Way Down Yonder in...--Must read for allOklahomans

[OKC_Shane]

I definitely recommend this book to ALL Oklahomans. If you want to truly understand your state, read it.

We've been discussing the book "Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation" by Michael Wallace this week in my creative writing class. The experience has been wonderful, and hopefully enlightening for those naive members of my age bracket who fail to realize the beauty of this state's past, present, and future. I was pleasantly surprised to find several classmates who were willing to defend Oklahoma against those who "are getting out right away" and hate that it is a "hick state".

The book is well written and fascinating, not to mention from the mind of a non-native man, who was born in Missouri and has lived in many places, but ultimately chose to live in Oklahoma. In the first chapter it tackles all stereotypes of Oklahoma, and the truth that may lie behind them. He discusses the complete lack of stereotype or knowledge of the state among outsiders and the causes for the lack of identity among residents. He even talks about the Midwestern, Southeastern, or Southwestern puzzle that has been a popular "discussion" (argument) on almost all national-level urban forums that I have ever posted at.

An excerpt:

quote:

"Oklahoma is tallgrass prairie and ever-lasting mountains. It is secret patches of ancient earth tromped smooth and hard by generations of dancing feet. It is the cycle of song and heroic deed. It is calloused hands. It is the aroma of rich crude oil fused with the scent of sweat and sacred smoke. It is the progeny of an oil-field whore wed to a deacon; the sire of a cow pony bred with a racehorse. It is a stampede, a pie supper, a revival. It is a wildcat gusher coming in. It is a million-dollar deal cemented with a handshake.

Oklahoma is dark rivers snaking through red, furrowed soil; lakes rimmed with stone bluffs. It is the ghosts of proud Native Americans, crusading Socialists, ambitious cattle kings, extravagant oil tycoons, wily bandits. It is impetuous and it is wise. A land of opportunists, resilient pioneers, and vanquished souls, the state is a crazy quilt of contradictions and controversies, travails and triumphs. It has been exploited and abused, cherished and fought over. It is a puzzling place.

Forever, Oklahoma is American through and through.

It is difficult for most folks to comprehend what Oklahoma is all about. Mention the name and all sorts of images, mostly pure cliche, flitter in people's minds. They are hard-pressed to even acknowledge that Oklahoma actually has telephone service and paved streets, let alone traffic lights and flush toilets. These people would be more inclined to believe that on a daily basis Oklahomans are forced to reckon with outlaw ambushes, cantankerous rattlesnakes, and beds of quicksand. Some only need to hear "Oklahoma," and thoughts of cowboys and Indians, oil derricks, evangelists, dusty plains, and overflowing football stadiums come to mind. Just say "Oklahoma" to someone, then step back and wait for the reaction. Most responses are predictable. Many are negative."

The complete first chapter is here http://www.okreadsok.org/sixpack/firstsixp...derexcerpt.html