RSS
Using PayPal
Bartlesville Promotion of TWN: Nice Surprise
Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Wednesday, Jan 25, 06, 11:59PM
I really like Bartlesville, Oklahoma -- a small town there just 35 miles north of Tulsa.
I was actually born in Salina, Kansas at a military hospital there, but I've always considered Bartlesville the anchor spot of my family even though I have lived practically everywhere else as an Air Force brat other than Bartlesville (except on long vacations).
The picture above is of my great-grandfather, William Franklin Clemons, who was one of the early ministers in Bartlesville and his son, my grandfather. If you have time and want to go back in time, my great grandfather's journal from the year 1900 is a fascinating read.
This article ran today in the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise and caught me by surprise as I thought the writer needed a few more weeks to find anything worthy of reporting on some of my work.
I don't have a copy but I hear from some other Bartlesville residents that there is a nice picture of Lawrence Wilkerson and me having lunch at Restaurant Kolumbia in D.C. (I highly recommend it -- not only because of the food but because you can actually 'hear' the person you are having lunch with and not be overwhelmed by the clatter and chatter echo chambers that so many modern restaurants have become).
So, a shout out to those in Bartlesville who have been supportive of my crusades. It's a conservative place, but people there have always been open to hearing my less predictable takes on political issues and foreign policy.
And of course...I need to say...hi Mom!
Also, I want to thank the three groups I met in the Bay area -- one group of bloggers and blog fans at Berkeley, another in North Beach, and then the members of the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations last night. One loyal TWN reader, Kim, was kind enough to work her way into the dinner and pay the rather steep price for the meal. It was a pleasure to meet all of you.
To be completely self-critical, I found my blogger conversations more focused, gritty, and really fascinating communal learning exercises.
I'm usually on fire in my talks and fairly focused -- but I think I was too broad and unfocused until questions before the hyper-distinguished crowd (federal judges, academics, former ambassadors, vineyard owners, top SF city managers. . .a very informed and capable group of folks) I had dinner with. I think it still went well, but it just reminds me that this country's population is very diverse, and people are in very different places when they approach the big questions of American power in the world, what to do with it, and what our limits and opportunities are.
In any case, a great two days in California. Thanks to all.
-- Steve Clemons
We all had a great time and I know that I learned quite a bit, thank you. It was nice to find out that someone was actively working to change the situation instead of just complaining about how it will never change. Next time you come out I'm sure we wouldn't mind the opportunity to meet with you again if you have time.
Being an AF brat was great! I claim Lompoc, CA as my home since I spent more than three years there, but Puerto Rico rocked.
Once again, thanks.
Funny you should mention Lompoc -- my father was with Air Force Space Command and Office of Special Projects for 20 years, and I was born at the base hospital at Vandenberg AFB in 1970.
That was a nice article in the Bartlesville newspaper. It is easy to see that the town is proud to claim you as one of their own.
Bartlesville is a nice town, and not too far from the birthplace of Will Rogers -- Oklahoma's "favorite son" and first ambassador to the world. You're following in Will's footsteps, Steve, in a manner of speaking.
Will would have been a blogger in his day if the internet had been around then. He was noted for his daily newspaper commentaries on the news of the world. And, he was always looking for a plan to keep the peace.
Here's one of my favorite Will Rogers quotes:
“I have a scheme for stopping war. It's this -- no nation is allowed to enter a war till they have paid for the last one."
He also said, "I'm a peace man. I haven't got any use for wars."
Steve, you're walking in the footsteps of some great men ... including Will Rogers and William Franklin Clemons.
Keep up the good work, dude!
Bill Bryant
Oklahoma City
(Grandson of a Kentuckian)
Hi Steve,
I grew up in Bartlesville, and live in Tulsa. Now I know why I like your blog so much!
Anyhow, Bartlesville is great, especially for OKMozart, which is a world class classical music festival in early June and for Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. There are quite a few other gems around Green Country as well.
I will be moving to Denver soon, or I would make sure that I met you in person on your next trip to Bartlesville via Tulsa.
Keep up the great work on your blog. America desperately needs more individiuals like you in the media. Or, perhaps, in the government...
Steve,
If you ever want to take a break from politics, here's site where you can perhaps find some more Bartleville and other Oklahoma history:
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/bookshelf.html
Hmm, a hyper distinguished group. Thanksm but I sort of think of our SF Committee on Foreign Relations as a dying breed of getting older foggies, too white, and definitely too male. That's why it was fun to have you, Steve (younger, though male), and even better for you to have attracted Kim to our gathering (much younger, and female). I also considered sending you a digital photo I took two weeks ago of an oil painting of my maternal great grandmother in (drum beat) Salina, Kansas.
Reader Comments (8) - post a comment