After two nights and a day of cabin fever amid a late winter spate of snow and ice, I ventured out this afternoon to the monthly meeting of the Atheist Community of Tulsa. Today the organization hosted a guest speaker, one Toby Jenkins, Executive Director of Oklahomans For Equality. Mr. Jenkins spends a fair amount…
Continue ReadingAuthor: Route66Kid
Who stands for what and why
It came to my attention this week that a few of the local secular organizations, outfits that make residence in such a religious conservative locale habitable, have made the “anti-Christian bigotry” list of a national pro-theocratic organization. Among the local organizations that made the list of the American Family Association is one I have written about previously, the Atheist Community of Tulsa. Also making the list…
Continue ReadingAdvanced propaganda vs. the critical thinking imperative
As one who has sworn both an Oath of Enlistment and an Oath of Commissioning, let me say this about the USA and Oklahoma: My Country and my State, right or wrong. May they always be right. When they are wrong, may they be put right! Another week has passed in our illustrious state’s First Session…
Continue ReadingOur lowest common denominators
It matters not how diverse we as a people make ourselves in terms of the sort of politics we embrace, religion to which we subscribe, professions we train for and practice to the best of our ability, sports teams with which we align, music genre in which we indulge, clothing style we sport, dining cuisine we…
Continue ReadingVeterans looking out for Veterans
On this gorgeous spring-like February Saturday morning I, the Route66Kid, made my way down the turnpike paralleling the Mother Road and attended a meeting of the Oklahoma Democratic Party Veteran’s Committee at the Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters in Oklahoma City. Even though there were only a little over a dozen members present, veteran demographics ranging from…
Continue ReadingHappy Birthday, Thomas Paine!
By the Western calendar, February 9th, 1737 is Thomas Paine’s date of birth. Of all the contributors to the American Revolution and to the fledgling American Republic, the work of Thomas Paine not only endures but still resonates loudly today. Paine was the first to promote the idea of an Estate Tax and a minimum wage. …
Continue ReadingMovie Review: Selma
When you undertake telling a story like Selma you are taking something down from altar and you had better do it justice. This historic drama directed by Ava DuVernay did exactly that. The intriguing thing about the final polished product is that it was done using British talent in most of the lead roles. Indeed, British actors David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo delivered excellent…
Continue ReadingThe Winds of Change are sweepin’ down the plains and to the Right!
According to the latest State of the States poll by Gallup, the American electorate is moving decidedly to the political Right. The findings of this poll however are lost on those of us residing along the most conservative stretch of the Mother Road as Oklahoma by any reasonable assessment is already there and has been for the past…
Continue ReadingReflections of national values on Super Bowl Sunday
Being a diehard Oklahoma Sooner fan and fan of college football in general, I do not follow the pro game other than maybe to see from time to time how former OU players are doing. Some who were drafted into the pros after their playing days at OU went on to have stellar careers. Admittedly, some have…
Continue ReadingCulture Wars: The Reddest State Front
The legislature of the state representing the Mother Road’s most conservative stretch has wasted no time in the new session introducing bills to outlaw or maximally marginalize those who do not share the values or belief system of the duly elected representatives of the cultural majority. One such elected culture warrior whose controversial views are…
Continue Reading