Opinion

As the month of July comes to an end and the Olympic games begin to heat up, I hope you are rooting for the red, white, and blue every step of the way. An athlete to keep an eye on is fellow East Texan, Mackenzie Brown, of Flint. As the lone East Texas Olympian, Mackenzie has advanced to the round of sixteen after wins in her first two individual archery matches against competitors from Germany and China. The two-time Olympian grew up bowhunting with her family, and she found a love for competition as a teenager. Here’s hoping Mackenzie will bring a medal back for the United States, and specifically those of us in East Texas.

If you noticed the title change, let me explain. My Musings began over six years ago on behalf of the Museum but will henceforth continue for the Museum AND Madison County Historical Commission. The latter has several goals, including a new book of local history, Volume 3, and I feel like history is history, it’s hard for me to split.

As we approach the month of August and the start of another school year, I hope you and your family enjoy the remainder of the 2021 summer vacation. In preparation for the first day, I would like to remind everyone that Texas will host Tax-Free Weekend from August 6-8. Tax-Free Weekend provides an excellent opportunity to get our children ready for school while saving money on tax-exempt items such as clothing, shoes, and school supplies -- mark your calendars, as this is a great opportunity to save money.

Mackie shares that the Bedias Library will resume regular hours the first week of August. If you would like to volunteer to help keep the library open and active, please give Mackie a call, 936- 355-0642. Please go to www.facebook.com/BediasLibrary. home for more information and updates.

With COVID restrictions lifted statewide and summer vacations still an option before school gets started next month, I sincerely hope you and your family will consider making the trip to Austin for a history and civics lesson at your State Capitol. And with the Legislature in the midst of a Special Session, there’s no better time to see your government in action. As a reminder, my Capitol office is always open to you, and my staff is more than happy to show you around. We can arrange for a tour of the State Capitol or even give recommendations of places of interest in the area, such as the Governor’s Mansion, Texas State Cemetery, or the Bob Bullock State History Museum. Hope to see you soon!

Some things at the Museum seldom change. The Truman Kimbro exhibit is permanent, as is another dedicated to the courthouses of Madison County. The case full of arrowheads stays, and one of the photos from local communities doesn’t change much or often. But if all stays the same, why should you make another visit?

As many of you know, Governor Abbott called upon legislators to return to Austin on July 8 to begin the first Special Session of the 87th Legislature. On Wednesday, July 7, the Governor announced the Special Session agenda. As expected, election integrity and bail reform were on top of that list, along with nine other items of interest.

On an unseasonably cool Thursday, July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared what its delegates had voted on just two days prior: total independence from King George III and Great Britain. In doing so, the founding fathers pushed back against tyranny, creating a new form of government whose power was to be derived only from the consent of those they govern. Their plan was for all citizens to be equal, and for all to have the right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Radical at the time, the actions of men such as Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson paved the way for the United States Constitution just 13 years later, and what we know today as the longest standing democracy in the world.