On the avoidance of politics

Over the years I have avoided writing about politics. Local, state or national, it made no difference. During my youth sitting on a couple of boxes near the open back doorway of the Haskell County Tribune, I listened as two of the men I most respected debated the issue.

Roy “Dad” Bankhead, publisher of the Haskell County Tribune, and my grandfather, J.H. McBride proprietor of Hays and Buchanan, were the closest of friends. As I sat by the open back door, an oscillating fan stirring the stale hot air toward the back door, that I learned a primary lesson of life. I learned friends can disagree.

Dad Bankhead believed in active and overt participation in the political process. He ran for Mayor and won. My grandfather was convinced that involvement in politics was bad for business.

My grandfather explained to it this way. “Just because everyone on Haskell County is registered Democrat doesn’t mean they think the same.”

And he was right, they didn’t. I recently got a reminder as to the general wisdom of that advice when I begin to hear about the situation of the McCurtain County Gazette. It seems the Gazette, over a period of time, had been attempting to hold some duly elected McCurtain County officials to task.

The newspaper men, convinced that improper and secret meetings were being held, placed recording devices in a county meeting room. Lo and behold, more than improper meetings were recorded. These elected officials were heard plotting to kill the newspaper publisher and reporters because of their reporting.

I next heard our Governor has issued a formal request that our Attorney General look into the matter. That certainly seems appropriate.

I cannot write about investigative reporting and not think of Gene Curtis, long-time Tulsa World reporter, editor and fellow Stigler High School alum. Gene began his career in 1948, remaining with the World until his retirement in 1994.

Genes investigative instincts led to the exposure and conviction of any number of criminals from bootleggers to murders. Gene received his foil share of threats.

Billie and I saw All the Presidents Men was playing on HBO or some similar service. We decided to rewatch it. We had forgotten most of this 1976 film. It seemed new and it was superior. It left us talking about where we would be without this quality of young journalist. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

On the back porch, feet up and flipping peanuts, laughing at the squirrels, I thought, “I wonder about the broadsheets of the 1770 s. Would Thomas Paine would be considered a journalist?”

I was certain of Ben Franklin, my favorite revolutionary reprobate, and Poor Richards Almanac.

The world is changed by your example, not your opinion – Mother Teresa

Hal McBride writes a column, Just Thinkin’ published each week.