Why I left Maryland (Baltimore, Annapolis: good schools, to live, restaurants)

[The_Fairfaxian]

Originally Posted by spoonman3

First of all New Yorkers and 'Jerseyians' are not nearly as stuck up as Maryland or Virginia people. If you've ever been up there you would know that.

I have visited New York and drove through New Jersey, and at the college I'm going right now, a third of peers either come from NY or NJ. And even though I have came across a fair share of people who are cool (even if some of them were loud and blunt), there were a lot more people from those states who were arrogant and anal. But I'll give you credit in indicating how Marylanders are arrogant as well.

Originally Posted by spoonman3

And why hate on Indians or Middle Easterners? Both communities receive a lot of racism from the black community and white community, they just let it roll off their back and work their butts off.

I'm not hating on these groups by their race. I'm just indicating how easier they have it in Maryland (and the rest of the Northeast) in reference of social acceptance than other minorities. It's just sort of f*ed up when an individual who's black (or even Hispanic) can work his a-- off for years or even decades and doesn't even get the dignity to be distinguished as a positive exception from the rest of his race while an Asian or South Indian can just wash upon the shore and be considered an American. And as for the racism against them, I really don't see it against these individuals. Sure, you may argue the whole terrorist stereotype w/ Muslims, but that was just recently; and I can assure you once Bush's Neo-Communist scare (a.k.a. War on Terror) tactic ends, discrimination against Middle Easterners will significantly vanish.

Originally Posted by spoonman3

the OP was very correct about Maryland. I think I'd sum it up with this: Maryland has no culture. It doesn't have any defining characteristics. Its pretty much an area in limbo or a vacuum. People comparing to to Jersey or New York are wrong because it doesn't have the interesting people, food, or places. People comparing it to the south are wrong because it doesn't have the friendliness, neighborliness or sense of community.

Well there's something we can agree on.

[vivo]

so MD has no character even outside of parts of the bw/dc area moreso dc area?

[westsideboy]

Vivo, MD outside of the metro areas has several vary distinct regional cultures. Western Maryland is part of Appalachia and has an economy, demographics, and character similar to SW PA and Northern WV. The Eastern Shore of MD is very rural, farm and water based with a unique dialect. The remaining rural parts of Southern Maryland and Central Maryland around the Mason-Dixon line have culture as well. Just don't expect too many disgruntled transplants from other states to go off the beaten path enough to discover these places.

[somnambulist]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Just don't expect too many disgruntled transplants from other states to go off the beaten path enough to discover these places.

God forbid us lowly "transplants" not invest the time and effort to seek out the elusive and poor excuse for state culture in Maryland, when such defining culture is readily apparent pretty much anywhere else in the country.

Trust me, as a transplant, we're about as happy to be stuck in this oversized suburb of a state as you are having us.

[tyates]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Vivo, MD outside of the metro areas has several vary distinct regional cultures. Western Maryland is part of Appalachia and has an economy, demographics, and character similar to SW PA and Northern WV. The Eastern Shore of MD is very rural, farm and water based with a unique dialect. The remaining rural parts of Southern Maryland and Central Maryland around the Mason-Dixon line have culture as well. Just don't expect too many disgruntled transplants from other states to go off the beaten path enough to discover these places.

I spent some time last year (for work related reasons) around Washington County (Hagerstown area). I'm an out of state transplant from more urban areas and I definitely got a different taste of culture and character from this area. I almost felt like I was stuck in a time warp in this area as jean shorts still seemed to be in fashion. I thought people in the area were extremely down to earth and friendly much different it seems than DC metro people.

I haven't had a change to visit the eastern side of MD but have heard of its reputation.

[westsideboy]

Maryland has been a divided state since the beginning. Heck, our state even had a "civil war" in colonial times between the Catholics and the Anglicans for control of the state. Our northern areas were settled largely by German yeoman farmers, our southern parts by English tobacco farmers and slave laborers. In the Civil War, our border state status lead to the state and its government being essentially occupied by federal troops. We contributed significant numbers of troops to both sides.

Fast forward to today and these historic regional differences are now added to by the contrasting metropolises of Baltimore and Washington. The fast growing, affluent suburbs populated by transplants are worlds away from the largely poorer native populations of the state's rural regions.

In summary, Maryland is not an easy state to understand. Residents of some states, Texas and West Virginia for example, have a very unified almost patriotic culture. If you are from anywhere in West Virginia, you are in the club. Maryland has never been like that. Western Maryland, The Eastern Shore, Baltimore, D.C., are all labels used far more often than "Maryland" to describe where we live. It isn't recent suburbanization that has lead to Maryland lacking a unified culture, it has always been that way. Running into a fellow Marylander will immediately be followed by the question of "what county?" Depending on the answer, the conversation will either flourish or come to a quick dead end.

So my advice for people that look down on Maryland for not being as easy to understand and approachable as other states is to look a little deeper. If you don't have the time or energy to do so ,thats fine, we have room for those kind of people too.

[cutgarden]

And the great thing about America is, if you don't like the state you're stuck in, you can try out 47 others before you even hit water.

Myself, I love Carroll County, and look forward to visiting Western MD in a few weeks. If I hated it as much as some people say, I'd move.

[MDguySC]

Originally Posted by MrPandy

No doubt, it's the illegality of it. I don't care if the immigrants are from Europe, South America, Central America or anywhere. I don't care what color their skin is or what color their hair is. I do care if they are here illegally taking advantage of what America offers its citizens and legal guests.

There are plenty of people doing the right thing and trying to come here legally. Those are the ones who I welcome. I come to your house, I follow your rules. End of story.

I find it interesting that people are so concerned with illegal immigrants "taking advantage of what America offers", without remembering that we all do not exist within a vacuum. They come here bringing things with them... they don't just come here to "take from the system". Many people are under the false impression that illegal immigrants come here and "have it easy just riding the system". In my vast experience in working with both legal and illegal Hispanic immigrants, they work their butts off (2 and 3 jobs) trying to support their families in hopes of giving their children a better life, just like so many of our ancestors did.

They pay sales taxes, they pay vehicle registration taxes, they pay for housing (and therefore also pay property taxes), and they contribute to our economy as well. And guess what... they also pay INCOME taxes! It's just that they don't file for a refund like you and I would. Meanwhile, they cannot obtain benefits, even here in Montgomery County. They're not "riding the government" because they can't get benefits... while still paying taxes into the system and not getting any refunds.

The only thing that they can depend on is each other and themselves. And the thing that angers people the most about the "illegal immigrant situation" is that they're doing it and that they're able to survive. The Hispanic culture is centered-around close family and friends, and they support each other tremendously. They've learned that there is no "each man for himself" and believe in supporting each other. I applaud them for that and wish that many more Americans would pick up on the devotion to family (especially).

On a more personal note, I can remember stories of my ancestors coming to America from Germany and England (back in the days when you could get here, you were welcome), and they came with very little money, worked 2 jobs each to support their families, and look where we are now. My grandparents are well-off and retired (both sets) at age 55, my Aunt and I have masters degrees, my Mom teaches special-education children and has a masters equivalency degree, my brother is in college working on preserving open space for the future generations, and my great grandmother is proud of the heritage that she was allowed to create in America... We brought our culture, our heritage, and we contributed to building this country. My family members worked in the coal mines in Pennsylvania and on the railroads, which were used to build the infrastructures in America. This country would not have been the same without people like my relatives who impacted this country so greatly.

I am personally impacted to hear people talking about "illegal immigrants" because I am afraid to think what my life would be like without the previous generations in my family coming here to pass down a better life. I have no evidence that my family members came here legally or illegally, but to me, it makes no difference. I am an American with American Indian, German and English roots and I am proud of it. My ancestors came seeking something more out of life, and they got it. They were also able to pass it down to people like me who are here serving the public (teachers, social workers, environmentalists) and making this a better place to live.

One day an illegal immigrant is going to be the one to cure AIDS or cure cancer and we're all going to be so ashamed of ourselves that we once ridiculed them when they were coming all along to make a better contribution towards themselves and society at large.

[appalachiangirl]

I think it's the illegal part people have problems with. Most people don't have a problem with legal immigrants. But I do agree bigotry is wrong no matter who the person/group happens to be. With economic problems in the country, however,many are worried their jobs are being given to ILLEGAL immigrants. This is not really fair to those who are here legally(no matter what their race or culture is).

[vanyali]

It would be easier for me to get worked up over the illegality of certain immigrants if the laws weren't so ridiculous. As it is, I can't blame people for skirting the immigration laws, since the laws don't provide a realistic opportunity for people to immigrate legally. I see illegal immigration from Mexico as more akin to Rosa Parks sitting in the front of the bus than something really criminal.