Scott Freeman

1. 10 Responses to “Watch Out, Oklahoma”

2. By Angela Kantola on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   Good for you! When you go to the polls in the upcoming election, I hope you’ll be moved to help vote Jim Inhofe out of the U.S. Sentate. He’s got a credible challenger in Andrew Rice, for which I’m thankful.

   Although a member of First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, apparently Mr. Inhofe has never read the many PCUSA documents that stress that protection of the environment is an essential part of the Christian faith (or perhaps he understands “environment” to mean “oil fields and extraction therefrom.”

   The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it!

3. By Scott on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   Angela, welcome.
   I’m new to Oklahoma politics but I’ll be very interested in learning more. The environment is important to me so I will be looking closely.

4. By jasonk on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   DO NOT LISTEN TO THAT WOMAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN! :>)

   I’m just kidding, I respect Angela’s opinion. Although Sen. Inhofe can be a bit eccentric in some ways, he has been a good legislator. He supports the Oklahoma economy, and yes, that means oil (I think maybe he read that part about God giving us authority over the earth as good stewards). When I drive my car to work in the morning, and home in the evening, I am grateful for the oil that made it possible.

   Certainly Inhofe has his detractors, but he has always stood for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He is a good man, and it would surprise me if Andrew Rice or anyone else will have the votes to unseat him.

   Anyway Scott, welcome to the world of Oklahoma politics. First we let you in. Then we let you drive. Now we are going to let you vote. God help us all :>)

5. By Jonathan on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   Though I don’t exactly keep a close eye on Oklahoman politics, even I know who Inhofe is due to his rhetoric regarding climate change

   http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/11/opinion/main666190.shtml

6. By jasonk on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   Was that a news article you linked to, or an op-ed piece? It did not read like a news article, but then, it is CBS, so the lines are pretty blurred.
   I asked a question about global warming on my blog recently, and got only one taker (no big surprise, I think the world was too busy that day to get to my blog). Although there are many scientists who believe that global warming is caused by humans, there are plenty of people who believe it is a naturally occurring event. And there are some people, not just Inhofe, who believe it is a hoax. Inhofe is just one of the few people who has the stones to stand up and say it.
   The truth is that none of us ACT like we believe it is a problem. We still drive cars to work, we still partake in activities that indicate we don’t give the slightest notion that global warming is a problem. When people start giving up their cars, I will believe that it is a serious issue.

7. By Scott on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   Ok, I remember this guy now. I need to check out Andrew Rice.

8. By Angela Kantola on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   I’m glad to see others weighing in and to see different views expressed.

   As a child, I looked up to Jim Inhofe and enjoyed the times he came and spoke at my elementary school in Tulsa (his son, Jimmy, was in my class). He seemed like a really good, upstanding guy.

   As an adult, I wondered what happened to the Jim Inhofe I’d known as a child when he began to attack the Endangered Species Act and take such a radical, unfounded, and un-Biblical position on global climate change.

   I wrote Inhofe a few years ago to express my concerns about his policies, but received no response. I live in Colorado, thus am not a constituent, so okay. But when my mom (who had all of his children in her classes and is well acquainted with Jim) wrote him a similar letter and also received no response, I confess, I was appalled.

   I made what I believe was the first political campaign donation of my life today — to Andrew Rice. I’m hoping that Oklahomans will see that Inhofe is out of step with them and that he will be defeated in your 2008 U.S. Senate race.

   “Should the Lord tarry,” I’d like our great, great grandchildren have a chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, too. Inhofe doesn’t seem to understand that the human economy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of God’s entire creation. And we are not separate from that creation, we are part of it and as stewards, must take care of it.

   “In effect, we have abrogated our responsibilities for stewardship while exercising the privileges of dominion.”
   - C.D. Williams and J.E. Deacon. 1991. p. 111 in “Battle Against Extinction: Native Fish Management in the American West.” W.L. Minckley and J.E. Deacon, eds. Univ. of Ariz. Press.

9. By Scott on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

   Jason, I believe I’ve documented my feelings on global warming before. I’ve been fairly outspoken on the issue.
   But, I agree. We don’t take it seriously enough. And those of us who have been on the forefront of the issue are just as culpable. This is the tension I feel in every aspect of my life. I know that there is so much more that I must be doing to further the Kingdom and yet I bow so much at the altar of consumerism and selfishness. I wish I had the faith to live like a Claiborne and others who really take the gospel call seriously.
   That does not abrogate our responsibility to be stewards. I believe far too often we have conflated the ideas of dominion and domination. Godly dominion is a far different cry from the earthly domination that we so often employ.
   There are many godly people who are skeptical of global climate change. That’s fine and part of a healthy debate. The scientific process invites inquiry, debate and discussion. However, I do question the motives of those who reject it outright as a “hoax.”

   Angela, thank you so much for more of the background. I look forward to getting up to speed on the state of Oklahoma politics.

10. By Jonathan on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

    jasonk,

    Hints that it is an opinion piece: “opinion” in the url, “Opinion” written over the title, original source a partisan mag

    Anyway, sorry I didn’t comment positively on your global warming post cause you had a good point. Without some motivation from the government, people have little motivation to inconvenience themselves to contribute their own personal drop in the bucket.

    Also, the scientists may turn out to be wrong but calling this situation a “hoax” exhausts all credibility.

    And I still relish my days of investigative reporting to uncover the Kearney/Obama connection!

11. By jasonk on Jan 10, 2008 | Reply

    I agree that calling it a hoax smacks of conspiracy theory, and that bothers me. I do think that there is the possibility that the global warming issue is the latest fad thing, and that in ten years, if it is a natural occuring thing, people will have moved on. Which is a shame, because whether or not global warming is caused by humans, we could all stand to do more to act as good stewards of the earth. Scott, one of the things I miss about being a pastor is the freedom to set my own schedule throughout the week. Part of that meant cycling to work everyday. Rain or shine, cold or warm, I rode my bicycle to work. It was not so much an environmental statement, it was part fitness, part saving on gasoline, but I trimmed down, felt good, and had a blast all at the same time. If I ever decided to go back to that life, one of the benefits would be the opportunity to ride to work.
    One of my favorite Sen. Inhofe stories happened a few years ago. He was flying his plane, when the propellor came off. Yes, the bolts cracked under the stress (Al Gore) and the prop came right off the plane. He has experience in a glider, and using that, was able to safely land his plane at a nearby airstrip, even though it was miles from his destination. As he was standing there explaining what had happened to the other pilots at the airstrip, a farmer in a pickup truck pulled up, with the propellor from the Senator’s airplane in the back. He said, “I found this, and thought somebody might be looking for it.” As they started visiting, they realized that Sen. Inhofe and the old farmer had gone to school together as children. Who’d have thought?
    I respect him for his patriotism, and his support for the troops. He loves this country, and this state, and I will support him for another term. However, I have started doing some research on Mr. Rice, and have been added to his list of bloggers, to which his campaign will issue press releases on occasion. I hope to present a balanced, well-informed series of posts on this liberal, universalist, pro-gay, pro-abortion brother from Oklahoma City :>).
    And Jonathan, I will never be able to thank you enough for finding the truth about my family connection to BHO. I just hope it comes in handy someday.

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