[Arkansaw Slick]

I was born and raised here in arkansas and have lived in several towns in my short 50 years. There are good places and bad places to live in ANY state. I am sorry to anyone who finds that this state wasnt your cup of tea.But come on now...It wasnt all bad was it? i'll bet There were some good times you can reflect back on. Wishing you all the best and come back and visit us sometimes.

[Arkansaw Slick]

Originally Posted by nmnita

OMG, I don't know where you lived prior to Ar or where your next home will be, but sometimes the positive attitude can also be overdone. Instead of re-locating with our eyes open we think we will find Utopia: it doesn't exist.

We all know the humidity can be unreal in the summer, have you lived anyplace else with the dampness? We have lived in Wash DC and Texas. I can assure you both are as bad or worse than AR.

AR isn't any better than Louisiana? Have you lived in Louisiana? I am curious because they are probably very much alike with the exception of LA not having the beauty. They are southern states.

It is too bad your childr is so unhappy. I find this a little strange, again you say you even tried top of the line birthday parties. Did you try to hard?

Next move, let's hope it is better for your family. As Sam said, what is good for one isn't always good for someone else, but my opinion, just from visiting and being around my granddaughters friends is quite different from what you have experienced. Golly, when we are there everyone is friendly. I have never lived anywhere with people who will almost stop you on the street to say good morning. We know, from past experiences, outsiders do not always fit in right away and have to adjust to changes.

Good luck to you. I would love to know where you lived before and where you plan on living next.

Nita

Just Back From visiting New Mexico. Beautiful Place with friendly people. If I ever leave Arkansas...

[ArkLexee]

WHERE in new mex did you go?? I was born and raised in Hobbs..just across the Texas state line. Claim to fame was ...you had to go thru hobbs to get to carlsbad caverns. My sister still lives there.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Arkansaw Slick

Just Back From visiting New Mexico. Beautiful Place with friendly people. If I ever leave Arkansas...

Have to say, it is a matter of opinion. Yes, some can be friendly and we have enjoyed our 7 years here, but there are so many problems. Way too many to list unless I want to write a book.

We will miss the wonderful weather and the awesome blue skies plus many of our friends.

Nita

[oilman]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

I will stand corrected on Harrison's problems - as with Nita, I would hope the pastors and 5 years have healed some of the problems, but those football players from Ramay will never forget - and that is sad, and the entire population of Harrison should have offered up an apology for that one...you gotta wonder, where ARE the parents? Are they the ones spewing hatred? If so - kids learn what they live - and the cycle goes on. I'm not sure how it gets broken, but it is a very sad thing to have had happen since 1957 here. My very, very belated apologies to the youth of Ramay....gotta wonder what would happen today if Junior in the white sheet pulled that stunt. In my mind, that's a hate crime - he's inciting fear and violence....

Just to follow up about the McDonalds (white sheet) incident. The night of the football game was Halloween. McDonalds was holding a promotion for a free ice cream cone for all who showed up on costume. The "Junior" who was wearing the "sheet" was actually a girl dressed up like a ghost.

Unfortunately, the Fayetteville (where Ramey Jr High is located) newspaper relied on a statement by some parents from the Ramey football players and failed to obtain information from the Harrison McDonalds or the Harrison football coaches or parents of players before it published its story. By not seeking all the facts, the story was one-sided and was factually inaccurate.

Don't get me wrong, Harrison has a bad reputation when it comes to race (having a self-proclaimed leader of the KKK living in the far reaches of the county that cell phones don't work, does not help). It is, however, not a racist community. People don't wear sheets while walking on the sidewalks. There are not weekly cross burnings. The ministers and pastors don't preach for a "white" america. (On a related note, if you took one of the sermons from Obama's pastor, Rev. Wrights, and substituted the word "white" for "black", how offensive would it be to the African-America population? I'm sure he would be labeled a "racist" and "white supremist" and not an "old uncle who says things" you don't always agree with." But I digress...)

The lesson we all can learn is that before you condem an entire community or even the parents of "Junior" for being racist, please know the facts.

[luvarkansas]

Originally Posted by oilman

Just to follow up about the McDonalds (white sheet) incident. The night of the football game was Halloween. McDonalds was holding a promotion for a free ice cream cone for all who showed up on costume. The "Junior" who was wearing the "sheet" was actually a girl dressed up like a ghost.

Unfortunately, the Fayetteville (where Ramey Jr High is located) newspaper relied on a statement by some parents from the Ramey football players and failed to obtain information from the Harrison McDonalds or the Harrison football coaches or parents of players before it published its story. By not seeking all the facts, the story was one-sided and was factually inaccurate.

Don't get me wrong, Harrison has a bad reputation when it comes to race (having a self-proclaimed leader of the KKK living in the far reaches of the county that cell phones don't work, does not help). It is, however, not a racist community. People don't wear sheets while walking on the sidewalks. There are not weekly cross burnings. The ministers and pastors don't preach for a "white" america. (On a related note, if you took one of the sermons from Obama's pastor, Rev. Wrights, and substituted the word "white" for "black", how offensive would it be to the African-America population? I'm sure he would be labeled a "racist" and "white supremist" and not an "old uncle who says things" you don't always agree with." But I digress...)

The lesson we all can learn is that before you condem an entire community or even the parents of "Junior" for being racist, please know the facts.

Exactly. The same thing happened with the whole "Jena 6" debacle. Jena, LA is not a "racist town", either.

[Occidental1]

"I would strongly suggest not moving to this state. My reasons being the following, some may be subject to my own opinion:" R.

Well, I can sympathize with you. When i was groing up here, a family from San Deigo moved here (a small town in NWA near the 4 cities). This was before the wal-mart boom. They weren't accepted very well and bought and eventually sold a couple of businesses. the local business community was harshly critical of them and excluded them, making it difficult for them. Then again, one of my best friend's family was from San Diego as well and are still here and doing just fine, thanks. But i think they had some local family ties that brought them here in the first place so that they made the transition easily. My friend was the cool new kid in town at school. We both kind of lived parallel lives after that and both went to Asia for a few years then came back. So it depends, I guess is the only answer that I could give. But the first family would have done much better if they had moved to Fayetteville. That is probably the most progressive city in NWA, including Ft. Smith (more conservative than fay.). Fayetteville has allot of non-natives running fairly sophisticated small businesses around town. My advice is to look at Fayetteville if you are coming from Cali. Yes, it's the most expensive town in NWA, but I guess you get what you pay for when it comes to city amenities, theater, business attitude, opportunities, etc. But be warned, allot of U of A grads really don't want to go back to Small- ville. So some professions, like CPAs, and lawyers, for example are probably over saturated because of all the fresh grads around.

[rozinante]

You are right, Californians are moving in bustling in to Northwest Arkansas because of the opportunities. I moved to the area from La Jolla four years ago and love it.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Occidental1

"I would strongly suggest not moving to this state. My reasons being the following, some may be subject to my own opinion:" R.

Well, I can sympathize with you. When i was groing up here, a family from San Deigo moved here (a small town in NWA near the 4 cities). This was before the wal-mart boom. They weren't accepted very well and bought and eventually sold a couple of businesses. the local business community was harshly critical of them and excluded them, making it difficult for them. Then again, one of my best friend's family was from San Diego as well and are still here and doing just fine, thanks. But i think they had some local family ties that brought them here in the first place so that they made the transition easily. My friend was the cool new kid in town at school. We both kind of lived parallel lives after that and both went to Asia for a few years then came back. So it depends, I guess is the only answer that I could give. But the first family would have done much better if they had moved to Fayetteville. That is probably the most progressive city in NWA, including Ft. Smith (more conservative than fay.). Fayetteville has allot of non-natives running fairly sophisticated small businesses around town. My advice is to look at Fayetteville if you are coming from Cali. Yes, it's the most expensive town in NWA, but I guess you get what you pay for when it comes to city amenities, theater, business attitude, opportunities, etc. But be warned, allot of U of A grads really don't want to go back to Small- ville. So some professions, like CPAs, and lawyers, for example are probably over saturated because of all the fresh grads around.

sorry don't share your reasoning at all except for Fayetteville being more liberal and the most expensive place in AK. You are referring to a situation where someone was not accepted mnay years ago, not today. I don't know where you live or how much you keep up with who is moving into NWA. All the towns, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and certainly Bellas Vista are loaded with people from other states.

Nita

[Aporkalypse]

1. Little Rock
2. Hot Springs
3. Fayetteville

All three places have some of the state's scenic hilly beauty and enough to do to keep one busy. LR feels more urban if that matters.