tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post8672318743673521508..comments2024-03-28T13:36:34.479-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: Consider the AppalachiansPatrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-19403739325968225412019-03-04T13:15:27.299-08:002019-03-04T13:15:27.299-08:00I meant to add, that the attitude of the mountain ...I meant to add, that the attitude of the mountain folk remind me of the opening scene of the movie "Serenity." A teacher is describing how Earth had gotten crowded and the humans went out to colonize other planets, with a group of them forming the "Alliance," trying to force all the other planets to conform, leading to a civil war, with the Alliance winning.<br /><br />One of the students asked why the other planets didn't want to join and be "civilized."<br /><br />River Tamm, one of the primary characters is shown as a student. She says, "People don't want to be told what to do." She elaborates on it, but that's the gist of what she says. The people of Appalachia come across as the same way. THEY JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.<br /><br />As do most of us who frequent this blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-56019262023351268672019-03-04T12:56:13.776-08:002019-03-04T12:56:13.776-08:00Neither you nor Don said it, but I will. When TSH...Neither you nor Don said it, but I will. When TSHTF, those folks in Applachia will fare far better than those "educated" people in the big cities. Not that I wish them ill, but THEY are the ones not preparing for the Real World.<br /><br />Just an observation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-31408856499252039552019-03-01T11:39:44.180-08:002019-03-01T11:39:44.180-08:00My roots are in West Virginia, all the way back to...My roots are in West Virginia, all the way back to 1774. I guess I'm self-aggrandizing to consider Appalachians "my people," since I left and I probably couldn't keep my backside dry in a barn.<br /><br />If we're inclined to be skeptical of intellectualism, it's primarily because intellectuals and other people out to "improve our lives" have been trying to exploit us or kill us for the last hundred years (at least). <br /><br />They couldn't kill us with poverty. They couldn't kill us with shame. They couldn't kill us by pulling our kids away.<br /><br />Heroin, methamphetamine, cultural destruction, and the welfare check just might be the end of us.MCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-28853529196286127172019-02-28T09:11:39.775-08:002019-02-28T09:11:39.775-08:00These are both great observations. My roots are i...These are both great observations. My roots are in the Appalachians and I was impressed by the responses by both you and Don. There is a lot of difference in being 'educated' and 'smart' and you presented that nicely. All the best from rural, wonderful, southern Indiana! Charles SandersCharles Sandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13926933413729707870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-90844584837518057152019-02-26T07:35:20.492-08:002019-02-26T07:35:20.492-08:00A few points:
1. This is actually a rather pedest...A few points:<br /><br />1. This is actually a rather pedestrian paper. She hews closely to prior published works, and limits herself to citing only those with broad acceptance in the field. Consequently most of what is in the paper represents views and research that are not hers, but rather represents the mainstream of Appalachian Studies. <br /><br />2. The condescension, to the extent that it can be read into her work, is therefore not necessarily her own. Could she have chosen to buck consensus in the field and to ignore the corpus of accepted work on Appalachia? Sure, but such academics do not make it through grad school or get published.<br /><br />3. Her main point, that Appalachians are an ethnic group with a distinct culture, is not an attack on the people of Appalachia. I think it is true that we are. I also think that her paper added next to nothing to an understanding of this fact because she lacked the courage to venture, intellectually or in terms of research, beyond the established corpus that she cites (this is typical of modern academics in my opinion). Consequently, she did not add anything to the discussion.<br /><br />As a 10th generation Appalachian on my mother's side, and having grown up in a trailer in one of those hollows, I think I can say that Appalachians do suffer from an excess of anti-intellectualism. I also think that much of Appalachian religion lacks introspection and seldom imagines that Christianity has a history beyond the dark hollows and forests of this land. Appalachians are often parochial. <br /><br />We are also underestimated, not so much for our intelligence, unfortunately, but rather for our strength and adaptability. There is a reason why we make such good soldiers, and that our soldiers are one of the reasons why American military might is preeminent. There is also a reason why we are not similarly represented among Nobel laureates.<br /><br />So, yes, the truth can hurt. I, personally, hope that Appalachians will come to realize that not all "book learning" is bad. Not beating up kids who like to read would be a start (yes, personal sour grapes). But, failing that, at least the people of the region can take comfort that, while the rest of country looks down on them, to the extent that Appalachians can feed and clothe themselves, they do not need the approval of outsiders. Abilardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12849545632114544654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-66472911500204702562019-02-26T07:27:39.514-08:002019-02-26T07:27:39.514-08:00http://www.fox26houston.com/news/all-male-military...http://www.fox26houston.com/news/all-male-military-draft-ruled-unconstitutional-by-federal-judge-in-texas<br /><br />I wasn't sure how to get this article to you, so I am posting it here. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I looked up the National Coalition for Men and am not sure what to think of them. They sound like a group who is reacting to the feminist movement. 6Hicksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-19474847714029598132019-02-26T06:58:08.624-08:002019-02-26T06:58:08.624-08:00I was born in Bristol, TN in Appalachia. I went to...I was born in Bristol, TN in Appalachia. I went to college in Johnson City (ETSU), then my career took me all over the world. I have been to over 40 countries, lived in 5 NFL cities including DC. I have been a senior executive in a Fortune 100 company, hold US and international patents, so not all of us are stupid / uninformed as measured by the world’s version of success.<br /><br />We finally moved back 9 years ago after the light went on for me during the 2008 financial crisis. Now we grow most of our own food, live a low stress lifestyle, breath fresh air, have good solid friends, great church, beautiful scenery, no traffic. I will never leave again.<br /><br />Yes, Appalachia can be “poor” as judged by costal elites, but it is how you measure poor. Many of us consider someone that lives a stressful city life, spends hours every day in the car, breathes polluted air, drinks lead tainted water, works in a job they hate, have now true friends - to be poor.<br /><br />Yes, we are a fiercely independent bunch of folks, libertarian before there was such a label. Stubborn Scots-Irish heritage mostly, i.e. Braveheart descendants. But I will tell you that Appalachia is becoming the Eastern Redoubt with lots and lots of preppers moving here from all over the US. Cheap land, plenty of rainfall, very light government taxes and regulation, and big time 2nd Amendment supporters - including virtually all local sheriffs.<br /><br />Come join us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-79159629759893576362019-02-26T05:50:15.603-08:002019-02-26T05:50:15.603-08:00Congratulations Patrice and Don, your article is f...Congratulations Patrice and Don, your article is featured on today's SurvivalBlog.com 'Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods'.<br />Montana Guybushliedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02093992594712182074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-70722352776188930822019-02-25T19:32:06.521-08:002019-02-25T19:32:06.521-08:00Will do. My husband's cousin was born with a h...Will do. My husband's cousin was born with a handicap and eventually had brain surgery at age 6. And chemo. Her family thought they would lose her so many times. She is now a grown women who called us this weekend to invite us to her wedding. I will pray and I hope little A's future will be as bright as our cousin. The Doctors can do so much more now than they could 25 years ago. NatokadnNatokadnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335243535171469124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-31666656208915776042019-02-25T07:25:43.289-08:002019-02-25T07:25:43.289-08:00I suggest you read Hillbilly Elegy: a Memoir of a ...I suggest you read Hillbilly Elegy: a Memoir of a family and Culture in Crisis. By J.D. Vance He's a native who discusses some of the real problems with Rural Appalachia. In some instances, I think he'd agree with Elam. In other's, he'd disagree. It's a good read. Shelljohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802170548336923374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-68814290134337223862019-02-24T18:43:22.542-08:002019-02-24T18:43:22.542-08:00Patrice, I know this has nothing to do with your a...Patrice, I know this has nothing to do with your article, but I'm desperate for prayer for my best friend's little two year old granddaughter. She's in a major children's hospital and will be tested for cancer tomorrow. I ask that your and your readers pray for little A. Thank you. Prepared Grammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520764687351107967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-48713401527032693942019-02-24T06:48:20.076-08:002019-02-24T06:48:20.076-08:00Amen to you and Don...Amen!Amen to you and Don...Amen!wyominghearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11866831359786301254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-83684820534345270492019-02-23T19:15:39.512-08:002019-02-23T19:15:39.512-08:00What about Appalachian poverty and drug addiction?...What about Appalachian poverty and drug addiction? Worst in the nationAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-18322563515892129142019-02-23T19:08:24.610-08:002019-02-23T19:08:24.610-08:00I have several of their books. Received them as gi...I have several of their books. Received them as gifts from my mother-in-law 36 years ago. My father's family was from the Appalachia area. I need to go dig them out and re-read them. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-60822750016926237332019-02-23T14:21:28.040-08:002019-02-23T14:21:28.040-08:00Thank you so much for mentioning FOXFIRE. Came ac...Thank you so much for mentioning FOXFIRE. Came across some of their stuff years ago and a big fat O since.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-32061111717349247652019-02-23T13:19:20.927-08:002019-02-23T13:19:20.927-08:00I would like to offer another point of view.
I g...I would like to offer another point of view. <br /><br />I grew up in a very rural area of N Florida where the population held the same mindsets attributed to the Appalachian community. In the last 25 years I’ve personally observed this “self sufficient” competency evaporate. Personally; I blame the welfare state. When a family is not obliged to labor for sustenance then every other evil seems move in to fill in that gap. Idle hands and all of that. <br /><br />A.Jones FloridaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-41677488325891794772019-02-23T13:13:09.956-08:002019-02-23T13:13:09.956-08:00Hey brother!
ColinHey brother! <br /><br />ColinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-45474022564352291702019-02-23T12:32:33.996-08:002019-02-23T12:32:33.996-08:00Reminds me of a story about an old woman in Appala...Reminds me of a story about an old woman in Appalachia, tending her garden. Some chickens around and a pig in a pen. A visitor from a city asked her--What would you do with a lot of money?<br />She replies-- Give it to the poor!Tangonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-8391312484635454312019-02-23T08:19:32.298-08:002019-02-23T08:19:32.298-08:00And now we read an article stating Oregon is intro...And now we read an article stating Oregon is introducing legislation requiring multiple visits by a nurse to your home after the birth of a child to make sure you will do things the "right" (read "government") way to raise your child.<br /><br />I don't think that would play well in Appalachia or in the households of most who read here. Natokadn Natokadnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335243535171469124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-33794999577714432562019-02-23T06:51:21.268-08:002019-02-23T06:51:21.268-08:00While I get the argument “Dr. Elam is a product of...While I get the argument “Dr. Elam is a product of her environment therefore gets a bit of a pass”, it’s no excuse...I’m fully on board with Patrice. Urban areas desire expansion in order to gather more into the group-think, often products of too much higher education, looking down their noses at rural folks as backwards. My rancher neighbors just give them the “knowing smile”, thinking, “I’ll speak slow so the PhD’s can understand.”Camperfixernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-6630444831073765212019-02-23T06:15:43.933-08:002019-02-23T06:15:43.933-08:00This was very interesting. It is refreshing to see...This was very interesting. It is refreshing to see liberty work. Both Dr.Elam and the people of Appalachia are living where and how they wish.<br /><br />Appalachia has put Dr. Elam behind them. She might consider putting them behind her and moving on.<br /><br />Montana Guy bushliedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02093992594712182074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-88741237542049591252019-02-22T17:49:01.920-08:002019-02-22T17:49:01.920-08:00I have two graduate degrees and will retire in May...I have two graduate degrees and will retire in May. My choice of careers (teaching in a small, rural, public school) has not given me a large income, but it has helped put one child through college and two others through trade school. Many friends from high school have moved away from "podunkville," as one calls our little town, and have "successful" lives in big cities. One couldn't wait to have our last class reunion to "see how successful everyone is." Guess what? Those of us who stayed in our little town are very successful. I have a church that I love, eat food that I've grown or raised, have friends who are there for me, three kids, grandchild number six on the way, and a husband of thirty-six years who loves me. Mrs. Success has had twelve "perfect" jobs and was too busy working to have children. Keep chasing the perfect job. I found mine. I wear my green rubber boots to the barn where I'm greeted by my new LGD puppy, pregnant goats, and chickens. I can't wait to get my hands in the dirt and plant the seeds I ordered last fall. I get to bake cupcakes with my sweet granddaughter, snuggle the baby, play board games with the older grandkids, and have Sunday dinner with the entire family every week after church. I don't envy the wealthy city cousin. Don't pity this country gal. To each his own. Prepared Grammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520764687351107967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-41918906060707356692019-02-22T16:21:38.585-08:002019-02-22T16:21:38.585-08:00SIGH!!! As me and my kin here in Middle TN - inci...SIGH!!! As me and my kin here in Middle TN - incidentally, culturally part of Greater Appalachia - would say, "I'm plumb wore out!"<br /><br />As you and Brother Don, say, Miss Patrice, just leave us alone!<br /><br />But the elites the Elams and their ilk represent, simply can't . . . or won't!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />David Smith <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-67472880702292284052019-02-22T14:39:41.939-08:002019-02-22T14:39:41.939-08:00Long time reader, first time commenter. I'd li...Long time reader, first time commenter. I'd like to point out that the map you've included omits areas long recognized as Appalachia. https://www.arc.gov/research/mapsofappalachia.asp?MAP_ID=31Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16525742038972628234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-73315653219051480002019-02-22T08:30:27.920-08:002019-02-22T08:30:27.920-08:00I’m a native Kentuckian transplanted to various sp...I’m a native Kentuckian transplanted to various spots in KY, including the Appalachian mountains of southeastern KY. My husband was born & raised there, and we still have close kin living there. We left our home for the northern area of our state 30 years ago for work opportunities.<br />MANY people from KY have grown up and gone on to accomplish many great things in life. Southeastern KY people sometimes choose college, trade school, apprenticeships, etc. depending on their goals & interests. Thank goodness some of these same people choose to stay or return home after obtaining their educational training to serve their communities through work, living, and volunteer/charitable work.<br />As for being leery of outsiders, we have good reason to be that way. Down through the last century many company representatives acquired mineral rights and proceeded to rape the land for sheer profit, to the detriment of the inhabitants thereof. Many government officials visited and promised to fight poverty, but their solutions created an increasingly dependent welfare state caused by “boom & bust” cycles of the aforementioned companies & corporations.<br />Despite our region’s problems, most of us have persevered through tough times & have managed to learn valuable lessons from them. We miss our mountain home even after all these years.<br />(I find it extremely telling that some years after this woman’s article, many of our children are eagerly embracing the culture that she criticized.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com