New York/New Jersey, Utah/Idaho, Illinois/Iowa, California/Everyone else: state superiority complexes are a serious challenge to our national unity. Maybe this is because I am a Preston, Idaho (home of Napoleon Dynamite) native, but when I was at BYU I could never figure out how denizens of one rural, right-wing state full of Mormons could be so smug when discussing another rural, right-wing state full of Mormons. Before I gave up my political career, I went to a Utah Eagle Forum banquet full of home schoolers in colonial garb (I believe that two of my charming readers were also present) in which the speaker beseeched, “George W. Bush is too liberal. Who’s with me?” I’m definitely not saying that that is a reflection of the Utah population at large, but I’ve never been invited to a similar event in Manhattan.
Anyway, when I lived in Arizona I often heard people making disparaging comments about New Mexico. I am not a scholar of the southwest, so I do not have a well informed opinion on that topic. However, my friend Kristen from 1999 (thanks Facebook!), was kind enough to lend us some insight into the Land of Enchantment. She sent me this pic, noting that “I know you don't drink, but regardless, might find the label a funny substitute for its more popular cousin wine Gewurtztraminer.”
hey, my post today is about state-ish stuff too! didn't read this until after i'd posted.
ReplyDeleteand i agree with you.
I was 19 before I realized that the California school system tried to brainwash me into thinking California was the superior state with a slideshow when I was in elementary school.
ReplyDeleteI may just have to blog about it at some point.
I love your "California/Everyone Else" comment. What was even stranger for me being from California while at BYU was that even if you met someone else from California, there was still the battle between northern and southern, each thinking their own part of the state was more superior.
ReplyDeleteUnity is very important to the vitality of the US. We should stop wasting time and energy debating which state is better and come together for the greater good. After all, Texas is the best state in the union.
ReplyDelete