I just moved to Yakima from Seattle

[Heddi]

help :)

Mr. Heddi & I had to move here b/c the comm. college here was the first school to accept me for their Nursing Program...sooo I'm here for the next 2 years for my school, then another 1 1/2 to 2 years after that for my husband's schooling.

The people here are very....very different from Seattlelites. I miss Uwajamaya and public transportation. I miss seeing people *gasp* walking to and from places.

I miss living in a liberal bastion where I can assume that everyone, with few exceptions, is liberal. Now, I'm in Republican County, USA.

I've never gotten giddy when I see bumper stickers, but my heart goes a'flutter when I see a Kerry-Edwards sticker here and there, and I have to say that there are more of them here than I thought there'd be.

Everyone here is SUPER nice and I can't go anywhere without being drug in a conversation with someone I'm standing in line with. So they're friendly, but I've never been afraid to air my political thoughts before. In school, I sit on my hands and bite my tongue when someone is HOO-RAH about the war. I'm not used to that. I'm not used to people wearing Bush-Cheney buttons proudly.

help
me
:-)

[glitch]

1. Speak up - the only way you'll find friends that you like is if you be

yourself. You'll be surprised.

[Heddi]

2. It's hard...I feel like I'm living in South Carolina again

(where I lived for 25 years before moving to Seattle). I mean, the people I'm in school with are really nice folks, but I'm afraid to speak up and alienate myself from a large portion of the 20 people I'm going to spend the next 2+ years of my life going to school with and working with.

I mean, today a guy was saying that he may have to drop out of the program in a few days b/c he's in the reserves and got a call yesterday telling him that he has about an 80% chance to be called up to replace another Reserves Unit in Iraq. He said he was looking forward to going to the Middle East to "Give those motherfuckers a bit of what they deserve". I asked what Motherfuckers he was talking about and he said those Muslim Motherfuckers who think the world is their playground. Then he made a rat-a-tat-tat sound and laughed. Everyone else around him (a good 1/3 to 1/2 of my classmates) just started laughing and one guy even said "Hey give 'em a bullet with my name on it, bro".

I can't speak up around that! Are you kidding me? I'd be pounded 4 feet in the ground...and I'm only 5-ft-3 :)

On a more serious note, I have met *some* like minded folks, but they're not as liberal as seattleites, or at least not *as* liberal as the people I knew out there. It's refreshing, but I don't think I'd feel comfortable wearing my "abort bush" t-shirt on campus...or at the diary queen :)

[glitch]

6. 1/3 - 1/2 leaves 2/3 - 1/2 potential!

I feel for you Heddi. You're getting some good advice here though, about joining the local dem group and what not. We're with you in spirit, maybe there are some fellow Yakimaners (I have no idea if that is the correct term) here on the board that you can connect with.

Or perhaps some people there who desperately need DU and are just waiting for you to tell them about it?

Good luck with it all!

[BBG]

3. Silly goose.

When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade. You have the opportunity to make a difference by sharing with others and helping them to see the path to a better tomorrow. So go forth and help spread the word.

For the past year I have worn a badge or button printed with a number and the three letters BBG. Whenever anyone asks I tell them the number is the number of days until Inaugural Day 2005 when we get a new president. And that the BBG stands for Bush Be Gone. Every day I wear this. Where ever I go, telling whomever I meet that asks.

Today was BBG 107.

[Liberal Gramma]

4. I hear you!

We lived in Yakima for 18 years until we retired to the Seattle area. Yes, the people are nice, and yes, they are friendly. You will also encounter some things less palatable: lots of bigotry, a feudal economy with its accompanying widespread poverty, and Dems are few and far between. My advice is to go full steam ahead: air your political views. There are two possible, but not equally likely results. You may convince a moderate (the least likely outcome) or other people will stop talking politics around you. I found that to be an acceptable compromise. They wouldn't talk about Bush to me and I wouldn't talk about Gore to them, kind of like not arguing about religion at the dinner table.

[AmandaRuth]

5. find where your democratic meetings

are, and start going. It will save your sanity. Works for me and I'm right over 410 from you!!

[kurtyboy]

7. Heddi, talk to me!

I'm still on the westside, but I've been trying to subvert EasternWa thought for a while now.

If You can find an outlet for a few hundred Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers and buttons, I'll supply them. Just gimme an excuse to drive over to the valley and deliver 'em!!!

Pm me or reply on this board, I don't care, just gimme a reason.....!!!!!


KURTYBOY

ON EDIT By the Way, I've been watching your posts for three years. Despite my low count, I'm no rookie at this board--please reply....

[rustydog]

8. Welcome to Republican Central!

perhaps we'll meet when you do your clinical in the hosptials (Yakima Regional)
Yakima, the Palm Springs of Washington!!!!