One of the ironies of my life is how its circle has brought me to a time in which the “Okies from Muskogee” now look exactly like ‘the hippies” they used to deride complete with drug habits but totally lacking the original cast’s grasp of “peace, love, and understanding”.
A female, I spent my first 14 years of life in Washington DC, then ran away from home in 1968 and ended up in a rural county in Maryland, where I learned many things and was negatively affected by most of it: I had never experienced such stupid anti-semitic talk because I didn't know the difference between Jews and non-Jews, and there were very few in that town, same with anti-gay talk where rednecks talked about driving into the city "to beat up fags", or about the novel idea to throw cats out of cars at 55 mph. That place was a testicularly intellectual abyss of no foreign foods, lots of guns, and lots of ignorance. and it really comes down to ignorance and lack of exposure to other people and things. The education system barely helped. I did, however, learn to drive a manual transmission very well and an assortment of trucks and tractors, shoot guns with prowess, do brake jobs and other car repairs, camp, canoe, fish, and get beat up by a young man who didn't like competent opinionated women. I headed to the City ASAP where I was eventually transformed from total dumb-ass to intellectually stimulated and curious. Dunning-Kruger humans abound. I am only nostalgic for the stunning topography and beauty of the land, now pocked with myriad cheap strip centers and crap. Breaks my heart.
Thanks for that comment, it made me remember a few things too. It's a shame people from those rural areas get to select our president, and they always pick a cruel one.
I avoid most people there when I visit the area because they are mostly uninformed Trump supporters, yet, many are the nicest people until you start talking about reality.
Very interesting perspective .. as I read I think! Yes, I grew up in rural Wisconsin on a dairy farm. Your thoughts capture me completely, although I found ways to break out. It’s true, while most do not break away from the thinking, carrying the rural thinking into the rest of their life.
I’m always curious about the difference between the few who manage to escape and those who don’t. Not just from the locale, but also from the ingrained mindset. It seems an indicator of nature versus nurture. I’ve met so many people who have left their town or state behind to escape the legacy of racism, misogyny, homophobia, etc. It’s hard not to believe that some people are born with stronger character. The people who think we need to make America great again, are unable to see the outcomes of their isolation and prejudice. They live in bubbles that constantly reinforce their beliefs. If they didn’t, they might realize that America has NEVER been great for everyone. This is not to say that there aren’t backward thinkers in big cities, but to your point, Walter, the more you’re exposed to other ideas and cultures the more flexible your mind becomes.
Thank you for writing this doorway to yourself. I realize now the treasure you are, that time and circumstance saved for this moment. It's now that you're doing that I see our brief connection at the Library of Congress as a fated flash we sparked together. What you have caused me to ponder is the possibility that instead of 'breaking out' we gradually 'broke in' to our own inner spaces by unlocking the magic in words. Neither Janet or myself were 'degreed' but found and fostered emotional genius in each other to escape stifling acceptance of stories not our own. Hail to thee. Let's keep walking, I think I see light up ahead.
Thanks Chris! It's nice to see you here on Substack. This is a growing community and indeed, if there is light ahead, it's because we can all go forward together!
I appreciate this article. For me, it is informative.
Being the liberal product of Californian cities, I’ve harbored an idealized fascination with country life. I have, during my lifetime, bought country properties as vacation homes although the areas were largely populated with university graduates, and city people like myself, wanting to experience a country lifestyle.
However, I apparently don't understand a genuine country mentality.
I think that could be why I just can't understand the MAGA mindset.
I understand the MAGA mindset. The sad part is that when I try to explain it to the elites within the Democratic party, they won't listen. The hubris is what got us here. I think it will be my job to roll up my sleeves and just expose all the true horrors of country life. Awful, awful things happen on dirt roads, parents betraying their children... we truly live in a sick world and things happen in rural areas that are too painful to discuss. But we must discuss them. Thanks for the comment!
Rural areas experience generational brain drain. The majority of intelligent children growing up in them mature to recognize the lack of opportunity and move away to some urban area. The left-behinds take up the positions of power and authority in the rural area, thus perpetuating the shittiness. I grew up in a rural area and it was hateful and racist. I hope you were able to relocate to an urban, intelligent, and liberal area.
Touche! Thank you...so spot on! "Rural Viewpoint Contaminates Your Thinking".
City girl who loves it here...with family recreating a paradise of "farm" in our backyard. This kept us contained, and while young, so happily occupied. To my parents' credit, they were different from our MN/ND small town families. No guns...they insisted on respect for ~everyone~ and lived in a poor neighborhood. We kids didn't know it was poor. They could have moved, but they didn't.
However, the habit that I can just give "lip service", and then do whatever I may want to anyway, is still a hurdle. Thank you for the briefly stated and brilliant illumination!
One of the ironies of my life is how its circle has brought me to a time in which the “Okies from Muskogee” now look exactly like ‘the hippies” they used to deride complete with drug habits but totally lacking the original cast’s grasp of “peace, love, and understanding”.
That's an interesting observation. I have seen something of that myself.
A female, I spent my first 14 years of life in Washington DC, then ran away from home in 1968 and ended up in a rural county in Maryland, where I learned many things and was negatively affected by most of it: I had never experienced such stupid anti-semitic talk because I didn't know the difference between Jews and non-Jews, and there were very few in that town, same with anti-gay talk where rednecks talked about driving into the city "to beat up fags", or about the novel idea to throw cats out of cars at 55 mph. That place was a testicularly intellectual abyss of no foreign foods, lots of guns, and lots of ignorance. and it really comes down to ignorance and lack of exposure to other people and things. The education system barely helped. I did, however, learn to drive a manual transmission very well and an assortment of trucks and tractors, shoot guns with prowess, do brake jobs and other car repairs, camp, canoe, fish, and get beat up by a young man who didn't like competent opinionated women. I headed to the City ASAP where I was eventually transformed from total dumb-ass to intellectually stimulated and curious. Dunning-Kruger humans abound. I am only nostalgic for the stunning topography and beauty of the land, now pocked with myriad cheap strip centers and crap. Breaks my heart.
Thanks for that comment, it made me remember a few things too. It's a shame people from those rural areas get to select our president, and they always pick a cruel one.
I avoid most people there when I visit the area because they are mostly uninformed Trump supporters, yet, many are the nicest people until you start talking about reality.
If they think rural life in America is unblemished, I have some book suggestions proving otherwise.
(P.S. "Men get “buck fever” and lose all sense" Do women get "doe fever" then?).
No :) Buck fever is when you’re out hunting and you want to shoot a deer. When I was growing up, women generally didn’t hunt.
Ah. Got it.
I’m grateful that I lived my first 13 years in hell. It prevents nostalgia. The only thing I remember fondly is the street food!
Very interesting perspective .. as I read I think! Yes, I grew up in rural Wisconsin on a dairy farm. Your thoughts capture me completely, although I found ways to break out. It’s true, while most do not break away from the thinking, carrying the rural thinking into the rest of their life.
Thanks Gene! Yes, most do not break out of that. Honestly, it's very hard. I had to travel a long way. I'll have to think more about this.
I’m always curious about the difference between the few who manage to escape and those who don’t. Not just from the locale, but also from the ingrained mindset. It seems an indicator of nature versus nurture. I’ve met so many people who have left their town or state behind to escape the legacy of racism, misogyny, homophobia, etc. It’s hard not to believe that some people are born with stronger character. The people who think we need to make America great again, are unable to see the outcomes of their isolation and prejudice. They live in bubbles that constantly reinforce their beliefs. If they didn’t, they might realize that America has NEVER been great for everyone. This is not to say that there aren’t backward thinkers in big cities, but to your point, Walter, the more you’re exposed to other ideas and cultures the more flexible your mind becomes.
Well said. Thanks for that thoughtful comment!
Thank you for writing this doorway to yourself. I realize now the treasure you are, that time and circumstance saved for this moment. It's now that you're doing that I see our brief connection at the Library of Congress as a fated flash we sparked together. What you have caused me to ponder is the possibility that instead of 'breaking out' we gradually 'broke in' to our own inner spaces by unlocking the magic in words. Neither Janet or myself were 'degreed' but found and fostered emotional genius in each other to escape stifling acceptance of stories not our own. Hail to thee. Let's keep walking, I think I see light up ahead.
Thanks Chris! It's nice to see you here on Substack. This is a growing community and indeed, if there is light ahead, it's because we can all go forward together!
What a story! It is very sad but poignant. Thank you for sharing the heartaches you had to endure. 🙏❤️
I appreciate this article. For me, it is informative.
Being the liberal product of Californian cities, I’ve harbored an idealized fascination with country life. I have, during my lifetime, bought country properties as vacation homes although the areas were largely populated with university graduates, and city people like myself, wanting to experience a country lifestyle.
However, I apparently don't understand a genuine country mentality.
I think that could be why I just can't understand the MAGA mindset.
I understand the MAGA mindset. The sad part is that when I try to explain it to the elites within the Democratic party, they won't listen. The hubris is what got us here. I think it will be my job to roll up my sleeves and just expose all the true horrors of country life. Awful, awful things happen on dirt roads, parents betraying their children... we truly live in a sick world and things happen in rural areas that are too painful to discuss. But we must discuss them. Thanks for the comment!
I enjoy your writing style and look forward to learning more. 👍
Thank you! I’m learning quite a bit myself. sometimes it can be pretty painful to peel back the layers.
Rural areas experience generational brain drain. The majority of intelligent children growing up in them mature to recognize the lack of opportunity and move away to some urban area. The left-behinds take up the positions of power and authority in the rural area, thus perpetuating the shittiness. I grew up in a rural area and it was hateful and racist. I hope you were able to relocate to an urban, intelligent, and liberal area.
Touche! Thank you...so spot on! "Rural Viewpoint Contaminates Your Thinking".
City girl who loves it here...with family recreating a paradise of "farm" in our backyard. This kept us contained, and while young, so happily occupied. To my parents' credit, they were different from our MN/ND small town families. No guns...they insisted on respect for ~everyone~ and lived in a poor neighborhood. We kids didn't know it was poor. They could have moved, but they didn't.
However, the habit that I can just give "lip service", and then do whatever I may want to anyway, is still a hurdle. Thank you for the briefly stated and brilliant illumination!
That was insightful brother.