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Well, there's German and there's German. While many German immigrants settled in rural, agricultural areas, many others settled the cites of the Midwest. Their political views differed widely from the WASPs who controlled commerce and politics in these cities. Like the Scandinavians, the Germans brought a collectivist ideal to America with them. Many of the leaders in the big-city union movement in the later part of the 19th century were German. Milwaukee is the only US city to have elected a Socialist (German-American) mayor for four terms in the 20th century. And that was in the decades when the city's population was overwhelmingly German.
I kinda like this map--it acknowledges the many nuances among the regions and states, yet still manages to call a spade a spade.
The Great Plains dividing line makes sense to me: it's right about where the 100th meridian is. That's the point that many agree separates the arid west from the humid east. I'm not sure what the debatable area in KS is. Anyone shed any light on this?
Not sure about the debatable area in West TX is either. I'd probably leave the El Paso area in the Intermountain West.
I like how it calls east TX as "South". I'm particularly impressed that it puts the Little Egypt area of IL squarely in the South. No debate there. Same thing with the Delmarva Penninsula, and all of VA except the DC suburban area.
Not sure why Western MT and northern ID are debatable. How could that be anything but Intermountain West?
I like that it also comes down firmly that Buffalo and Pittsburgh are East, no two ways about it. The debatable area is farther west, in OH. Not sure why Cleveland's and Cincinnati's pedigrees are debatably Eastern, but Detroit's is not.
Intersting map, rgb123. What is its source? Is there some accompanying text that desribes the criteria the author used to set the regional boundaries?
The website is a source for teachers and librarians, but I didn't spend much time looking over the document, as I was just searching for images. I picked it cause it is the same map I remember from my US Regional Geography class in college. We had an excellent text book and I am trying to remember the author (he was well known) but I annoyingly gave the book away to a friend awhile back....it will come to me!
I kinda like this map--it acknowledges the many nuances among the regions and states, yet still manages to call a spade a spade.
The Great Plains dividing line makes sense to me: it's right about where the 100th meridian is. That's the point that many agree separates the arid west from the humid east. I'm not sure what the debatable area in KS is. Anyone shed any light on this?
Not sure about the debatable area in West TX is either. I'd probably leave the El Paso area in the Intermountain West.
I like how it calls east TX as "South". I'm particularly impressed that it puts the Little Egypt area of IL squarely in the South. No debate there. Same thing with the Delmarva Penninsula, and all of VA except the DC suburban area.
Not sure why Western MT and northern ID are debatable. How could that be anything but Intermountain West?
I like that it also comes down firmly that Buffalo and Pittsburgh are East, no two ways about it. The debatable area is farther west, in OH. Not sure why Cleveland's and Cincinnati's pedigrees are debatably Eastern, but Detroit's is not.
Intersting map, rgb123. What is its source? Is there some accompanying text that desribes the criteria the author used to set the regional boundaries?
I'm not sure about the Idaho/Montana thing...but I think some people consider that part of the PacNW.
I've been in situations with people in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York who look at me like I crawled out of a cave in Afghanistan if I tell them I live in "Michigan". I feel sorry for them. They live in a bubble of ignorance and have no concept of the world beyond their megacity of choice or upbringing. I used to live on the coast and was getting immersed in that bubble as well. You just start to see the rest of the country as a bunch of rusty pickup driving rednecks. I didn't like who I was becoming.
Then again, I went to a very international high school outside Detroit with a parking lot full of Lexuses and BMWs and students from wealthy immigrants from all over the world. (I was there on scholarship). Even there, when I tell people I moved to a small harbor city on the south shore of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they project the same ignorance as the coastal people. They think I'm surrounded by flannel wearing toothless bigots. It's all relative.
It's too bad, because it is the definition of idyllic and sophisticated with rugged terrain and hidden beaches. People who don't visit mock me while people who do visit always ask about real estate prices.
It has a large medical community, and there is this concept there called the "second income". A lot of hospitals in big cities across the country try to recruit top-notch doctors away, but they turn down much higher salaries because they enjoy the lifestyle of being five minutes from wonderful natural beauty and a nice small city full of coffeeshops, theatre, art galleries...
Don't get me wrong, though. There's a ceiling of tolerance. Many people there, as anywhere, are very rooted in the status quo and live disturbingly normal all-American Applebee's-eating lifestyles that rather sicken me. But there are enough interesting ones to ignore those types.
I don't know Bluefly - if you told me you lived up in that area of Michigan ... I wouldn't picture "trashy" at all. Small harbor towns on the great lakes are so nice. And there are a lotttttt of rich people with beautiful homes near the lakes and in the forest. (at least in wisconsin) I bet your autumns are beautiful.
As for it being disturbing to eat at a chain restaurant - seriously? Disturbing is the word? Well I guess if I think food at a certain place tastes good, I'll go back. If they have good service, I'll go back. Applebee's for the most part, is good. So sorry if that sickens you.
Anyway, your area of Michigan sounds nice. (as for me I like living near the plains rather than the lakes and woods)
Oh - it is gorgeous up there. It just made some list of the top 10 places in the world to take a summer vacation. I was just giving the overall impression of what people think who've never been there. A lot of people still think of the Great Lakes as Cleveland burning in 1969. They're absolutely gorgeous - beaches, massive sand dunes. First time I saw the ocean I was shocked at how similar it was.
As for the chain restaurant thing - it's just an example of the generification of America. It's the same with shopping and whatever else - there's a large segment of society that is pretty middle American who have no problem watching their city turn into a generic place no different from any other city anywhere in the country. These are the people who unabashedly love American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, and spend their days wandering malls. They're forcing their worldview on those of us who seek something more authentic, such as the local restaurants started and owned by local people downtown.
I know what you're saying. As for liking things like American Idol or getting into "celebrity" crap... reality tv, etc... I am pretty disconnected (and proud of it, they're just people, sleezy people at that usually)
However, I think our nation benefits from large corporations overall... even if some of them are a nuissance and or cookie-cutter. The positive thing is - have you noticed how many local businesses are doing so well just recently? (at least in my area) I've seen quite a few downtowns turn around. Not sure if it's just a trendy thing, or if people are starting to care about local stores downtown again.
Oh - it is gorgeous up there. It just made some list of the top 10 places in the world to take a summer vacation. I was just giving the overall impression of what people think who've never been there. A lot of people still think of the Great Lakes as Cleveland burning in 1969. They're absolutely gorgeous - beaches, massive sand dunes. First time I saw the ocean I was shocked at how similar it was.
As for the chain restaurant thing - it's just an example of the generification of America. It's the same with shopping and whatever else - there's a large segment of society that is pretty middle American who have no problem watching their city turn into a generic place no different from any other city anywhere in the country. These are the people who unabashedly love American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, and spend their days wandering malls. They're forcing their worldview on those of us who seek something more authentic, such as the local restaurants started and owned by local people downtown.
I'm not sure who is forcing their "world view" on you or anyone else. I have made several posts stating that suburban people do not all sit around watching "American Idol" and drinking beer or diet soda while the city folks are all watching PBS and drinking fancy wines. And much as I personally love local restaurants, sometimes if I'm stuck for an idea I will go to Chili's. I'm not quite sure what you mean about "more authentic", either. Do Chili's, Applebee's, et all not serve real food, or what? And I personally think it is extremely condescending to say someone's lifestyle "sickens" you b/c it is not what you choose. Intolerant liberals!
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So sorry if that sickens you. 