Letters to the Editor: October 28, 2015

Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to [email protected] or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

 

Drunk history

On the evening of Oct. 13, I watched something so personally offensive to me regarding the Sooner State that I feel it needs to be seen by every Oklahoman.

Drunk History is a television program on Comedy Central where people drink to excess then attempt to describe historical events. On Oct. 13, the topic was Oklahoma, and the episode was filmed at Legends Dance Hall in Tulsa. The show began with a woman who referred to Oklahoma as “the armpit of the United States.” After that brilliant gem, the production then mocked the lives and achievements of Kentucky Daisy, Gordon Cooper and U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves.

It is bad enough to have ignorant, cultural elitists from other states run down Oklahoma. It is worse to watch Oklahomans join in on the bashing. I can already guess the cliché responses from people who disagree with me: You just don’t get it. It’s a joke. Lighten up. You’re taking it too seriously.

Others might argue that such a program helps promote Oklahoma and introduces the state’s history to a younger generation. My response to such logic is if this is what it takes to promote the great state of Oklahoma to doofus hipsters who have no appreciation for the Sooner State in the first place, why bother?

— David Farris

Edmond

 

Love story

It was on Oct. 2, 2015, that I fell in love with Hillary Clinton. I had just turned on the TV, and there she was with a big smile on her face and her arms raised high. All I heard her say was, “If you want somebody who will listen to you, you’re lookin’ at her.”

All I could remember about what we Americans accomplished when she and President Bill Clinton were in the White House before was: “We ended the war in the Balkans with no casualties and we avoided a war in Somalia.”

I went online to see what all we got done during their eight years, and it was a lot. Very, very impressive.

— David R. Oliver

Oklahoma City

 

Corrections

>> Our Sept. 23 Oklahoma Gazette cover story “Family, extended” contained several misrepresentations and errors. First, DNA Galleries owners are rental tenants and do not own the property at 1709 NW 16th St. Second, Kristen Vails is the former executive director of Plaza District’s Main Street program and worked with it for three years. Third, Aimee Ahpeatone’s quotes about the Main Street program were used out of context. “From both Ahpeatone’s and Vails’ accounts in the interviews, the Oklahoma Main Street program was a huge success in setting the grassroots effort of becoming organized. For three years, the district worked with the Main Street program to lay the foundation for the work for the next several years,” Ahpeatone, Vails and Susan Hogan wrote in an email to the Gazette. Fourth, we wish to clarify Gatewood Historic District’s role; it did not found Plaza District Association. Fifth, we wish to clarify the history of Plaza Theatre and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Indeed, Oklahoma City Councilwoman Ann Simank’s support was important to the district’s revival, but Lou Kerr is widely recognized as the man who lead Lyric and district supporters into purchasing and rehabilitating Plaza Theatre.

>> Social media posts for the Gazette’s Sept. 30 issue included a wrong photo with the online link to “Main Street YMCA finds itself right where it needs to be for new members.” A photo of YWCA chief support services officer Deb Stanaland was attached instead of the intended group shot of the Main Street YMCA ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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