Why the "split" between "old" and "new" Coloradans . . . (Denver: tornadoes, cost)

[elemental]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

I just have to point out in fairness that dictionary.com defines "native" (noun) as both -

19. one of the people indigenous to a place or country, esp. as distinguished from strangers, foreigners, colonizers, etc.: the natives of Chile.

20. a person born in a particular place or country: a native of Ohio.

Even "Native Americans", wronged by our ancestors, came from somewhere before they (as a people) were here. If I'm not a native Coloradan by birth, for example, then I'm not a native of anywhere, given my convoluted family tree.

But then also in fairness, "native" doesn't necessarily mean special connotations (caring more about a place than someone else, etc...) either.

Here's the poignant piece with regard to those who would look down on those who were not born in a particular place:

And in the context of Nativism, in some periods a potent political force, "natives" are defined as a (predominantly white) group deserving of a special privileged position in comparison to immigrants.

Judge not, lest yee be judged...

[zippocollector]

I happen to live in one of those towns and around several of the other towns you listed. What can you tell me about Yuma? I think passing through does not really count as visiting. Same goes for several of the other places you listed... I guess I don't think you should claim them if all you did was drive through them. This is for Jazzlover's comment on april 11 or something...page 15. Listing all the places he has been to in colorado. If I am wrong, forgive me though. Perhaps you have come to my hometown several times. I just find it hard to believe that you would. People need a darn good reason to come all the way out here.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by zippocollector

I happen to live in one of those towns and around several of the other towns you listed. What can you tell me about Yuma? I think passing through does not really count as visiting. Same goes for several of the other places you listed... I guess I don't think you should claim them if all you did was drive through them. This is for Jazzlover's comment on april 11 or something...page 15. Listing all the places he has been to in colorado. If I am wrong, forgive me though. Perhaps you have come to my hometown several times. I just find it hard to believe that you would. People need a darn good reason to come all the way out here.

Yuma is probably one of the towns in Colorado to which I have been least frequently, but I have been there periodically. I used to travel the state extensively as part of my work--including the Eastern Plains. From those days, I do know some folks from Yuma, but I only see them infrequently now, as I do not travel as much as I did--I do more stuff "virtually" on-line now. That's a lot cheaper, but I do miss the personal contact.

[DOUBLE H]

Zippocollector! Whazzup? Like JL, my travel has cut back as well, but I've been through Yuma several times. I worked at the Pawnee Plant near Brush for over three years, knew several laborers who carpooled from Yuma, Eckley, and the Akron area. Was through there several years ago, hasn't changed a lot over the years. I love the small towns on the eastern plains. I stay in contact with a couple guys I worked with at the Pawnee; one lives in Brush, the other in Snyder, just north of Brush.

Don't know a lot of the area other than its population is close to 3000, much like the neighboring towns like Brush, Akron, and Wray, maybe 10 miles east of Yuma. Just your basic farm and ranch town. Wish I could help, hopefully someone will help out here.

[vegaspilgrim]

I met a family in Phoenix who owned a self storage facility who was originally from Yuma, CO (the one in Colorado, not the bigger and more famous one in Arizona). That's about the closest I've ever come to the place.

[Sockeye]

Originally Posted by elemental

Frankly, the only Natives are American Indian and none are contributing to this board. What do you think they would have to say about Jazzlover claiming to be a "Native". Laughable.

A protector of a land he cherishes, definitely, but not a native.

Wrong. You forgot about Webster in an earlier post, and that Native Americans trace their roots to the Siberian regions, eventually crossing the Bering Straight thousands of years ago. Therefore, your rigorous definition basically denies native status to anyone.

[CosmicWizard]

Even though my family has been in Pennsylvania since 1742, I never heard any family members express a belief that they are special becasue of that. So what! They obviously like living there and they managed to adjust to the dramatic influx of immigrants, and development that has taken place during the past 267 years. Adjusting to change is nothing special ( though some CO natives on this thread could benefit by learning this skill ). Change has been happening all over the world for centuries. What makes the poor, put upon Colorado natives so different from the rest of the world? Why do these people feel so entitled to have things be the way THEY want them to be? This entitlement attitude seems like a primitive remnant from the days of the caveman. Anyone choosing to hold on to this entitlement mentality is doomed to a life of frustration, resentment, unhappiness, and probably bitterness too. Change will happen anyway, no matter how entitled these people may feel. It's an attitude that is guaranteed by nature to make anyone espousing it....a loser to the forces of change.

[Katiana]

^^^My family has been in Pennsylvania since about 1870. I never heard them express any such feelings, either. A lot of immigrants came to PA from eastern and southern Europe at the turn of the previous century; I never heard anyone in my family complain about this influx. Also, Pennsylvania changed from an agricultural society to an industrial one during this influx, and I never heard my family (who were farmers to begin with) complain about that, either. Also, I never, ever heard any candidate for political office in Pennsylvania state among their qualifcations that they were a native Pennsylvanian. I was shocked when candidates said that out here.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Katiana

^^^My family has been in Pennsylvania since about 1870. I never heard them express any such feelings, either. A lot of immigrants came to PA from eastern and southern Europe at the turn of the previous century; I never heard anyone in my family complain about this influx. Also, Pennsylvania changed from an agricultural society to an industrial one during this influx, and I never heard my family (who were farmers to begin with) complain about that, either. Also, I never, ever heard any candidate for political office in Pennsylvania state among their qualifcations that they were a native Pennsylvanian. I was shocked when candidates said that out here.

Most old-time farmers were DELIGHTED to get off the land and work in a factory where they could make a living and not be subject to the vagaries of mother nature. Farming was tremendously hard in those days.

[treedonkey]

Good points above. Now that I think about it... No one in CA, including Politicians, ever used their 'native' status as a bragging or selling point. The mere idea of proudly calling myself a 'Native' in CA would just be laughed at since migration is the norm, and everyone knows that none of us are truly natives anyways. CA began seeing a huge influx of migrants and immigrants over 100 years ago. Obviously PA and other states back east saw it long before that -- so they've had plenty of time to get used to it and accept it as a part of life. Long-time residents of CO (and other western states) need do the same. You can complain but you can't stop it. You simply cannot realistically expect to keep 'your' state all to yourselves.