Football Fracas

Have you stopped watching NFL over National Anthem protests?

It’s football season and that has always been a big deal in this country. But for some fans there is a much bigger deal this year.

It all started last year with Colin Kaepernick, in those days quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, and his decision to protest during games by kneeling rather than standing for the national anthem as protocol demands.

His actions caused an uproar, and it wasn’t too long before Kaepernick found himself a quarterback without a team.

Since then, other National Football League players have used the national anthem as a way to protest perceived injustices. And for many fans, that’s just too much.

While there are those who say the players are merely exercising the First Amendment right of free speech, a lot of other football fans say they will exercise their right as well—to stay away from the stadiums and turn off the TV until the NFL cracks down and enforces some discipline that ensures the anthem will be honored.

We want to know what you think. Have you stopped watching NFL games over the national anthem incidents? Or do you still watch professional football?

Send your response (50 words maximum) to opinion@texarkanagazette.com by Wednesday, Sept. 27. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St., Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday’s paper.

Last Week: Four States Fair

Last week’s question was about the annual Four States Fair and Rodeo. Do you think the fair is a positive for Texarkana? Or do you think the negatives outweigh the benefits?

It’s about 70 years old. I don’t think it’s as positive for Texarkana as it once was. However it’s known in the Four States Area. I believe older folks don’t attend like they used to. The Wednesday night open stage used to be our reason for going. They had some big acts. While out there, we ate and spent a little money. I’m an older guy, and we haven’t been in years because they don’t have any big acts like they once did. — B.J., Texarkana, Texas

From www.facebook.com/texarkanagazette

It has become a carnival and rodeo at this point. It is so sad to see how few entries there are in the Home Arts and Fine Arts now. I remember when both buildings were completely full of entries, there was music every night, there were antique autos to see, and lots of food booths from local schools and churches.

We have not been in many years. There are 5 of us, and even at $30 that is $150 for one night. $150 is grocery money for a couple weeks.

I miss the music on the outdoor stage! I bet there are many local bands that would perform to build their fan base.

I think I would much rather take that $150 we spent as a family of 5 (bought 2 wristbands too) and spend it somewhere else next year. My teens enjoyed being with their friends but were honestly bored after about and hour and a half.

Haven’t given them my hard-earned money since 2010, and then it was only to support the local musicians.

We took the kids to the derby, then walked the midway. We went kidless to extreme bull riding, walked the midway again. Then took kids to ride rides and took them to kid night at the rodeo. We ate all 3 nights. Spent a total of about $450. Not complaining about that. My only complaint is that kids’ night at the rodeo was the same night as $1 ride night. Why would you do that? That leaves no time really for the rides by the time they get home from school, get homework done, and get out there. They might want to rethink the schedule next year. But we all did have fun.

Used to have a Senior Citizen Day. We’d go and eat and walk around. As far as I know, that’s not offered. It’s not worth the ticket price. I used to have students enter the art show, but they went to entries in advance, pay with credit card on the internet. My students don’t, for the most part, have the resources to do this. I believe the deadlines are before school starts. I used to pay cash myself, take the entries and they’d give me the entry fee for the free ticket they got for entering… not an option now. It kills the retail & restaurant business in this town.

We didn’t even go this year because it’s not like it use to be. We went to the festival in New Boston and it was actually better for us. My kids had a blast, had the same rides for their age and we hardly had to wait in line.

Please let me run it for 1 year. I’ll show you how to reduce prices for food, get national entertainment, pack it out every night and make it profitable for Texarkana and the surrounding areas.

I have trouble walking myself, so I notice people with wheelchairs and walkers. I observed an older lady with a rolling walker struggle to get over the huge power cords. I almost tripped several times.

Haven’t been in years. With a family of 4 living on disability, it’s too expensive plus too easy to lose the kids with the way people shove you around.

I no longer go due to not being able to walk very far, plus the cost and the kids that have no parent with them. I feel it’s too dangerous.

It’s sad that just about everything in this town sucks. Can’t have anything family-friendly without people fighting, shooting, etc. Keep the rodeo and other arena events and let the carnival go.

There is six in the family, and to pay $7.00 apiece to get in the gate doesn’t leave any money to do anything out there. We didn’t have money for the kids to ride after that—kids are 6, 6 and 4 and they didn’t understand. They cried and cried.

We paid $6 for our corn dogs. We just go to walk around and eat and after paying entry and a few items to eat we spent $60 easy for 2 people.

New to Texarkana, went to the rodeo Saturday. I enjoyed it, nice crowd, decent stock, and some top cowboys/cowgirls participating. Entertainment was also very nice, but what I really enjoyed the most was the announcer talking about God, family & love for this great country.

Sucks the life out of area businesses. I vote to just have a rodeo and outdoor bands each year without the carnival set.

I thought the carnival people were so much better this year. Nicer and decent. We bought the $30 bracelets, which were a better deal than the tickets. I think you can make the fair as affordable as you want. We ate supper before we went. We did buy a couple snacks/drinks and went to the rodeo. You just have to choose to do what you can. Do not play the games if it’s too much. Eat before you go, etc.

If you can’t afford the fair, you need to budget accordingly. Don’t ruin it for everyone else because of complaints it costs too much. It’s not 1985; everything can’t be a dollar. It comes every year around the same time; it’s not a surprise. Carnys gotta eat too. The fair was awesome— great food and entertainment.

The rodeo is great. They really need to get the disrespectful people under control. If they can’t follow the rules, they need to be kicked out and lose their fair pass.

I think the fair brings families together—the laughter, food rides, trying to win a stuffed animal. All the different smells of the food alone make me gain weight, but I’m not gonna complain because when I take my kids to the fair just the smiles, excitement and the way their eyes light up is priceless. I say keep the fair, and if people think it’s too expensive, etc., then stay home because some of us enjoy the quality family time and making memories to last a lifetime!

This is something our town has had for 75 years … it’s a tradition. Many generations look forward to it … leave it be … can’t wait until next year.

It is not a Four States Fair. It reminds me of the carnival that would be set up at the grocery store. It’s smaller every year with nothing new. Ever since they stop putting up the big tent at the entrance, it has gone downhill.

We had a good time—enjoyed a ride, ate some fair treats we only get once a year, stroll through the exhibits, spent money to win an overpriced stuffed animal. But that’s what it’s all about—fun. Afterwards we went to the Olive Garden and ate. And then shopped at Target. So I don’t think it “hurt” local businesses too much.

My son loves the fair we go on the wrist band days and pay $30 to ride for an unlimited time. Much cheaper than having to buy tickets for each ride, especially since we ride everything many times. Love the food and it only comes once a year. It’s totally worth it to see my son running around and having a great time. We look forward to it every year.

I feel this is a vital part of the community, and an event that helps bring the community back together. The cost is much lower than what I have seen at other fairs, and the special events are diverse and there is something to appeal to just about anybody’s taste. I think it is perfect as it is!

The biggest issue is planning all these events and festivals back to back. I mean in years recently we had a festival downtown in the same weekend as the fair. Prices aren’t cheap but I get that. It’s a fair; they’re never cheap. It does hurt local businesses, but maybe we could make that a bit better by finding ways to involve more local businesses in the fair and local festivals.

Yes, it is pricey when it comes to having a big family, but I mean that’s just how it is when you have a big family. We have 4 children so it is six of us together, but I know how much it is and I plan accordingly months in advance. $30 isn’t all that bad because of everything they offer. If your child isn’t old enough to ride a lot of things, then maybe just buying tickets would be better. Some people just complain about everything!

I think a handicap study should be done and I would like to be a part of it! And try to bring it back to the family-oriented event it was! And try to bring back participation in the arts and exhibits that make a fair! It has become too commercially a carnival and quality of rodeo was very sad!

Drove 140-mile round trip last year to go, was disappointed. The ride choices sucked and the cost of a simple drink was ridiculous. I won’t be going back.

Think about senior citizens more. Need adequate parking and free entry for seniors over 55.