[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

Some of my best friends are liberals. We don't agree on politics, and usually it is them trying to "convert" me rather than the other way around. I tell them to let it go; I have my views and they have theirs. It's funny, in every aspect of day to day life, we are absolutely the same - we are all law abiding citizens, treat people with respect (when it's due), like the same food, don't believe in waste, and so on. It's just the big picture where we part ways. And even there we all want pretty much the same thing, we just see different paths on how to achieve our goals.

i agree with you,same here. I only have a few friends (?) that I would rather not even be around when it comes to politics; I play bridge with one guy from New York originally, he is in his 80s and so dead set againt anything the other side says or does that he won't stop talking about it. The rest of my friends can be charming, we all want what seems like the best for our country and ourselves, but as you say, we think the way to achieve this is very different.

[Mattie Jo]

You are both so right. People fear being friends with liberals if they are conservative, and visa versa, but no matter what your beliefs people will try to convert you to their way of thinking. It doesn't matter then if you have friends with the opposite as long as they respect your beliefs. Hey, I had two friends that were both fundamentalists, both in same pentecostal religion but different churches, and one was constantly trying to save the other.

People should also not fear coming to OK due to its being the Bible Belt, that is, if you are not a Christian. I have had people invite me to church, and I just say thank you, and then let them know that I appreciate their invite, and then leave it at that. I told one woman that I go to the Unitarian, and she said, "Oh, our mayor goes there," and she didn't press me after that. You just have to meet people that respect your beliefs.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jessaka

You are both so right. People fear being friends with liberals if they are conservative, and visa versa, but no matter what your beliefs people will try to convert you to their way of thinking. It doesn't matter then if you have friends with the opposite as long as they respect your beliefs. Hey, I had two friends that were both fundamentalists, both in same pentecostal religion but different churches, and one was constantly trying to save the other.

People should also not fear coming to OK due to its being the Bible Belt, that is, if you are not a Christian. I have had people invite me to church, and I just say thank you, and then let them know that I appreciate their invite, and then leave it at that. I told one woman that I go to the Unitarian, and she said, "Oh, our mayor goes there," and she didn't press me after that. You just have to meet people that respect your beliefs.

Respect is the secret. There is nothing that can be more interesting than a discussion about politics as long as everyone respects the views of the other. I know I will not change the minds of some of my friends and visa versa, but we do have good dicussions from time to time: I do not mean debates or arguments, those types I just say "let's not even go there" and change the subject. Religion, you are right, the same. I will always suggest to people I know don't have ac church if they would like to come to ours or I tell them about ours. Of course it is pretty easy because, being an Episcopalian isn't quite the same as being part of a really fundamentalist religion. NMnita

[KatieDid]

Can't wait to move to Oklahoma and be happier we did. Compared to other states Oklahoma has it all. We have traveled for many years with the military and there is nothing compared to the Tulsa area. All the surrounding mountains, hills, valleys and so much shoreline to be thankful for is all we need. As soon as our house sells we are buying a house in the country to live in and have alot of fun seeing all the beauty that my mother and all her family talked so highly about for so many years.

[patty handing]

Go under ground or to a shelter, respect torandoes their not made for humans to run after if your one of the storm chasers stay your distance they are a wonder to look at but not be in. talk about a rush, arush to death.

[kimwi]

Hi

Over the last few days I have read many messages about living in OK. Before reading the messages I was really overwhelmed by all the tornado outbreaks in OK.
After reading the messages it doesn't seem so bad. I live in Colorado and yes there have been a lot of lighting strikes.
Can anyone tell me what it is like to live in Broken Arrow OK and about how far is it from the town of Tulsa?

Thanks
Kimwi

[jessm1014]

Hello. I have lived in Oklahoma my whole life, and for the most part, I really like it here. We live in the country between the towns of Okarche and El Reno. I have seen many tornadoes in my life here, but very few of them have actually done much damage. I actually look forward to tornado season. I think that they are fascinating. I am probably just one of the many Oklahomans that go out in their yard to look for the tornado when there is a tornado warning. Of course, if I might be in any sort of danger, I take shelter like I am supposed to do. We have had several close calls in my lifetime, but have never actually been hit by a tornado. A few years ago, one of our neighbors who lives about a mile away from us had some damage to his barn from a tornado. The worst damage that I have ever seen personally from a tornado was the May 3rd tornado that hit Moore, Ok. My husband's grandmother lives in Moore, and it struck just blocks from her house. It looked like a nuclear bomb went off in some of those neighborhoods. There were entire housing editions that were completely gone. I have never seen anything like it in my life. A tornado of that sort of strength is very rare, and even more rare for it to hit a highly populated area like that, I think. I think that you eventually get used to the tornadoes here, and then they are not so scary. It still scares me a little though when Gary England is saying that a tornado is pretty much right over the area where we live. We have plenty of advance warning though, and plenty of time to get in to our shelter.