Just returned from ten days in "jesusland" (Okla) - ask me anything!

[pantouflard]

Thanksgiving with the family. Lots of "christian" wackos. DU, I am so glad to be back.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. Do you feel pure now?

n/t

[pantouflard]

3. Actually, I feel like taking a shower... (n/t)

[5X]

2. "Whackos"! I resemble that remark. n/t

[pantouflard]

4. I'm just referring to my family members.

All but two are rabid bushies.

[offcenter]

5. Are they

all glowing and levitating at the selection of Our Glorious Leader?
Did they tell you a date when they will all be lifted out of their bodies?

[magellan]

8. Gosh I hope they're right this time

I'm looking forward to the Sanity following the Rapture.

[pantouflard]

9. Gee - I didn't ask! They were blessedly quiet about it.

I did enjoy driving around in the only family car with a Kerry/Edwards sticker on it.

[Can o Beans]

6. See my t-shirt thread (just started)...

Mine were unbearable in NW Oklahoma City.

[pantouflard]

17. link please! n/t

[Can o Beans]

31. woops sorry

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2772735&mesg_id=2772735

[pantouflard]

40. Wow - guess I should feel lucky that my family were

much more respectful than that. I wasn't - wore a great big silver peace sign pendant the whole week! (okay, it wasn't that big, but it was obvious.)

I'm going to read through the thread - thanks for sharing! Sorry it was such a drag. Time to spend T-day elsewhere...

[realFedUp]

7. Generalizing about a group of people isn't helpful

People will disagree about everything...

There are true Christian people following
the Gospel and there are those who aren't.
Most progressive people uphold Christ's
teachings even if they don't regard themselves
as Christians. It's really about how you treat others.

[pantouflard]

10. It's my own family I'm talking about - they are wackos. Believe me.

I grew up there. I know you can't generalize.

[tx_dem41]

11. I think one is allowed to generalize about their own wackos..err family

[hfojvt]

15. It was the "Jesusland" crack

It is like they have stolen everything - the country, the flag, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I denounce them in the words of Ezekiel:
"If I say to the wicked man 'you will surely die' but then he turns away from his sin and does what is just and right - if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns WHAT HE HAS STOLEN, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live, he will not die."
what is evil, is it abortion, sex, and atheism?
No, it is lying (those WMD are here somewhere), stealing (once upon a time, there was this huge surplus ...) and murder (100,000 dead in Iraq-io)

[pantouflard]

26. Yeah, sorry about the "jesusland." It's not a fair portrayal, but

I did feel like I was in jesusland, esp. at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

[Ironpost]

66. I'm from green country myself

and a big family. we were taught to agree to disagree. No politics, no bible at our gatherings.

[hfojvt]

12. did you get to play poker with Bartcop?

[pantouflard]

29. sorry, I don't get it. Is Bartcop in Okla? That would be a surprise. n/t

[hfojvt]

43. Yes, he is from Tulsa

You need to read more Bartcop.

[pantouflard]

54. Apparently I do! Thanks for the info. Guess I spend too much

time reading DU. :)

[tx_dem41]

13. Are the Sooners going to beat the Buffs? nt

[pantouflard]

19. "it's all in god's hands..." n/t

[Can o Beans]

33. I made up this lie about Bob Stoops voting for Kerry

You should have seen the looks on their faces. It was like they locked the keys in the El Camino with the engine running and the Pabst Blue Ribbon sitting on the seat in the paper bag.

[pantouflard]

41. LMAO -- thanks for that!

[demosincebirth]

14. I have a couple of elderly Aunts that live in Wagoner...

and are Christian, but are as liberal as someone from the Haight-Ashbury. Great to talk to. It seems they've lived there since Okla became a state.

[pantouflard]

20. Wish I could meet them - I bet they have a million great stories. n/t

[CornField]

27. Wagoner is my hometown

I probably know your Aunts -- or at least have heard of them. :)

[demosincebirth]

55. One lives on Essie St...

the other on 11th.

[CornField]

16. Eastern Oklahoma?

If you were near the Tulsa area, did you happen to see my family standing on street corners, holding anti-choice signs? (yeah, they really do that)

[politicat]

21. remembering my own acquaintance with anti-choicers...

is there even a clinic nearby?

This is a problem my family in Indiana has. The distant cousins - who are not genetically related to me, thank the laws of inheritance - do the street corner thing in a community in a county that is about 40 miles from abortion services at all.

Smart, huh?

Pcat

[CornField]

24. Closest one is about 45 miles down the road

Not that it matters to them. "People need to hear God's message."

[pantouflard]

22. My family let others do the dirty work of making the world "safe."

[TheCentepedeShoes]

18. What part of the state?

I was born in Chandler. :hi:

[pantouflard]

23. Hey there, okie! I was in Tulsa. Also took a side-trip to

Eureka Springs, Arkansas to visit a gal I grew up with - she is equally progressive. Ah! A bit of sanity...

[KansDem]

61. Eureka Springs?!!

My wife and I spent part of our honeymoon there. I came away thinking it's motto should be "The San Francisco of the Ozarks"

We also spent a few days in Devil's Den State Park. We rented a cabin. After we arrived and began unpacking, I noticed a "Message from the Governor" letter framed on the wall of the cabin, describing the goal of Arkansas to have a quality state park system. It was signed "Bill Clinton." The year was 1988 and that was the first time I had ever heard of him...

[pantouflard]

62. Good ole Bill! n/t

[guitar man]

25. Chandler

Now that's hitting close to home, I grew up on a farm between Chandler and Davenport.

[pantouflard]

28. Greetings fellow Okie!

In which great state do you now reside?

[guitar man]

32. I'm still here in OK

I live in Tulsa and work in OKC. The Oklahoma turnpike Authority is getting a good chunk of change from me these days :(

[pantouflard]

37. That's a hell of a commute! OTA got a little change from me this

trip, but I have to say the Cherokee Turnpike made my drive alot more pleasant. And it's a heck of a lot cheaper than crossing the Bay Bridge or taking a Washington State Ferry.

[guitar man]

45. 92 miles

Yep, it's a tough commute, but there is zilch for me to do for a living in Tulsa right now. The house is paid off and my wife's job is in Tulsa, so it really doesn't make any sense to move. I talked my employer into a 4 day work week, so it really isn't too bad.

[pantouflard]

56. At least you're not paying $2.43 for gas!

Glad you have your house paid off, but I'm sorry you can't work in your own city. Even with all the low prices it's tough to make a real living there. All the best to you.

[Sterling]

67. I'm from Mustang myself.

Boomer Sooner.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

64. My dad was born

on a farm at "Deer Creek" which I think is near the Deep Fork of the Canadian. Later the family moved up (current) Hwy 99 into Payne Co. I still have kin in Cushing and in Drumright (where my dad went to HS). My grandparents were married in Chandler in 1903.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

30. Oklahoma is another Third Reich. They elected Tom Coburn....

statewide. Remember, Coburn is the one who sterilized young girls without their knowledge or permission. What else can be said about "Toby KKKeith Land"?

:puke:

[Can o Beans]

36. OK, funny but true story

My wife's little cousin Luke, the 7 year old son of deluxe ultra-freepers, plays t-ball in the Norman league with Toby Keith's son.

Luke was playing "3rd base" (along with about 4 of his teammates) when Toby Jr. was on 3rd and Toby himself was the 3rd base coach. Toby KKK told Jr to "take off runnin" as soon as the batter made contact with the ball.

Toby Jr. lines out to Luke at 3rd, who miraculously for a 7yo, actually is able to hold onto the ball. He then tags 3rd, and snips Jr. in an unassisted double play. This alone was pretty remarkable for a kid that age. But what came next was priceless: Luke turned to KKK in the 3rd base coaching box and asked, "How do you like me now?"

[pantouflard]

38. That is priceless - what a hoot! n/t

[damntexdem]

34. Well, I just spent T-giving in Kansas, so there!

Of course, driving up from Texas, I didn't find much difference in religious outlook.

[hfojvt]

46. As I told Bob Somerby

420,846 Kansans voted for Kerry, and he won Wyandotte and Douglas counties. Not much different from the US in general where 40% of those who call themselves Protestants voted for Kerry.
BTW, I read this on Bartcop, so I know it is true - Toby Keith is a southern Democrat. He was giving concerts to support some Congressional Democrats. Just to remember this is the Big Tent.

[Sterling]

68. "southern Democrat"= I hate Black people.

There are not as many around as there used to be but no one that supports W can truely call themselves a Democrat.

[pantouflard]

35. Some interesting tidbits from my trip...

I was stunned by how many chain stores have invaded. I saw none of the family or small businesses we knew when I was living there.

Fast food was rampant. It's hard to believe so many fast food outlets stay in business. I saw dozens. In the city I now live in, there are about eight total.

One family member is an avid bush supporter, but is also very upset that there is new drilling for natural gas in her area. Go figure!

[sakabatou]

70. The only chain restuarunt I like is

Fresh Choice.

[dhinojosa]

39. Did you say grace?

Was it up to "jesusland" standards?

[pantouflard]

42. When it came time to choose someone to "give the blessing"

I was holding my breath. (My grandparents do that to me all the time.) I am able to say I am thankful for not being chosen. I think they have surmised that I am an athiest.

[hfojvt]

49. God's neat, let's eat.

That's a favorite of church youth everywhere. Next to "rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub."
Our childhood prayer was:
"Bless, Oh Lord, this food for our use
and us to thy service
and make us ever mindful
of the needs of others."

An atheist can support the idea of public service and empathy, right?

[pantouflard]

52. Praise the lord and pass the sauce!

Never heard the "god's neat" one.

BTW, I like the idea of giving thanks for meals, or anything else for that matter. We should all be mindful of the needs of others, as long as "others" includes everyone on the planet and not just those in your family or group.

[greyfox]

44. I strongly suspect

they were just as glad to see you go.

No wonder the Repubs think we Democrats have NO morals or scruples or love of Christ.

[Sterling]

69. I am sure that being good christians

They forgave him. Probably not though. "Christians" are not very Christ like these days.

[King Coal]

47. How's Bartcop doing?

[Dinger]

48. Hell, I Feel Dirty Channel Surfing Past FAUX

Good to have you back :)

[pantouflard]

51. Thanks! Got a dose of Faux while I was there...

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

50. Did you go on any of the rides?

Or did you just buy the official jersey?

[spinbaby]

53. See any good yard decorations?

For some reason, the deeper the red, the more extravagant the yard ornaments. Down near my sister in-law's in Tennessee, it approaches the bizarre. The best I saw were the blinking guardian angels. I knew they were guardian angels because they had a plywood sign next to them that said "guardian angels." Also, we spotted a snowman nativity scene down there.

[hfojvt]

58. I noticed that in Kansas

But in this town, some houses decorate for Halloween, St. Pat's day, Thanksgiving. Also, I typically find the biggest displays to be non-religious - it is all lights, snowmen, santas and reindeers.

[pantouflard]

59. I've never seen better x-mas lights than Tulsa's...

It's just astounding, the show people put on there for the holidays. We had a good drive around town gawking at all the beauty. (I'm a sucker for lights.)

Didn't see any Frosty Nativities, though - that's hilarious!

[Steely_Dan]

57. Are you now born again?

[pantouflard]

60. Honey, I've been dipped AND sprinkled...

Sprinkled at age 10 as a methodist, dipped at 15 as a baptist. Did me no damn good. I still grew up to be a heathen.

[Steely_Dan]

63. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Swamp Rat]

65. D'ya see this flag?

[Guarionex]

71. Are they...

really like humans there? I once saw this national geographic report on them...and it was quite interesting to see them...

Is it true...do Jesuslanders walk upright like Homo Sapiens...

:)