Opinion

Are rights without responsibility and a “free lunch” destroying America?

Although the Ole Seagull listens to Rush Limbaugh on the radio, much of the time he loses the benefit of his tremendous intellect and logic because of the “noise” of his self-aggrandizement. During a recent broadcast however, Limbaugh blasted through the noise and caught his attention when he defined “the Democratic Party base” as “The  poor and the disadvantaged and the put-out and the put-upon” and asked the question, “Why isn’t it proper [to] point out that the Democrat base is made up, for the most part, of the nation’s losers?” …

Are rights without responsibility and a “free lunch” destroying America? Read More »

Can there be Christmas without CHRISTmas?

This column was originally written over 14 years ago and is modified and republished each year as an Ole Seagull’s testimony as to what Christmas means to him. The political correctness of “Merry Christmas” may change but the true meaning of CHRISTmas will never change.

The “Grinch” never came any closer to stealing the true meaning of Christmas than has trying to be “politically correct.” In recent years there has been a strong move to change the traditional Christmas greeting of “Merry Christmas” to the “politically correct” terminology of “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.” …

Can there be Christmas without CHRISTmas? Read More »

Could Branson marketing math of 2 + 1= 2 lead to a Humpty Dumpty marketing fund?

The short and quick of it is, “That’s the indication.” Normally one establishes a precedent that starts them on a gradual slide down the “slippery slope.” A discussion at the November 22 meeting of the Branson Board of Aldermen about that precedent happening using City Tourism Tax marketing funds to pay off airport bond indebtedness under an agreement with the Branson Airport didn’t stop there however. The statements of two aldermen, Mike Booth and Rick Todd, made during the meeting indicate, at least to an Ole …

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Thanksgiving is all about to whom the “Thanks” is “given!”

Common sense tells an Ole Seagull that something celebrated as “Thanksgiving Day” should be a day of “giving thanks.”  Generally speaking, who among us says “thank you” to “no one?” When thanks is given it is for something and is “given” to the person or entity believed to have provided that something.

Yet, even as some would take “CHRIST” out of CHRISTmas they would take the “Giving” out of Thanksgiving. To whom are we giving thanks? From Coronado’s 1541 Thanksgiving in Palo Duro Canyon, in what is now West Texas, through the 1600 Puritan Thanksgivings in New England, history testifies to the fact that our modern day Thanksgiving is rooted on giving thanks to God for blessings bestowed. …

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Is it time for Branson to change the name of “Ozark Mountain Christmas” to “Ozark Mountain Holiday?”

With as little effort as Branson’s leadership, including elected, appointed, businesses and organizations within the community are putting into promoting America’s traditional Christmas is it inappropriate to suggest that it would be more honest and less deceitful to change the name of “Ozark Mountain Christmas” to “Ozark Mountain Holiday?” Were it not for most of Branson’s shows; Silver Dollar City; the Adoration Parade, which was a Branson tradition well before Ozark Mountain Christmas came into being and a few of its other attractions and businesses actual promoting and celebrating “Christmas,” Ozark Mountain Christmas would be nothing, but the same generic politically correct “Holiday” people can get anywhere else. …

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An Apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Dedication: The republication of this evolving tribute is respectfully dedicated to a “Marines Marine,” the highly decorated Captain Dale Dye, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, who will be the key note speaker at the U.S. Marine Corps Ball being held in Branson on November 10.

It is a sad fact of life that the politicians, and those in power, start wars and that the people of the nations involved bleed, die, suffer, and otherwise pay the price of war. Even in today’s world of terrorist attacks, as the people of countries or ideologies make war on each other they fall into two general categories, “Military” and “Civilian.” The Military or the fighters, generally kill each other and the civilians they believe are making war on them the old fashioned way, directly, with bullets, bombs, suicide or otherwise, terrorism, planes, etc. History testifies to the fact that they, and the civilians their actions impact on, are generally the first to bleed, suffer, and die. …

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Retirement, Emeritus, Airport, Branson and “Ozark Mountain Holidays”

At the outset the Ole Seagull would thank all who wished him well in his retirement. In fact, he is as retired as he will ever be in this world. Thanks to a combination of his own personal failings and circumstances beyond his control, more than likely that retirement will, until he can physically and mentally do so no longer, always involve an active work component. In that regard, he is truly blessed because he is not only able to work, but has the wonderful opportunity of telling Branson’s story and giving people information that will, hopefully, encourage them to factor Branson into their travel decisions and help them plan for and have a great experience when they come to Branson.

His column, on the other hand, has never been a factor in the fiscal aspects of his retirement plan. To him, although he’s sure there are others who see it differently, it has always been a labor of “love” and community service designed to do one thing, give people an opinion that, whether they agreed with it or not, would at least encourage them to think about the column’s topic and what if any further research, action, or involvement on their part was appropriate. …

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It’s time for an Ole Seagull to say, “Thank you” and “Godspeed”

As the Ole Seagull sat down to write a column this morning it hit him. At this stage of his life, with the remaining time he has left to write, he’d much rather be investing the effort and time it takes to write this column each week into writing something that would share what Branson has to offer with the world. Too, this week, as he celebrated his 70th birthday, he was reminded of the biblical passage, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” Although perhaps not soon enough for some, the Ole Seagull’s “appointed time” as a weekly columnist ends with this column.

It’s time for an Ole Seagull to say, “Thank you” and “Godspeed” Read More »

Why don’t the businesses and citizens of Kimberling City and it environs ante up for their own marketing?

When a resident of Branson goes into the Wal-Mart Super Center in Branson Hills they are paying a one percent retail sales tax to be used for marketing. Considering just the retail marketing tax, that’s $1010.00 for $1,000 in taxable purchases. When a resident of Kimberling City or Branson West goes into the Wal-Mart Super Center in Branson West and buys the same $1,000 in purchases their total is only $1000.00 dollars because they have no marketing tax.

Why don’t the businesses and citizens of Kimberling City and it environs ante up for their own marketing? Read More »

What would cost Branson the most tourists, the closeing of its live shows or its RecPlex, city funded outdoor sports venues and Branson Landing?

Seagull, “In your opinion, what would have the most impact on the total number of visitors coming to Branson in the future, the closing of all its live theatres or a combination of the closing of its RecPlex, city funded outdoor sports venues and Branson Landing?” “That’s easy, the closing of Branson’s live theatres.” …

What would cost Branson the most tourists, the closeing of its live shows or its RecPlex, city funded outdoor sports venues and Branson Landing? Read More »