Better West Virginia Through Better Parameters

I'd been working on a post about West Virginia since I'd made my decision to leave. It's funny how life changing events always make you want to be all introspective and deep. A simple dog walk along the Boulevard can turn into a nostalgic trip; a visit to Ellen's Ice Cream presents a culinary conundrum (do I waste my calories on Espresso Oreo or Curry Chicken Salad?). I found it kind of serendiptous that I'd been working on this post when I read the call for posts from A Better West Virginia. Against my better judgment, I submitted my post. The response reminded me of what it is that I find so loathsome about these endeavors:

Spinster Girl,

Apologies for delayed response. Below are the parameters for the better West Virginia blog project. I’ve read your post, and it’s more of a personal journal entry. However, you’ve got something important to say. I encourage you to cut it down big time, use the below parameters to guide you, and get your point across in half the words you’ve used to date. If you don’t have time to rework your post, consider posting a comment at aBetterWestVirginia after tomorrow’s post goes up.

Best regards,
ABetterWestVirgina Guy

These are rarely about "our" West Virginia, and almost always about "my" West Virginia, but that's the reality of many things. My West Virginia experience is not about moonshine and four-wheeling (though I've experienced both), but for some people it is (just ask anyone who has caught a swig from Larry Groce after a Mountain Stage performance). And who's to say that's wrong? The truth is that if we ignore the reasons why our stereotypes exist, we'll only continue to peremate a culture of resentment and self-ostracization. I'm from Lincoln County and God knows I've taken a few trips out some of those backroads that would make the scene (you know the one) look not only plausible, but tame. Our culture is moonshining and coal mining and music. It's good people and family ties. The new West Virginia is not unlike the new America. An arena for change and growth. Reading the "acceptable" blog entries, I find that they are represenative of the West Virginia I know. The West Virginia that has some of the smartest, wittiest, most interesting people I have had the pleasure of knowing. And I find myself with only one question: Why would we want to create a "new" stereotype? The burden should not be on us to change the minds of others; it should be on them to overcome their own ignorant ideas and expectations. Be who you are, and be proud of it.

For those interested in the West Virginia Day blogging project, you can find it here.