I'm from Colorado Springs, Colorado, ask me anything!

[rockymountaindem]

In light of the erupting scandal surrounding Ted Haggard and all of the attention being focused on Colorado Springs, I figure I can help clarify some things. I grew up there and have lived there my whole life except for the past few years when I've spent the academic year at college elsewhere. I was born and bred amidst the very center of the evangelical movement. Fire away.

If this is the wrong forum, I'll repost in GD.

[kwassa]

1. so, did you sleep with Ted Haggard? got pix?

nothing like a good fundie scandal.

[rockymountaindem]

2. Nope and nope.

Kind of a personal question, though.

[Bassic]

23. Personnal question ?

Welcome the the Lounge :D

[reyd reid reed]

3. Heh...I'm glad you can

The only thing I can clarify is that not everyone in Colorado Springs belongs to New Life Church. Hell, I hear the guy on the radio (and WTF's up with that...churches that advertise? Is it just me or is that just........tacky?) but I couldn't point the place out if I drove past it.

Which I probably do, at least semi-regularly. I can't be sure, though.

And...are you in the Springs these days? Would you believe they ran a fuckin' crawl across the tee vee this afternoon when he 'stepped down'?

I thought that was only for things that were potentially dangerous to the community.

G

[rockymountaindem]

4. No, I'm at school now

But the crawl? I just assumed they had their own e-mail network to put out critical news. But yeah, Haggart or Dobson stepping down over something like this is equivalent to the mayor resigning in disgrace or something. I'm not surprised. I wonder what attendance will be like this Sunday. If I were at home I might just drive down to the corner of Hwy. 83 and Interquest and watch the shocked looks on everyones' faces.

[reyd reid reed]

5. Yup...that's the place I was thinking of.

I did drive by there a few weeks ago on my way to get Bonehead's senior pictures done but I don't generally get much further north than the mall...unless I'm going to Denver.

Personally, I'm loving this. All his holier-than-thou preaching about 'family values' and 'morals' and 'principles'...then to see his name plastered across the tee vee (and newspaper) in connection with this and using meth.

Oh, it's rich. How the mighty have fallen.

:D

[rockymountaindem]

7. I'm not gloating

This is going to hit some people I know well pretty hard. Most of all, I'm kind of in shock myself. I never thought something like this would happen. When I heard about it this morning, the first thing I thought was "pfft... whatever". Little did I know it might actually be true.

Times are changing though. There's a sex shop across Briargate Bvld. from Chapel Hills mall. They advertised on radio and everything and nobody burned 'em down or nothin'.

[reyd reid reed]

9. You're KIDDING.

Where? In that little strip mall thingie where Cartridge World is, near the Diamond Shamrock, or across Academy?

*thud*

I've gotta admit, that one surprises me. The only 'adult' store I know of is on Fillmore, just east of Nevada. Unless there's still that one over by the Citadel.

:shrug:

[rockymountaindem]

12. Yeah, right by the Diamond Shamrock

Across the street from the do-it-yourself car wash. That place on Filmore has been there as long as I can remember. I hope Ed Bircham likes looking at it every day from out his window there at "Reactionary Office Supplies".

[Straight Shooter]

6. Is meth a problem there? Has Haggard spoken of the evils of drugs?

It seems he was using the prostitute as a means of scoring meth amphetamine, to "enhance" his sexual performance. Analysis of voice tapes indicate a match.

[reyd reid reed]

8. Meth has been a problem here

For a while, they were busting meth labs all over town but it seems to have slowed down. They must be hiding them better or the media's burned out on 'em and has bigger fish to fry, what with Lamborn and Beauprez and now Haggard.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Thanks.

It seems to be a problem everywhere. I was just curious how anti-drug his sermons might have been.

[rockymountaindem]

11. I don't think Meth is a problem

Insofar as meth is a big issue in rural areas, "the Springs" is mostly one giant suburb of 350k people. I think it would be kind of hard for people to manufacture meth around town and not get noticed right away. I can say at my high school nobody ever went down on meth. A few potheads, I guess, but that's to be expected anywhere.

On my trip to Glacier National Park this summer, though, I was really surprised at all the anti-meth ads throughout Wyoming and Montana. I hope they get that problem under control. As for Haggard speaking about the evils of drugs, let me just say that they speak about the evils of everything. Even Pokemon didn't escape the ire of some of these pastors back in the day. So yeah, drugs are on the list I'm sure.

[reyd reid reed]

14. What high school did you go to?

You can PM me if you don't want to post it. Or you can just not say. I've got kids who go to school around here and I'm just curious.

By the way...I graduated from Mitchell. We just won't say when.

:eyes:

[rockymountaindem]

17. Thanks for asking, but I'm going to keep that info to myself

"The man" has probably figured out who I am by now, but I don't need to give any dead giveaways. :scared:

[Straight Shooter]

16. Would be kind of hard to hide meth manufacture in close quarters.

I live in a rural area. Once in a while you'll see a meth-head. They are F'd up. Haggard was getting the good stuff, though, no doubt.

Evils of Pokemon? Jeebers. :eyes:

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. I've been thinking...

Seems like it's about time we lump Calarada in with Florida and Tejas as the most whacked-out states in the union.

:popcorn:

[reyd reid reed]

15. Heh

Long as you add Kollyfornia to the list...

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. Kollyforniya's its own planet, man

Whacked is an art form here.



But we ain't Fundie Central.



:hide:

[reyd reid reed]

19. I think that it's just the altitude...

Maybe it makes 'em think they're that much closer to heaven or something? Personally, I think it's the lack of oxygen...it makes us all think a little funny. Just some funnier'n others.

:crazy:






I don't know if that's true but it's a good excuse for my behavior half the time. Okay, so more than half the time. Alright already. For my behavior in general.

:eyes:

[WCGreen]

20. Hell, that's where focus on the Family is .....

My BIL moved on down to Pagosa Springs to hop over Springs....


I found it wild that the little strip over by the college is all hippie and witch craft and shit like that... But that was back in 1996... Things could have changed a lot since then...

[rockymountaindem]

21. Downtown and the college area are still pretty liberal

If anything, they're moving more in that direction. Once you get north of Fillmore though, you're right back in Dobson country.

[reyd reid reed]

24. Tell me about it.

I have a freeper nest right across the street. They just painted the Stars and Bars on their mailbox. Kid drives around with those flags installed in the bed of his pickup. Which is better, I s'pose, than the "God loves George W" that he had plastered across the tailgate of his old one.

South end of town, by Fort Carson, is pretty bad, too. Lotta military down there, both retired and active duty. Up here, we've just got the fundies.

Overall, I think that the town's moving in a more liberal direction, though. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking. My kid used to come home from school last year, shaking his head, "Mom, you wouldn't believe what so-and-so was saying in Government this morning."

[Hugin]

22. Do they 'own' the authorities in that area?

Meaning that everyone to include the 'dog catcher' are members of the hive... I mean, 'church'.

[rockymountaindem]

25. I'm not sure

I've never heard of any problems with the authorities.

[Phillycat]

26. What's the weather like there? Is it really cold? nt

[rockymountaindem]

27. No! No it's not cold!

Sorry for snapping. People who have come for visits in June have asked if they need to bring a parka. The answer is no. Colorado Springs is fairly warm most of the time. In the summer it can get into the triple digits, and the coldest I can ever remember was -61 with the wind chill. Even in winter it rarely goes below 25 degrees. Up in the mountains summer temps get up into the 80s, and in winter they usually hover in the 30s during the day. The worst ski day I ever had I think it was negative four without the wind. If there's a problem with the weather, I'd say it's the wind.

[Phillycat]

31. Well, that's why I asked. :)

Temps sound about the same as here (Philly), maybe a bit colder. It sounds lovely, actually.

[Cygnusx2112]

28. What's ole Ted's wife look like?

<just wondering>

[kay1864]

30. Here's the dutiful wife

or soon-to-be ex-wife, take your pick...

[Cygnusx2112]

33. Thanks Kay...!

What a shame.

She's very pretty...

"soon-to-be-ex-wife" :rofl: <no, I didn't just laugh at that>

Gotta feel bad for the kids too.

[kay1864]

35. To be honest, with fundie RW nutjob Ted as a dad....

I feel sorry for the kids whether the parents stay together or not.

Of course, all this unwanted attention has got to be hard on them.

[KFC]

29. Why is your weather so crazy?

I was there a few years ago on business. It was about 60 degrees and sunny when I got there. I woke up the next morning with four inches of snow on the ground. That is not right.

[rockymountaindem]

32. Happens all the time

I guess the Lord likes to keep us on our toes. My best friend, however, only wears t-shirts and the same jacket every day no matter what the weather is. So really, it's more about having the right mindset than good weather :)

[LSK]

34. are there other normal people there???

Its a scenic wonderland there. Why does it have to be inhabited by a bunch of loonies?

[kay1864]

36. How dare you call triple-R a loonie!

Just because she has half a bee named Eric. Sheesh.





She got a license for it and everything.




:rofl:

[rockymountaindem]

37. Think of it as a trade-off

Way back when... the city decided they wanted to attract new employers but they didn't want to become like Denver and Pueblo with air pollution problems, as that would detract from our quality of life and the scenery for which we are known. So, they offered incentives to evangelical groups, who clearly employ a lot of people, have brought money and growth to the area, but don't pollute the air and water.

Yep, there are normal people in the Springs too. In fact, contrary to popular belief, I'd say that for the most part the non-evangelicals are in the majority. I went to one of the two high schools in town which would likely have the highest number of fundamentalists. I know people whose parents work for Focus or New Life. However, I'd say the number of normal HS kids, the "fuck you man!" "no, fuck *you*, man!", "Oh, I totally banged a girl this weekend" type outnumber the "Come home to Christ" t-shirt wearers by a healthy margin. There was even one dude who went to my school who was a stereotypical punk rocker. I didn't know him personally, but he seemed like a nice guy with a lot of friends. It's definately possible to avoid being surrounded by fundamentalists if that's your goal. That said, I was friends with several of them, and we just avoided talking about religion.