Journal Entry #4

It’s unfair for the people of the Appalachians to be portrayed this way. There are illiterate and backwards people outside this region just as much there are in this region. I think that believing in this would make one ignorant. In today’s society it’s almost inferred that urban areas and big cities have the upper hand on these “Appalachian” areas (i.e. education, wealth, and opportunity). We talked in class the other day about how during/after the civil way certain areas industrialized. This gives the people in these areas an advantage and a stronger voice. These areas plays sort of a parent role being that a lot of production comes from here. I think that the main reason why it’s important that the region is portrayed this way is due to separation. Those who are not in the region see all the culture and advancements that the Appalachia region has made. It’s like a racing video game. When you’re in “1st place” you don’t feel any pressure. When you look in your rear view mirror and start to worry thinking that second place car is going to pass you and overtake 1st place. Sometimes, on video games, you swerve in front of them so they don’t pass. I think this is what the media is doing by portraying this region like this. In addition I don’t understand how you can seriously refer the Appalachians as backwards. If this was the case then I would refer to someone who is not exactly like me as backwards. I feel like this is also arrogant suggesting that if someone is not like you then they are going backwards or are backwards.

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