved a contract with the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation for the CEDC to administer the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax funds.
CEDC Executive Director Chandra Eggemeyer said she would help applicants fill out the proper paperwork, make sure their requests are proper under the law, and set certain criteria and reporting requirements for recipients.
The Clareneond EDC would have to establish a budget for the HOT funds that would be approved by the city, and Eggemeyer would report quarterly to the Board of Aldermen.
The board also approved a variance for Clarendon G2K, which is planning to build a new dollar store at US 287 and Parks Street across from the City Barn.
City ordinances require the business to have 40 parking spaces for the amount of square footage they are building, but the board vote to allow the business to only have 30 spaces.
Broncos dominate WT
By Sandy Anderberg
The Clarendon Broncos recovered nicely from a slow start in the first half of play in their 35-6 win over West Texas High at home Friday night. The Broncos only led WT by a touchdown at the break at 14-6 but were able to turn up the heat in the second half to get their first District win.
Trajen Johnson put the Broncos on the scoreboard first when he scampered in from 23 yards out, and Ryan Isbell added the bonus. Trevor Cobb added another before halftime on a nine-yard pass from Chance McAnear with Isbell adding another kick for the PAT. WT managed to get six points before the break on a one-yard run, but would fail to cross the goal line again.
“It was a good game for us,” head coach Gary Jack said. “We did what we had to do. Our first half was a little flat after not playing last week, but we tightened up in the second half.”
Defensively, the Broncos had a huge game and several players racked up good stats. Diego Santos and Trevor Cobb each had 12 tackles, and Cobb added one sack and one caused fumble. J.D. Baxter added 11 tackles while Jonah Sell and Tyler Burch helped with 10. Burch also got to the quarterback twice for two sacks. Isbell had eight tackles, and Johnson had seven with one sack. Adam Topper had four tackles and a sack, and John Pigg added four tackles. Tres Hommel had three tackles and a sack, and Charles Mason had two tackles and one fumble recovery.
“Our defense held them in check all night,” Jack said. “These guys played well against them. They were big inside, but we never let them in the end zone.”
Offensively, the Broncos were on the money. McAnear threw for 153 yards going 10-18 with no interceptions. The Broncos dominated on the ground as well and racked up 187 yards. Johnson scored again from 13 yards out, and McAnear punched one through from the nine-yard line. Mitchell Parry scored the Broncos’ last touchdown for the night on a 13-yard pass from McAnear.
“We were balanced in everything we did,” Jack said. “Our offensive line played well. The receivers caught the ball well and our running backs ran hard. It was a good solid game on offense.”
The Broncos will continue their district schedule with a tough game on the road against Panhandle.
“Panhandle is a big game for us,” Jack said. “We have three key games in a row with big opponents that are solid teams. Panhandle, Stratford, and Sunray are back to back. It is a big challenge for us, but we are looking forward to it.”
The Broncos will travel to Panhandle Friday, October 19, and play at 7:00 p.m.
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