By State Representative Regina Goodwin
As legislators, We were asked by the Governor’s office to hand write individual letters to be placed in a time capsule and opened in 100 years. The Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City was built in 1917 and in 2017 is celebrating 100 years.
As a young girl visiting with my grandparents, Harold and Bethel Parker in Cherryvale, Kan., I experienced opening a time capsule that had been sealed for 100 years. Clearly, it was a memorable event to connect with articles and letters of people who lived, laughed, and loved a century before us. Thought I’d share my letter to be opened 100 years from now…
“My name is Regina Goodwin, at the writing of this letter, I am the State Representative of House District 73 in Tulsa, Okla. As a woman of faith and the only African American woman among 101 members of the House of Representatives, I thank God for the privilege to have been elected to serve Oklahomans. God willing, we have the distinct privilege of communicating, after one hundred years via my writing this letter. By the time this letter is read, the entire world population as I know it will be extinct except for the probably small percentage of people born today blessed to live 100 years or longer.
It is my hope, by the reading of this letter, Special Session of 2017 will be adjourned, and we will have arrived at a budget that fairly shares the burden with Oklahomans and does not place corporate profit over people. I hope race relations are improved and our justice system is equitable for all races, black, white, red, and yellow.
I pass on words from my family members that hopefully encourage you as they strengthened me.
- Service is the rent we pay for our room and board on earth.
- If your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.
- If you can do better, average is not acceptable. Don’t just do, outdo.
- God answers prayers, sometimes he says yes, sometimes no, sometimes God says, you gotta be kidding.
I remember family members who instilled in me the lessons to live a life of faith, love, integrity, courage and action in efforts to uplift others, for my mother and father Alquita and Edward Goodwin Jr., my brothers Eric, Greg and sister Sabrina, my grandparents Jeanne and Edward Goodwin Sr., Bethel and Harold Parker Sr., aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, We urge Oklahoma, in the midst of challenges, adversity and triumphs, “Keep On Keepin’ On!”
Peace and Love, State Representative Regina Goodwin.
