What Do You Think Of Tulsa? (Tahlequah, Catoosa: tornado, living in, law)

[Synopsis]

That's a great point peggy. I do know the Native American culture that is predominant in Oklahoma has had a large (and positive) influence on Oklahoma. Where I grew up, Native Americans were everywhere, and the intermingling of races bled over into other aspects of society. I also believe that Oklahoma's state motto says a lot about why people in Oklahoma have a different attitude. The state motto is "Labor Omnia Vincit" (Labor Conquers all Things). Okies believe in hard work, and usually where you'll find that attitude, you'll find alot of other good attributes. Also, people that came to Oklahoma were also from all walks of life, looking for a common goal of working the land (except for the Native Americans, who were shafted from their lands East of the Mississippi). Usually when you find that many people with a singular attitude only good will come of it. Hence, a happier attitude. Just some thoughts.

[Jammie]

Those are very interesting theories. I guess I don't see friendliness and neighborliness as strictly a Southern thing. I've encountered some pretty rude Southerners, too and even though they say, "Sir and Ma'am", their tone just doesn't match their words.

My theory is that the majority of people will be just like the people they live around. For instance, look at the state forums. Some are very peaceful and cordial and others are quite different. It may be something about setting the right "tone". We're just natural followers and we just adjust to either the rudeness or the kindness of our areas. The area I live in is friendly, BUT there's a town not far from here that I'd never live in. People are rude and thoughtless. I always used to think that farming communities were the friendliest, but I was also surprised at how a city the size of Tulsa can have friendly people in it.

I really do like the theory that it had something to do with living with the Natives though. It seems like they're always more peace-loving and considerate.

[Mattie Jo]

JameeLynn,

We hated the panhandle of Florida. I didn't care for the people I met at all. We stayed there for maybe a year and almost bought a house. Then I thought to myself, "Am I going to have to live here the rest of my life?" Then we moved to an RV Park in San Antonio, and I used to question travelers as to where they have been and what States they liked visiting. Everyone said that they hated Florida because people were rude. I really can't say whether that is true or not, and it may not even be fair. But I know that I didn't like where we lived.

Now Key West, Florida I loved, and the people were friendly and fun.

Peggy,

I have wondered if the native Americans had any affect, and perhaps they have. I have often felt that perhaps the lack of overt racism here is because of the native population, but I don't know. I just know that no one here has voiced any racism here, which I am grateful of. In Florida and Mississippi where I lived using the "n" word was something that people did on a daily basis, and they seemed to think just because I was white that I accepted this behavior. I went into MacDonald's one day in MS and someone was saying that only the "n" voted for Clinton, and this was done in front of the African Americans that were in line. I looked at him and said, "There's nothing racist about you, is there?" Then a woman pulled me over and told me that I should cool it because I could cause a race riot. It was a constant problem for me in the south. Texas was much better, and I was so glad to be there after living in the south. When we decided on where to live it had to be a place that was free from racism or at least not be something that we confronted on a daily basis. I know that there is racism everywhere. I had a friend in MS that was from Jamaica, and she said that she lived in Portland, OR for a while, and she would rather know where people stand instead of having them just be politically correct like they are in some States. I wasn't so sure about that one. Anyway, this is just my own opinion for what it is worth.

Jammie:

There was a time, long, long ago, that I thought of moving to Northern California. I was single at the time, so I drove all over and found a farming town that I just loved, but when walking around town and dealing with the clerks and others in the stores, I changed my mind. That was the most unfriendly town. Then across the way in Dunsmuir, CA people were very friendly, as was Mt. Shasta. And I also think that people in San Diego are friendlier than those in L.A. or S.F. area. Somehow Oklahoma's friendliness just spread all over the State.

[JameeLynn25]

This information is so interesting. I think its so neat Ok. is land of Native America. Jammie, you are right, there are some very rude people in the south, indeed. Reading some posts from the southeastern states makes me not want to go visit there because they are still fighting the war! Yankee this or yankee that is all I ever read about and its so childish to me. I have no desire to visit those states with those type of people. Now I dont mind being called yankee, but there comes a point in time where people need to grow up and stop living 100 years in the past! Again its not all of them that are yankee haters, but a good percentage. Just like in Ok. a good percentage of people are very friendly and helpful but not 100% of people. We were walking along Riverside in Tulsa while visiting and were called a pretty bad racial name even though the "kids" who called us the name were caucassion just like us. It took us by suprise, however we encountered such positive experiences that it outweighed the negatives by a long shot. I wish I was there now eating at On the border or that one mexican restaurant in Jenks, right over the bridge on the right hand side. Cant think of the name right now, but the food was unforgetable!

[Synopsis]

Let me apologize right now for the rude behavior of those kids. They were obviously the product of some bad parents and not representative of us Okies! JameeLynn25, you and people such as Jammie would be a great addition to the Great State of Oklahoma. jessaka, already being here, is already a welcome addition!

[Mattie Jo]

Jamee,

I think kids everywhere are like what you experienced in Tulsa. It is the grownups I would worry about. I stopped a black couple here in Tahlequah to ask them a question about racism here because someone on this forum wanted to know. They said that in a school somewhere south of here, in OK, their niece was told that she had kicky hair when she was in school. Then I thought about how I grew up, and I was put down by some kids in school. I really think that parents should start suing if teachers don't step in, because it is really harmful to children.

Some people in the south have rebel flags hanging in their yard or in the window of their car. When I was in MS I went to look at homes to rent, and one Realtor told me that I needed to go in person to see these rentals so they would know that I was white. This was back in 1995.

My husband warned me that I wouldn't like the south. Our idea though was to move to Texas, but once there construction was so slow that we ended up in MS where he built casinos. Then we moved to Florida, and then we met a couple that said, "Come to Texas. You can stay with us until you get a place to live. They have real trees there." I was so sick of little bushes as trees in Florida. So we moved to Canton for a while. Now that is a nice place to be, but everywhere else we moved had small trees. I love my 60 foot trees here.

I think you should go visit for the experience, and you may not have the same as I. Try to visit Disneyworld. That and the beaches are the best things in Florida as far as I am concerned. But when my husband learned that our dog couldn't go to the beach, we never went again to the beach. LOL.

Here in Tahlequah some dogs run loose. Not many though. Now Key West is the great place, because you walk into a restaurant and there are cats sitting on the tables.

[Mattie Jo]

Thanks Synopsis.

[Mattie Jo]

Jamee, I wouldn't worry about Tulsa. Hey, I used to live in Berkeley in the 70s, and I used to walk at night. Nothing ever happened to me, and yet you would read about rapes on campus. I don't think that Tulsa is half as bad as some cities in American. I lived in Fresno for a while and they had two killings a week. I couldn't wait to move. The night before we moved we had a drive by in our neighborhood. In the morning the neighbors showed me the bullets. I was glad that we had slept on the floor that night since our beds were packed. Now I know that OK can't be as bad as that. You just learn what neighbors to go in and which not to go in, as well as live in.

Tulsa is a clean looking city too. I have yet to visit many areas, but hopefully I will soon.

[JameeLynn25]

Thanks Synopsis! I hope one day I can reside in green country. I dont know if I can bare another winter here in Mn. I dont think I would like the south (east)either. I would be harrased for life being that I am a yankee. They would never get over it. I dont want to offend anyone from the east but I have heard its really dirty and so are alot of people. Not to say they all are, but a majority. I know we have those types of people up north too. Really no region is "perfect" but there defintely certain areas (states) where people tend to flock.

[Jammie]

Thanks, Synopsis. You always make someone feel like they're welcome.

Jessaka, you're so lucky to have been able to live in different parts of the country. I'm starting to wonder just how bad southern Fla. is since so many of their residents are seeking refuge in the panhandle. Can't be good at all. How did you like living in San Antonio? We have some old friends who have family there and they go to visit. Their family has lived there for years and like it, but our friends aren't especially fond of it.

Jamee, I know just what you mean about the cold winters. We have them over here, too, but not as bad as in Mn, especially the northern part. I have to laugh when they have the battle of the low temps on the weather channel. It's generally between two Mn. cities. Our past three winters have been very tolerable here though. How about yours?