Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't know how to cut and paste from another thread but-
Post # 8 in subject title is interesting to this thread:
Puertoricana looking for New Yorkers OR Puertoricans says "Here in Gastonia there isn't enough DIVERSITY, you know what I mean?"
Well, I don't know what she means--honestly. What do you think she means and how do we invite her to this forum? This could be interesting.
je
I expect she means that she is surrounded by a lot of longtime residents, many of whom have never lived anywhere else but Gaston Co, and she longs for others who can share some of her cultural roots- from food to music to religion to reminiscence about NYC . . . that is what I think she means.
I expect she means that she is surrounded by a lot of longtime residents, many of whom have never lived anywhere else but Gaston Co, and she longs for others who can share some of her cultural roots- from food to music to religion to reminiscence about NYC . . . that is what I think she means.
Perhaps. However, I look at it as her saying that there is NO culture since she lives with people who aren't like her. It's insulting to those who live around her. I don't blame her for wanting to live near some people who share her roots, but to say that there is no culture is dead wrong and insulting.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,813 posts, read 34,657,307 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by theroc5156
Perhaps. However, I look at it as her saying that there is NO culture since she lives with people who aren't like her. It's insulting to those who live around her. I don't blame her for wanting to live near some people who share her roots, but to say that there is no culture is dead wrong and insulting.
I think you read her right. I've run into that attitude here. As with any other group, most Puerto Ricans are good, hard-working people. However I have had a few tell me, to my face, that I have no cuilture. I've told them that they have a culture & so do I. If they want to talk to me without insulting me fine, but if they want to insult me, again, I will not participate.
Last edited by southbound_295; 07-21-2008 at 09:40 AM..
Perhaps. However, I look at it as her saying that there is NO culture since she lives with people who aren't like her. It's insulting to those who live around her. I don't blame her for wanting to live near some people who share her roots, but to say that there is no culture is dead wrong and insulting.
Well, there is plenty of culture where she lives, LOL. I hope she doesn't mean it that way! Sadly, many of the things that I see as very much Southern culture seem to be dismissed (or disparaged) by newcomers b/c those things just don't match up w/ THEIR cultural backgrounds. I am not saying the person who posted that is disparaging Southerners, b/c I honestly don't know what was on her mind . . . but I have run across that attitude from newcomers and it really makes me sad.
For example - I grew up in a rural community, a few miles outside two towns. However, we were a distinct community and every summer, we had "community day." I guess to outsiders, it would have seemed hokey - the cookouts, the games, the songs, the crafts displays, the softball game, etc. But it was definitely part of our culture and we all looked forward to it. And fish fries. And Camp Meeting (est. 1853)- didn't matter if you were Methodist or not - families from miles around would attend Camp Meeting.
This was part of the culture I grew up in. To most others, it would be of no interest, I suspect . . . but it is still a social culture to wh/ I belonged.
Although not native to the South, I've always found southern culture to be very rich and distinct. After all, the first English settlements were founded in the South over 400 years ago, before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts or the establishment of a Dutch settlement in what later became New York City.
Cultural anthropologists say Southerners are a unique ethnic group in themselves as evidenced by their own language dialect, folkways, foods, literary, musical and art styles resulting from rural isolation.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,813 posts, read 34,657,307 times
Reputation: 10256
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821
Well, there is plenty of culture where she lives, LOL. I hope she doesn't mean it that way! Sadly, many of the things that I see as very much Southern culture seem to be dismissed (or disparaged) by newcomers b/c those things just don't match up w/ THEIR cultural backgrounds. I am not saying the person who posted that is disparaging Southerners, b/c I honestly don't know what was on her mind . . . but I have run across that attitude from newcomers and it really makes me sad.
For example - I grew up in a rural community, a few miles outside two towns. However, we were a distinct community and every summer, we had "community day." I guess to outsiders, it would have seemed hokey - the cookouts, the games, the songs, the crafts displays, the softball game, etc. But it was definitely part of our culture and we all looked forward to it. And fish fries. And Camp Meeting (est. 1853)- didn't matter if you were Methodist or not - families from miles around would attend Camp Meeting.
This was part of the culture I grew up in. To most others, it would be of no interest, I suspect . . . but it is still a social culture to wh/ I belonged.
Ani, I think that she is lonely & feels isolated. As I've said, clustering is the norm in the north. That said. I do believe that roc read her right.
Nothing hokey about the culture that you grew up in. My sister lives in a town in South Jersey that started as a Methodist Camp Meeting.
Roc, MM, and SB: I suspect it is a matter of the culture that is around her just doesn't match up w/ her own culture and she is lonely. And she may think what she sees doesn't qualify as "culture," LOL!!!!
I also think many newcomers to the South are not aware of all the traditions and cultural "goings-on" that might be right there where they are living . . . b/c Southerners are not necessarily including them or inviting them. Just like Camp Meeting - haven't been for years but I would never even know that Balls Creek Camp Ground existed, if it had not been for my having family who lived in Balls Creek (and founding members of the Camp Ground). And a lot of social interaction - in more rural areas, especially - stems from the churches in the communities. The church members often gather together - different denominations - to create events for the community. So if you are not a member of one of those congregations - you won't even know about the events (unless someone invites you).
For example, Vacation Bible School is a big deal here (as I think it is in many areas). But where I grew up, literally all the kids in the community spent time all summer at one of the various VBS's going on. The churches planned their schedules for VBS so there would be no date conflicts - allowing the kids to attend EVERYONE's VBS's. Everyone is welcome . . . but I would suspect a newcomer might not be aware of that tradition.
I also think many newcomers to the South are not aware of all the traditions and cultural "goings-on" that might be right there where they are living . . . b/c Southerners are not necessarily including them or inviting them.
I decided to comment further on this, Palmetto. Cause what goes on - especially in smaller towns and communities - is a lot of socializing in homes, at someone's lake house . . . or gatherings at other organization's - such as Elks, Moose, American Legion and churches.
In small town America, this is probably pretty constant. In the South, there may be parties going on down at the lake - huge get togethers, even - big BBQs . . . or in someone's home . . . poker games, or people getting together to watch sports . . . etc.
The way I grew up, by Wed every week, whole groups of people would be figuring out "what is going on" the next weekend. Sometimes, a local event would be the start of the evening . . . and then progressive parties . . . moving from one person's house to another . . . or down at someone's lake house . . .
So it might be that everyone had tickets to a local minor league baseball game for ex . . . and we would then gather later at a restaurant or club (or private country club). . . or country/western dance floor . . . or to someone's lake house . . . But every single week, there was plenty of partying going on - especially if one had a wide group of friends. Plus, friends of friends would issue an invite . . .Maybe someone would put together a motorcyle rally up to Asheville or Boone, and those w/o cycles would meet up w/ the rest of the group at someone's house or at a restaurant/hotel . . . or maybe it was casino nite at the Elks . . . or a crafts show and potluck dinner to raise money for missionary work at one of the churches . . .such a huge variety of events . . . and meet-ups.
Plenty of stuff going on! In fact, it was just a matter of choosing what to participate in - and who had babysitters, LOL or what events you could take the kids to and have fun . . . and how much time one had . . .
But if you were not part of those groups (and as I said - I belonged to many informal groups of friends - some from work, some from the neighborhood, some from church, some from college, plus memberships in various organizations, etc) . . . well then, I guess you would be thinking - nothing going on in this two-horse town. Not true! But if you didn't get an invite or didn't have longtime associations w/ the people involved . . . well . . . guess you would be wondering why there is "nothing to do" here in the South.
I also think many newcomers to the South are not aware of all the traditions and cultural "goings-on" that might be right there where they are living . . . b/c Southerners are not necessarily including them or inviting them. Just like Camp Meeting - haven't been for years but I would never even know that Balls Creek Camp Ground existed, if it had not been for my having family who lived in Balls Creek (and founding members of the Camp Ground). And a lot of social interaction - in more rural areas, especially - stems from the churches in the communities. The church members often gather together - different denominations - to create events for the community. So if you are not a member of one of those congregations - you won't even know about the events (unless someone invites you).
I know I am weeks behind on this. But I had to comment regarding the traditions of the south. In many parts of the south people will refer to themselves or others as "country" and be proud of that. My husband and I fall into this category as "country". I am a white woman and he is a black man. Many people from the north would automatically hear the word "country" and assume that to be a white person. Most people from the south regardless of race embrace the southern culture. Ex1: When my husbands cousin lived with us and I went into his room one day and saw his Phat Farm shoes lined up next to his snake skin cowboy boots. I know many people see these two diferent types of shoes and automatically stereotype/pre-judge them two diferent races of people. Yet they are owned by the same Southern "Country" Mississippi Black man. Ex2: A friend of mine is a white female with a license plate that says "Get'ur Done" and her sons father is Puerto Rican.
We in many parts of the south have come from diverse races and backgrounds and unified into more of the southern culture, regardless of skin color. Of course everyone sees skin color when they look at someone you can not help but to see that when you look at someone. Just like you notice their hair color and eye color as well. It is whether you use that as something to pre-judge that person or just notice it as their personal attributes and then get to know as a person.
This has been a great thread.
P.S. I live in and grew up in FLA, my husband in from Miss and I have family in GA and TN. We have considered moving to Charlotte.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
And Camp Meeting (est. 1853)- didn't matter if you were Methodist or not - families from miles around would attend Camp Meeting.
No Culture?
