Oklahoma once again out of step with reality!

[redstatebluegirl]

I am so embarrassed to be living here. My phone and email have gone crazy with friends from Home telling us to come home. With the passage of the various "measures" they just might get their wish. My husband is a University professor who has quite a few external grants the university uses to help pay bills. They go with us if we go and we are strongly considering it. The budgets cannot stand much more, and other states appreciate higher ed and education in general.

Thank goodness President Obama won! We are so proud of him!

[OKNancy]

1. how about

helping the state or help the many thousands of other Democrats in the state.
Have you even tried to get along with people?
If you are in Norman, I can introduce you to some liked-minded people.. or would you rather complain?

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I think that you totally misunderstand who I am.

I hace lived here for over 10 years. I have kept my peace pretty much. We were afraid to put out signs after we were accosted by a neighbor about outpr politics. My husband would rather I stay under the radar due to the volitile nature of the state.

I am not complaining as much as venting a lot of years of not being able to speak. We have lived on other red states, but this has been difficult.

I have a few friends here who I can talk with. Thanks for the offer...

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. I've lived in and around the Tulsa area

for many years. I have always felt like and outsider here. Tulsa has never felt like home.

That said, I've come to know some wonderful, kind, compassionate and talented folks in Oklahoma.

I've worked in traditionally conservative industries where my employment and earnings have been negatively impacted by my choice to be something other than fundamentalist Christian and conservative Republican. I too have been accosted by a neighbor and had some (minor) property damage after displaying political signs. I have observed business owners in the parking lot noting which employees had progressive bumper stickers on their cars.

I expect my time in Oklahoma is limited. Most of my family is gone and I have neither the resources to spare nor the desire to fight to liberalize Oklahoma. I'll leave that to those who love the place, who call it home and who are willing to make the committment and sacrifices required. After the last few years I'm looking forward to re-inventing myself and perhaps doing so in a place that is a bit more tolerant and respectful of my values.


FWIW, I have also lived in Texas and Arkansas. I found both far more tolerable than Oklahoma - and would consider returning to either given the right circumstances.