Chickashanews.com

Opinion

Related Photos

  • Express-Star Managing Editor James Bright said he does not find his tattoos to be inappropriate, or unprofessional. JESSICA LANE / EXPRESS-STAR

    8-22 jamestats.JPG

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
August 22, 2012

Editor backs tattooed cops

James Bright The Express-Star

CHICKASHA — Are we really still discriminating against people with tattoos? I was flat out shocked to find out police agencies across the country won't hire officer candidates if they have tattoos below the short sleeve line.

I'm sorry, but that's just ridiculous. We trust these people with our protection. Do we really care whether they add a little design, or a lot of modification to their bodies? I would certainly hope not, but it appears I am wrong.

Now, let me be clear. I'm not advocating people walking around in police uniforms with anarchist, or vulgar phrases on their neck. Such things are not protected by our constitution - we have regulations on free speech set by the supreme court after all. But saying we won't hire a former service member like Grady County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Guthrie because he has USAF tattooed on his arm is not only stupid, it's embarrassing. What kind of message are we sending to those who protect our country? These people should be embraced and rewarded for their pride in service. Guthrie, like many officers, served as military police for nine years. He is the ideal candidate for a local policing job.

Obviously I am a bit biased when it comes to this topic. I have more than my fair share of ink, but that does not make me a bad person. It doesn't make me unqualified for my job and it doesn't make me a criminal.

It is simply a personal choice.

I like to think of myself as a community leader. Obviously I am new in the community. I don't carry too much clout, but I believe my head is in the right place. I want to help this county and more importantly this community. I have been embraced by many community leaders who either choose to ignore my tattoos, or simply don't care about them. Honestly, that's how I like it. My body modifications have nothing to do with my professionalism. I understand that tattoos are not for everyone. All I ask is that people don't judge people like me, or people like Deputy Guthrie for our choice of expression. I can promise the citizens that regardless, the both of us will continue to work hard to protect everyone in Grady County and serve them as best we can.

Text Only
Opinion
  • Dorman planning to work with officials on storm recovery

     I want to start off this week by sending condolences to those who lost loved ones, their homes and other property in the storms and tornadoes over the weekend.  As I am writing this column on Monday, we were just allowed to go back to our Capitol offices after tornado sirens sounded about the f-5 which hit the Moore area.

    May 21, 2013

  • Uncle Joe, the windmill man for the Common Good

    South of town, my grandfather’s family grew wheat. North of town, my grandmother’s family raised cattle. Water was important to everyone and everything.  Unless you were fortunate enough to have a live creek on your land, you had a windmill.

    May 14, 2013

  • Inhofe comments evidence of larger political problem

    There is no denying that global warming is one of the most disputed and politicized issues of the last two decades. Broach the subject with anyone that has an opinion on climatology, and that person transforms into a highly educated scientist with years of experience conducting weather related experiments.

    May 8, 2013

  • Dorman prepares for end of session

    The end of the session is growing close.  The anticipated date, which will be a week before the constitutional deadline, looks to be around Friday, May 24.

    May 7, 2013

  • Thank you Bryant Baker for our territorial mom….For the Common Good

    Gazing intently to the southwest with her chin held high, Oklahoma’s Pioneer Woman statute stands as a symbol of courage, faith and hope and is one of the most recognizable sculptures in the United States.  The statue is properly named “Confidence.”

    May 7, 2013

  • Writer looks at constitutionality of presidents

    As I'll be turning 88 in June, I'd begun to lose hope for at last witnessing in my lifetime some legal accountability for the George W. Bush-Dick Cheney-Barack Obama-CIA-national security torture policy instituted after 9/11, which continues today.

    May 3, 2013

  • Seeing the forest and the trees….for the Common Good

    Today, my optometrist would probably call it Macular Degeneration. In the 1940’s my family just knew that my grandfather’s cousin should not have been driving a car.

    May 2, 2013

  • Dorman updates on remaining bills

    I have an update on my remaining bills going through the legislative process.  I will have three pieces of legislation which will need further work, but I expect good, thoughtful policies to come about from them.

    April 30, 2013

  • Editorial: Tax continuation could only be good for Grady County

    Taxes are a necessity for any community on the verge of extreme growth, and Grady County is no different.

    April 27, 2013

  • Perryman touts importance of reading

    I grew up in a house that received a daily newspaper, two weeklies and a number of magazines.  That was the norm.  My grandparents’ homes were the same.  So was their parents’.  Settling in western Caddo County in 1901, my Indiana great grandparents kept up with news from the area where they were raised through the ‘Churubusco Times’ and my Kansas great grandparents did the same with a paper from central Kansas.

    April 20, 2013