Homage to Oklahoma

This picture is in Missouri.  (We say Mizzoureh here)  They were struck yeaterday as well.  It is as though God Almighty has chosen the people of the central US for the trials of Job.

I visited Oklahome for a few days years ago and was struck by the geniality and friendliness of the people. 

Now we see them in their finest hour, unbowed, helping each other and unwilling to accept defeat.

Homage!

 pl

Comments

[Alba Etie]

We are praying for every tornado victim. Oklahoman are tough , tough folk, so are the brethren from Mizzoureh ;Homage indeed. . And having been through a natural disasters here in Central Texas- two very large wildfires; I believe its high time we had a national conversation about smart disaster recovery and mitigation .We need IMO-to focus on state of the art smart grids in our new build outs , and stop rebuilding in flood plains, and have better building codes to mitigate against likely disasters.Finally since all politics are local we could 'crowd source' local town halls to make recommendations to local , state , and national government entities. It should be a robust , and country wide conversation - because we all face the same disaster challenges - another good outcome from this effort would be many jobs being created as we recover and mitigate from the tornados ,hurricanes , floods , & wildfires.
But again right now we are praying for the Tornado victims- and the Wild Fire evacuees in Southern California .

[Bill H]

Everyone talks as if these tornados are something new. Look up the town of Udall, Kansas which was hit by an awful tornado in 1955, more than a mile wide. I was part of the recovery party, rescue was finished by the time we arrived, and I still remember it. Eighty dead in a town where only one building was left standing. Just one, and it was badly damaged.

These are strong people, yes. Helping each other is not something that they need to think about. They just do it, in good times and in bad.

[J]

Colonel,

Oklahoma is blessed with folks that will give the shirt off their back if you are in need, irregardless to them if that shirt is the only or next to only item they have on this earth. Okies are not afraid to get dirt under their fingernails if that's what it takes to get the job done, wheither it's rebuilding after one of natures red dirt concerts which is frequent in these neck of the woods. In Sunday church you will find the offering plate filled with funds of those living paycheck to paycheck hoping and praying they'll have the change in their pocket to make it through the coming week, thanking the God above for every blessing and opportunity that comes their way, being sure to properly give the Creator his proper tithe.

What matters in the end is that we have each other, and that is what life is all about -loving and caring for one another. Such is our test in life.

Our beloved nation is a brotherhood of Oklahomas, Missouris, and Virginias spread through 50 states.

God bless our Oklahoma and our beloved United States of America. May the memory (and sacrifices) of our forefathers both state and national never be forgotten.

[John Minnerath]

Oklahoma was designated as Indian territory, I think largely because the area was thought too worthless and harsh for white settlement.
After the white man came in and settled, that unforgiving environment developed a tough folk.
They still are a tough and independent lot.

[Cieran]

I believe that the best way to appreciate the resiliency of Oklahoma's citizens is to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial. It's only a few minutes off I-35/I-235 or I-40, and one can spend just a little time there, or an entire day.

The memorial's design is by Hans and Torrey Butzer, and it is sheer genius. The place demonstrates so clearly how Oklahomans are too busy and too good to hate, and how they pull together in the face of unspeakable evil to create something beautiful and uplifting instead of giving in to the fear and darkness of terrorism.

Visiting the memorial is hard on the heart, but good for the soul, and regardless of how long you spend there, it will change you for the better, forever.