Will Sellers: Nothing to lose?
To coincide with Independence Day, many foreign nationals will publicly renounce all loyalties to their country of origin, pledge their allegiance to the United States, and officially become U.S. citizens. Witnessing people from all walks of life and from every continent become citizens creates an infectious patriotism and offers a rare glimpse into the sacrifice others make to become Americans. In evaluating other countries, Ronald Reagan said that the acid test of a nation’s liberty and system of government is determined by the gate test. This test was a simple observation of a nation’s borders to see which side of the gate had a lock and armed guards. The test is pass-fail. If the country had guards to keep its citizens from getting out, then it fails the gate test, but a country that must guard to prevent people from getting in, passes. This test examines perceptions of future opportunity to determine which country would gain population if people were allowed to accept or reject citizenship based on a vote of their feet. There are some countries that people yearn to inhabit, and others they would leave immediately if they could. Almost since inception, the United States has received high marks on the gate test. But, the journey to citizenship is not easy. Without experiencing or observing the process, it is difficult to fully appreciate the sacrifices legal immigrants make for the privilege of being called Americans. In fact, 70 years ago this month, Lt. Franciszek Jarecki became a United States citizen. His path to citizenship required a literal act of Congress. Because he had defected from Poland and was a former member of the Polish Communist Party, he had to have a congressional dispensation. Unlike today, the Poland of Jercki’s era failed the gate test. Its people wanted to leave, but guards kept them in. Jarecki, though, was a pilot and had been trained to fly the state-of-the-art MiG-15. This high-performance aircraft was by all accounts the best jet fighter in the world. Allied pilots fighting in Korea took notice when this new aircraft was introduced into the conflict. The MiG’s advanced technology had aeronautical engineers scratching their heads. It was critical to acquire one of these planes to fully check out its design and determine its vulnerabilities. To this end, the CIA instigated Operation Moolah, which promised any MiG-15 pilot $50,000 upon defection and political asylum in America. And, to prove the genuineness of the proposal, the testimony of Lt. Jarecki appeared on leaflets that were dropped over North Korea, touting his warm welcome and acceptance. At the time of his defection, Jarecki was only 22 years old. He was an exceptional student, as only elite pilots were allowed to operate the MiG-15. But, in Poland at the time, the Soviet fist dominated everything, and the centuries-long antagonism between Russia and Poland was inescapable. Fences and guards held the people in, and any sense of freedom was extinguished by the Soviet puppet government in Warsaw. Keeping his own counsel, Jarecki shared his desire for freedom with no one. When his unit was moved closer to the Baltic Sea, a military briefing inadvertently revealed that the Danish island of Bornholm was a short distance from his base and contained a small landing strip. One morning while leading his patrol, he decided without much-advanced planning to make a run for freedom. Wanting it to appear that his plane was having mechanical issues while also getting under Soviet radar, he dropped his excess fuel tanks and made a severe dive without any communication with the other pilots on his patrol. Realizing that time was critical, Jarecki flew very low above the water but was noticed by another pilot and began to hear chatter on his radio that Soviet planes were being scrambled to stop him. He was able to avoid further detection and, in a matter of minutes, had landed his plane undamaged on Danish soil. His defection was risky as the consequences were severe. In fact, a few months before his flight to freedom, another Polish pilot had tried to defect but didn’t have an allied airfield as close. That pilot was caught, tried for treason, and without any due process or legal niceties, summarily executed. Jarecki knew the price was high. What he didn’t know was that his mother would be arrested and imprisoned because of her son’s defection—another gate test failure. Nevertheless, he succeeded and provided the West with the first completely intact MiG-15. Engineers from the United States were immediately dispatched to conduct a detailed examination of the plane, and Jarecki was on hand to explain the maneuverability from his pilot’s perspective. Once the aircraft was completely reviewed, photographed, and documented, it was returned to Poland by ship. Even though Denmark was a NATO member, its proximity to Russia and the Warsaw Pact countries was such a cause of worry that Danish officials felt returning the plane, even without the pilot, would serve as a goodwill gesture. Jarecki was treated as a hero, and the Free Polish government in London recognized his service with a medal. From London, he went to the United States, where he confirmed his status as a defector and supplied information about Soviet air capabilities, tactics, and his experience as a MiG pilot. While the United States compensated him and gave him asylum, he could not become a citizen. U.S. policy required anyone seeking citizenship to have been in the country for several years and precluded former communists from an easy path to naturalization. But there was an exception, and that was for Congress to pass an act specific to Jarecki, which effectively waived these requirements. Given the large Polish American population of his district, then-Congressman Gerald Ford sponsored the legislation to allow Jarecki to become an American. Seventy years ago, this act was passed, providing yet another example of how the United States passed the gate test with flying colors! Will Sellers is a graduate of Hillsdale College and an Associate Justice
Birmingham Stallions win second straight USFL championship
On Saturday, the Birmingham Stallions professional football team defeated the Pittsburgh Maulers in the 2023 USFL Championship Game 28 to 12. This is the second year in a row that the Stallions have finished the season as the champion in the two-year history of the new USFL. Stallions Quarterback Alex McGough won the MVP award for the USFL this season before the game was even played. In the game, McGough led the Stallions with 243 yards passing, including four passing touchdowns. McGough led the entire league this season in both touchdown passes and points. Three of those championship game touchdowns were caught by wide receiver Deon Cain, earning Cain the MVP of the championship game. ‘It was the chemistry we had developed, you know. I think it was just the chemistry we developed right from the jump,” McCough said. “Me and Deon trained together in Tampa, so we had that instantly. It was built on reps with Deon in practice. It was built being roommates in training camp. It shows what you can do with a group effort. A group effort will go longer than an individual effort ever will.” “I give glory to God,” Cain said. “I could not do it without my teammates and my fans. I just wanted to be a team guy. I am just grateful for the opportunity that Skip and the Stallions gave me this year.” While the Stallion’s offense ran up and down the field, their defense held Pittsburgh to just 202 total yards. The Stallions are coached by Skip Holtz, who is well-known to fans of college football. The Stallions finished 8 and 2 in the regular season. They then defeated the New Orleans Breakers in the South Division Championship Game to advance to their second straight USFL title game. Car racing is Alabama’s only major league professional sports event, though the state is well known for its collegiate sports teams – particularly football. Alabama is home though to minor league baseball teams, and several summer league football teams have given Birmingham a franchise over the years, including the World Football League, the original USFL, the expanded Canadian Football League, the Alliance of American Football League, and the original XFL have all had teams in Birmingham. The 1980s version of the USFL’s Stallions was probably far and away the best pro team Birmingham ever had. Coached by the late Rollie Dotsch and quarterbacked by Cliff Stoudt with former San Francisco 49er and Auburn University star running back Joe Cribbs – the Stallions (like that version of the USFL overall) played a version of football at or near the level of the NFL at the time. This current USFL is not seeking to supplant or merge with the NFL, but it does have powerful backing from TV networks looking to produce affordable original programming in an environment where there are 200 channel options and dozens of streaming services competing for viewers. Fans of the Stallions hope the league will return for season three. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
This year marks 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg
From July 1 – 3, 1863, the armies of the United States of America and the Confederate States of America faced off in an epic battle in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that largely decided the Civil War for the Union. Today Gettysburg is a National Battlefield Park dedicated to preserving the memory of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who fought on both sides of that battle. To date, Gettysburg was the largest battle ever fought in the history of the Western Hemisphere. Over 10,000 men were killed or mortally wounded, over 30,000 were wounded, and another 30,000 were captured or were missing. In 1863, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant besieged a Confederate army at Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. The fall of Vicksburg would give the Union unfettered control of the vital Mississippi River and effectively divide the Confederacy in half. General Robert E. Lee, seeking both a victory and an opportunity for his hungry and poorly equipped Confederate Army to live off the land of the North, took his Army of Northern Virginia north into Pennsylvania. Lee was uncharacteristically left blind by Confederate Cavalry under General Jeb Stuart, whom Lee thought would keep him abreast of Union troop movement. Instead, Stuart took the Confederate Cavalry raiding. Unbeknownst to Lee, his army’s drive north had been shadowed by the Union’s Army of the Potomac, and the two were about to collide. President Abraham Lincoln had only recently promoted General George Meade to command the Army of the Potomac. Lee had given Confederate Major General Henry Heth strict orders not to engage any Union forces. On July 1, 1863, ostensibly seeking shoes for his men, Heth took an entire division towards Gettysburg for what was essentially a reconnaissance in force. He did not realize that doing so would have enormous consequences. Outside of town, they encountered Union Brigadier General John Buford’s cavalry dismounted, maintaining a line of defense outside of the town of Gettysburg. Believing they could easily push aside the smaller force and not knowing that the full Army of the Potomac was so close by, Heth attacked. Buford realized the importance of the moment and sought to hold it for as long as possible. He was soon reinforced by Union Major General John Reynolds’ Corps. Reynolds repulsed Heth’s attack, though it cost him his life. More Union and Confederate forces arrived on the battlefield, and things rapidly escalated that first day. Meade then put Major General Winfield Scott Hancock in command of the forward elements of the Army of the Potomac in the place of the fallen Reynolds. At Hancock’s urging, Meade committed his full force. Perhaps over-eager to win a crushing victory over the Union, Lee ordered an all-out attack, committing his full Army of Northern Virginia. From almost immediately following the battle to the present day, military historians debate the decisions made by commanders in those three days. If Lt. General Dick Ewell had attacked with more vigor and taken Cemetery Ridge, if the Confederates had committed more forces to the assault on Little Round Top, if Lt. General James Longstreet had hit harder on Day 2, could the Confederates have won? If the South had prevailed, what does the world look like today? While the battle was a Union victory, Lincoln was terribly disappointed that Meade did not pursue Lee and crush the Army of Northern Virginia. Could the war have ended in July 1863 rather than dragging on for two more years? Meade’s defenders argue that if he had pursued Lee, then Lee could have turned the tables in the rematch. Those questions will never be decisively answered. What we are left with is that thousands of Americans, including many Alabamians, fought on that field 160 years ago, and their memory will not be forgotten. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference rescheduled to October
The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association announced on Saturday that it has rescheduled its inaugural Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference from July 14-15 to October 13-14. This was largely due to the unexpected news that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) has stayed the awarding of Alabama Medical Cannabis licenses pending an outside review of the applications. A court has also stayed the final license awards. Chey Garrigan is the founder and President of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Industry Association. “We would like to inform you that the Inaugural Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference, originally scheduled for July 14-15, will be rescheduled to October 13-14,” Garrigan said. “We are excited to bring you an even more impactful event that aligns with the progress of the state’s medical cannabis program. In light of recent developments and the postponement of license issuance by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, we believe it is essential to ensure that the status of the state program is at a point where we can make significant contributions to the industry during the conference.” “We have taken into consideration the feedback and concerns raised by our members and participants, and we want to provide you with the most valuable and meaningful experience possible,” said Garrigan. “By rescheduling the conference, we aim to create an environment where we can delve deeper into the latest insights, strategies, and opportunities in the ever-evolving cannabis industry.” Garrigan said that the conference will include first-night festivities on October 12, coinciding with National Farmers Day, to celebrate the role of farmers and highlight their contributions to the cannabis industry. “We are committed to ensuring that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and growth within the industry,” Garrigan said. “With the rescheduled dates, we can make certain that our conference aligns with the progress of the state’s medical cannabis program, allowing us to have a more substantial and meaningful impact. Please mark your calendars for October 13-14, with first-night festivities on October 12, and stay tuned for further updates.” Garrigan told Alabama Today that the uncertainty swirling around the state’s medical cannabis industry following the stay in the awarding of licenses by the Commission has created new advertising and sponsorship opportunities for persons and entities seeking to be involved in the inaugural conference. In May of 2021, the Alabama Legislature passed and Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation creating the AMCC and tasking them with setting up the rules for starting up a tightly regulated medical cannabis industry in Alabama. In August of 2022, the new Commission adopted rules, including a timeline of events that would lead to the final awards of medical cannabis licenses to a limited number of entities in July. That process has been indefinitely postponed due to the announcement that the license applications have been stayed by the Commission itself – and then stayed by the court. Alabamians with a demonstrable medical need will be able to obtain Alabama-grown cannabis products recommended by a doctor starting sometime in 2024 at the earliest. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
