By Charles Melton
Melton’s Musings
Since Christmas is only two weeks away and I didn’t write the traditional Thanksgiving column for my last column, I suppose I’ll get in the holiday spirit with this one. With the theme, “All I want for Christmas,” I promise to do my darndest to make this column the perfect mix of humorous and heartfelt wishes. That being said, here goes nothing.
The first thing I want for Christmas is for all of us, regardless of our race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, income, and any other identifying label to put those aside and take a moment to realize that we’re all human beings who have the same basic needs and wants. Then ask ourselves what we can do to begin bringing a sense of unity and real community to the places we live. Then we need to do it and elect those who show that they’re capable of leading the way. That’s how we make America great again.
The second thing I want is for my alma mater, Texas Tech University, to bring back the tortilla tossing tradition during kickoffs. I was there around the time the tradition started, and back in my day I could flatout toss a flour tortilla. It’s all in the wrist. If getting hit by a flour tortilla offends or upsets you, you’re not West Texas tough, but that’s no reason to ban a tradition, is it?
The next thing I want for Christmas is for government on all levels: local, state and federal to be more open and transparent. If elected officials want the public trust, being as open and transparent as possible is the only way to get it back. Not much grinds my reporter gears more than the two words: executive session. Executive sessions should be the exception rather the rule, but it seems that they’re business as usual for the local governing bodies here. If an executive session is absolutely necessary, at least provide a public statement about the general nature of the executive session instead of leaving the public completely in the dark.
The next thing I want for Christmas is to see The Hutchinson Tribune become the only source of local news in Hutchinson and its surrounding communities. We’re the new kid on the block, but we have the right staff that is fully capable of transforming The Tribune into the go-to source for local news. Our website allows us to report the news as soon as it happens, and our newsletter provides daily snapshots of the important things happening locally. Go to our website and subscribe, so we can prove that we’re the best in town.
Since I’m one of the federal employees who “voluntarily” took the Deferred Resignation Program earlier this year, my Christmas wish for all my fellow federal employees who were forced out along with me is that they find places to be of continued service to our nation and jobs that adequately provide for themselves and their families. They all deserve that at a minimum.
The last thing I want for Christmas is one more Christmas card from my mother, who gave me her love of writing. It wasn’t a holiday without a card or letter from Mom, but sadly one won’t be coming this year. She passed in June, so this is the first Christmas without her. If you don’t do anything else on Christmas Day, be sure to tell your Mom that you love her and appreciate everything she’s done for you. I’m not saying not to go out and buy her a gift, but a big hug or a phone call or even a card will mean more to her than most things money can buy.
Until next year, have a very merry Christmas!
Charles Melton is the news editor of The Hutchinson Tribune. He can be reached at charles@hutchtribune.com