12 Bloggers to Battle Hillbilly steriotype (Martinsburg, Washington: fit in, sales, crime rate)

[David Kennedy]

Todays Sunday paper carried an AP news release noting that we have a Hillbilly Stereotype and it will be given battle. This is a formitable challenge and worthy of West Virginia Pluck...
How these 12 bloggers will overcome 2 generations of Lil' Abner...Snuffy Smith not to mention the 'Beverly Hillbillys and an older show starring Walter Brennen, The Real McCoys, is beyond my belief.

Our people have had every thing taken away from them, Oil rights, Gas rights everything including the gold caps on their teeth...the only thing that is left from God is the fact that we are Hillbillies...this is an honor and a privilidge to attain...
My people have been Hillbillies since the "Whiteboy riots of old Ireland...they took refuge in the mountains of Va and became Hillbillies in the 1750's and moved further inland in 1788...

I really do not know if I want my stereotype changed...its honorable...a family who took enterprise from the forests and made more than a living...some were iron mongers, boatbuilders...distillers and Ordinary Keepers and in these last generations, coal miners and teachers..
I'm proud to be a Hillbilly, to me it conotates endurance, enterprise and survival..
It may be the last thing that keeps us from becoming the plastic Walmart Stereotype...
It may be our entire identity.
What are your feeling on the Wv Hillbilly image?

[LilyLaLa]

I absolutely agree...if West Virginia starts trying to sell itself as 'just as cosmopolitan/slick/ordinary/ultra-modern' as the rest of the USA, then what's making it so special?

I LOVE the spirit and history of the "Mountain State"! Especially thinking of its local fairs and (mostly) unspoiled beauty, and the Augusta Heritage summers that celebrate traditional music and dancing and storytelling...no, I don't think WV should try to fit in and become just another face in a fifty-state crowd.

If 12 bloggers are going to start telling everyone that WVians AREN'T hillbillies, then I hope 100 bloggers show up to tell everyone WHY West Virginian hillbillies are so wonderful! Wild and wonderful.

[suecen]

Well put you guys - God bless!!

[Retired Navy]

Originally Posted by LilyLaLa

I absolutely agree...if West Virginia starts trying to sell itself as 'just as cosmopolitan/slick/ordinary/ultra-modern' as the rest of the USA, then what's making it so special?

I LOVE the spirit and history of the "Mountain State"! Especially thinking of its local fairs and (mostly) unspoiled beauty, and the Augusta Heritage summers that celebrate traditional music and dancing and storytelling...no, I don't think WV should try to fit in and become just another face in a fifty-state crowd.

If 12 bloggers are going to start telling everyone that WVians AREN'T hillbillies, then I hope 100 bloggers show up to tell everyone WHY West Virginian hillbillies are so wonderful! Wild and wonderful.

We have a good start right here!! Let's all go to the Blogs and defend our stereotype....Gitter Done!!!!

[Milspec]

[quote=Retired Navy;4190453]We have a good start right here!!

I have been through WV many times and have met some of the most honest and friendly people in all the states. I was stranded on the side of a mountain on the edge of a guard rail on winter night and up in the distance I could see a light coming from higher up the mountain. I followed the light untilI came upon a tiny house that you could see through the siding. When I knoked on the door, a giant of a man greeted me and after I told him my story, he and wife gave me food and walked with me back down to my car and helped me assess the situation and helped me get the car unstuck and wished me luck on my way. This is the type of people I think of when I hear about WV. In my opinion, they are a rare breed and are lucky that they don't have evil eyes watching their every move as most of us do.

[x1x]

Theres a Ole saying that people fear what they don't understand, and have no control over!!! So they criticize,ridicule it and condemn along with senseless accusations to hide their fear of what they don't no a dayummm thing about!!!

[Georgia]

Originally Posted by LilyLaLa

I absolutely agree...if West Virginia starts trying to sell itself as 'just as cosmopolitan/slick/ordinary/ultra-modern' as the rest of the USA, then what's making it so special?

I LOVE the spirit and history of the "Mountain State"! Especially thinking of its local fairs and (mostly) unspoiled beauty, and the Augusta Heritage summers that celebrate traditional music and dancing and storytelling...no, I don't think WV should try to fit in and become just another face in a fifty-state crowd.

If 12 bloggers are going to start telling everyone that WVians AREN'T hillbillies, then I hope 100 bloggers show up to tell everyone WHY West Virginian hillbillies are so wonderful! Wild and wonderful.

Great point Lila.
One can even use an "in-state" example here.
If you look at West Virginia as a whole one will find it unchanged for the most part. The vast majority of it's 55 counties still have the old roots West Virginia identity. Wild, Wonderful, and Laid Back.
I like to look at the vast majority of West Virginia as a Mayberry/Norman Rockwell photograph. The mountains, the winding roads, the beautiful Blue Ridge. A state that boast the "most beautiful capital landscape in America"
One will also find that of the 1.8 million folks which reside in the state and even the expatriots, boast a down to earth type of mindset. We are not bothered about keeping up with the Jones', we could care less what you are, who you are, and what you look like. But we will call a spade a spade with no spit and polish. To most West Virginians, the term political correct is just another oxy-moron.

Above I did state the "majority" of the 55 counties, as one county in my opinion is currently learning the hard earned lesson of attempting to be something your not, this is Berkeley, my hometown. During the majority of my youth, from the 60's- the late 70's and of course before, Berkeley was just another county in West Virginia. Part of the old Blue Book history (a term for the natives) until it caught the disease we all know as metroitis.Yes, we inherited the speed train to DC, thanks to Gaston Caperton. Martinsburg was going to be "Boom Town" once again We saw the developers pour in right and left. Of course with no zoning and no inspection requirements except for the wink and nod, the nail gun salt boxes shot up left and right. Mostly on old orchard developments still ripe with the previous DDT leftovers. Since hardly any city water was ran we welcomed wells and septics on postage stamp lots. New Roads? Nah! Just tar and chip the old orchard one lane roads, that is fine.

Next we have Chatfield-Taylor brining the old mills to be the remodeled Outlets. Another metro boom. Well, until Hagerstown Maryland with half of the corporate tax and lower sales tax moved next door, then Chapter 11 for this. Don't fret though, it's now government offices. Hmmm,

Yes, Berkeley dropped it's old Hillbilly addage for what I refer to as Urbanites with an edge So what a reputation it has now. Mostly disowned by the other 53 counties (Jefferson has to stay a little loyal to to geographic location) and laughed at by the DC media. Yes, the price you pay for trying to keep up with the Jones's. So we are now Urban and Cosmopolitian. We went from beauty to a downtown of closed businesses and vagrants picking on little old ladies from KD Court. From Mayberry to a town (Martinsburg) providing the highest crime rate in the state per capita.

So Lila, you hit the nail on the head. Let WV remain WV. And trust me as these words are coming from Atlanta. For anyone who thinks strongly that Wild and Wonderful West Virginia should "change" and become more "cosmo", and more like other cities who are providing the jabs to the mountain state. Come on down to Atlanta. Drive over to downtown Baltimore or Washington DC's SE side. It will take less than 5 minutes to figure out that it's better to be a back wood hillbilly than the latter.

[LilyLaLa]

Originally Posted by Georgia

Come on down to Atlanta. Drive over to downtown Baltimore or Washington DC's SE side. It will take less than 5 minutes to figure out that it's better to be a back wood hillbilly than the latter.

Yikes--I was driven through Baltimore last year while visiting relatives. I had remembered tree-lined streets with marble steps and the harbour walks, and I'm sure those are still there, but... now!! In the middle of town where my niece lived, there are areas that look like an Apocalypse passed through. Some streets are lined with irritating flashing buglight-type strobe lights, which (I was told) call attention to CCTV cameras that film thieves and muggers, and those streets were filthy, grey, with boarded up windows on the buildings. It all looked like something out of a horror movie.

And back home, I keep my car keys in the ignition even when I'm not driving....'cause being middle-aged, how else would I ever find 'em? And the car's never been stolen...the postman even leaves packages in the car if we're not home to take them, in case it rains I suppose.

No, I'd never survive in poor old Baltimore. I need to 'head for the hills'.

[WVUPharm2007]

Well...ideally, I'd like to get rid of the negative stereotypes while keeping our identity. We are unpretentious mountain folk that revere simplicity. I don't think anybody is trying to change that. I think they are wanting to eliminate the negative connotations such as the inbreeding, illiterate, and ignorant yokel stereotypes.

I do agree though, I love the WV culture. There is a reason why the WVU and plays "Simple Gifts" at every home game...it truly resonates with the state.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

It's almost like Eastern Buddhism in a way. I have a nice, decent job by the standards of any US region's culture. I live in a small 1200 SqFt house and I drive a Ford Taurus. Anywhere else people would look at me like I was crazy for not driving a BMW and not living in a McMansion.....but life isn't about that in WV. The people hate bull**** as much as I do.

Honestly, as the election primary came around, it really made me realize what we have here. For the longest time I have wanted to move away....but, now....I don't know. I might just stay...the fact that I got a nice clinical job in-town last week (finally!!!) certainly helps...

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by WVUPharm2007

Well...ideally, I'd like to get rid of the negative stereotypes while keeping our identity. We are unpretentious mountain folk that revere simplicity. I don't think anybody is trying to change that. I think they are wanting to eliminate the negative connotations such as the inbreeding, illiterate, and ignorant yokel stereotypes.

I do agree though, I love the WV culture. There is a reason why the WVU and plays "Simple Gifts" at every home game...it truly resonates with the state.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

It's almost like Eastern Buddhism in a way. I have a nice, decent job by the standards of any US region's culture. I live in a small 1200 SqFt house and I drive a Ford Taurus. Anywhere else people would look at me like I was crazy for not driving a BMW and not living in a McMansion.....but life isn't about that in WV. The people hate bull**** as much as I do.

Honestly, as the election primary came around, it really made me realize what we have here. For the longest time I have wanted to move away....but, now....I don't know. I might just stay...the fact that I got a nice clinical job in-town last week (finally!!!) certainly helps...

Well stated there!

Re: your choice of home and vehicle; you are being very wise IMHO.

Who the 'hell' wants to heat (and cool) a McMansion*------and, good luck in keeping said Beemer repaired (your Taurus is a better car when push comes to shove).

*unless entertainment of large groups of people is your thing.

Rep for you.