I just finished reading “Appalachian Values” written by Loyal Jones, former director of the Appalachian Center at Berea College. Being from Appalachia, I can relate to most of the values he lists (religion, individualism, neighborliness and hospitality, familism, personalism, love of place, modesty, sense of beauty, and sense of humor). I believe Mr. Jones “hit the nail on the head” in his description of Appalachian people.
One of my first reactions after reading his article was, “wow I didn’t have to look up a single word he wrote!” It bothers me to come across a word I am unfamiliar with, so I have my dictionary nearby to look up words. This article, however, did not have any hard words. One thing I can say about Appalachian people, or at least myself, is that we write how we talk (not verbatim; I don’t include words like “ain’t” and “you’ns” when writing for a scholarly assignments). I suppose Loyal Jones didn’t feel the need to use any pompous words, making his writing a breeze to read and his point come across well.
Jones’s first point is religion, and I agree with most everything he stated. Mountaineers have deep roots in faith, which has shaped the mountaineer culture. From the viewpoint of nonbelievers, religion is a “hindrance to social progress”. However, from the Appalachians’ viewpoint, social progress (if there is any at all) is only in this life and is not worth sacrificing their faith. I personally am also a Baptist like the ones that Jones refers to. I believe earth “shall pass away” and relate to his next point about accepting Jesus as a personal savior.
Next is individualism and pride. One example I have of this is probably my dad. He is more characteristic of Appalachian people than me! He is very self reliant and hardly asks anyone for help unless it is something outside his knowledge, such as computers and technology. I see satisfaction in being able to do tasks myself.
I see neighborliness and hospitality every day here in the Avery/Mitchell area where I live. Just like Jones says in the article about the host saying, “Just reach and get anything you want,” so does my family and my girlfriend’s family when they have big dinners or cookouts. Another example I can think of is when I went to my girlfriend’s great uncle’s funeral. On the way we picked up her 60-year old 3rd cousin to go with us. When we came back that night and dropped her off, at 9 something o’clock, she asked each one of us to come in for a while. Now she probably wasn’t serious, just as none of us wanted to go in either. She was being hospitable and polite.
As for personalism, we Appalachians do care a great deal about our relationships with people, some more than others. This is important because here in the mountains we see and interact with the same people daily. Whether going to a local restaurant, grocery store, or bank, etc, chances are that we will be waited on by people we know and/or have known our whole lives.
Another important part of being Appalachian is knowing our way around (I can’t say much, I don’t have a good sense of direction). However most mountaineers know most of the roads, lanes, and “hollars” in the county, not to mention four-wheeler trails! Our way of giving directions can be confusing to the passersby.
We are modest in that we don’t shout the stereotypical “well I never!” when somebody puts their elbows on the table or forgets which fork to use. Like Jones says, we don’t “put on airs.” We realize nobody is perfect and that allows us to be at peace and be happy with ourselves.
Our sense of beauty is in our culture, our language, building things, and simply how we interact with others. For example, it is richer to us eating a simple homemade supper at home with family than going out to an exquisite restaurant dining with unfamiliar people.
Finally we have a sense of humor. Probably because we can aim the target of the jokes at ourselves is what makes our sense of humor seem more harmless and everybody laughs. I believe that in Appalachia it would be harder to find a person so mature that he or she can hardly laugh at anything besides a political cartoon.
I really enjoyed this article because I felt it had a lot to say about who I am and about the culture of my people. Therefore, reflecting upon it was very easy.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
More Pics for "Piddling with Fiddles" post
Here is my grandma with Raymond Fairchild
This is my other late grandma with Bill Monroe!
Friday, February 25, 2011
On Mountaintop and Human Decency Removal
After all the reading I did last week and watching the Black Diamond video on Friday, I have formed several opinions regarding not only what is happening to our land, but what we people are doing to each other. I have a lot to say in this blog post, probably more than I can remember to type in this sitting. If any of you reading this has any comments, feel free to mention them in class because maybe we will learn something!
First, after reading all the horrifying tales of coal mining and what the miners have gone through in our nation’s history, I was shocked that we would let something like the UMW miners’ uprising in West Virginia happen. The Civil War should have been a reminder to those oppressing the miners that you cannot treat people, your fellow human beings, so poorly and expect them to accept it for long. I know I wouldn’t. Even I complain about a certain job, working for millionaires for 25 cents above minimum wage after being there for 3 years; but that’s nothing compared to how I felt about men risking their lives underground, not seeing their families, for meager pay and having to spend it at a company-owned store where everything is overpriced! What human oppression. That leads me to the topic of empathy and being considerate as a person, which I will get into in a bit. First, though, I wanted to talk about how I feel about coal mining in general.
I am sure, as Tim/Darrell said in his blog, there must be some way to phase out the disastrous process of mining, just like there was a way to avoid all of it in the first place- not having electricity at all, and not needing all the coal in the first place (only hypothetically speaking of course). As I watched the video, one of the things I thought of is, “look at what we have done to ourselves.” I mean, yes we have great technology and have accomplished very much with it, but at what cost? We are dependent on electricity every day, and therefore we are dependent on coal until we use the same technology to figure out another reliable source of energy (fossil fuels will not be here forever). Even cutting down on electricity would slow the progression of blowing up the mountains, and that is better than nothing.
Now for empathy and being considerate: as a human society, it is hard to label ourselves as a whole. As I was reading our homework on a library computer, I was also eavesdropping on a “California-sounding ‘dude’” with a camouflaged sun visor go on and on about something stupid, and a girl came up to him asking him if he was using his computer (the computers were full at the time, even I had to sweet talk a frozen computer that was vacant to work for me so I could have one too). He said no, and she kept asking, “Are you sure, are you sure?” That is human decency. That is the majority of what I see in my daily life. That is how we treat people in my town. Even if she was thinking, “you stupid loudmouth moron, sitting at the computer not even using it,” she was being considerate and polite. Now, let’s take a company “big wheel”, as my mom calls them, at the top of the company, aiding in the decision to blow somebody’s mountain up to get the precious “black diamonds” that are buried underneath. Is that being considerate? Is that human decency? Is that respect? Being polite?
First, after reading all the horrifying tales of coal mining and what the miners have gone through in our nation’s history, I was shocked that we would let something like the UMW miners’ uprising in West Virginia happen. The Civil War should have been a reminder to those oppressing the miners that you cannot treat people, your fellow human beings, so poorly and expect them to accept it for long. I know I wouldn’t. Even I complain about a certain job, working for millionaires for 25 cents above minimum wage after being there for 3 years; but that’s nothing compared to how I felt about men risking their lives underground, not seeing their families, for meager pay and having to spend it at a company-owned store where everything is overpriced! What human oppression. That leads me to the topic of empathy and being considerate as a person, which I will get into in a bit. First, though, I wanted to talk about how I feel about coal mining in general.
I am sure, as Tim/Darrell said in his blog, there must be some way to phase out the disastrous process of mining, just like there was a way to avoid all of it in the first place- not having electricity at all, and not needing all the coal in the first place (only hypothetically speaking of course). As I watched the video, one of the things I thought of is, “look at what we have done to ourselves.” I mean, yes we have great technology and have accomplished very much with it, but at what cost? We are dependent on electricity every day, and therefore we are dependent on coal until we use the same technology to figure out another reliable source of energy (fossil fuels will not be here forever). Even cutting down on electricity would slow the progression of blowing up the mountains, and that is better than nothing.
Now for empathy and being considerate: as a human society, it is hard to label ourselves as a whole. As I was reading our homework on a library computer, I was also eavesdropping on a “California-sounding ‘dude’” with a camouflaged sun visor go on and on about something stupid, and a girl came up to him asking him if he was using his computer (the computers were full at the time, even I had to sweet talk a frozen computer that was vacant to work for me so I could have one too). He said no, and she kept asking, “Are you sure, are you sure?” That is human decency. That is the majority of what I see in my daily life. That is how we treat people in my town. Even if she was thinking, “you stupid loudmouth moron, sitting at the computer not even using it,” she was being considerate and polite. Now, let’s take a company “big wheel”, as my mom calls them, at the top of the company, aiding in the decision to blow somebody’s mountain up to get the precious “black diamonds” that are buried underneath. Is that being considerate? Is that human decency? Is that respect? Being polite?
Friday, February 18, 2011
World News Blogs
Here are a couple of World news blogs I found (they may slow your system down while they load).
http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/
http://blogs.reuters.com/global/
http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/
http://blogs.reuters.com/global/
History of ASU
“What is the history of Appalachian State University?” was the question posed last class that got me thinking; what is the history of ASU? So I took it upon myself to figure out and blog about it this week (this same information can be found at the website listed at the end of this blog, however).
Watauga Academy was founded in 1899 by brothers Blanford B. Dougherty and Dauphin D. Dougherty. It only had 53 students enrolled in 3 grades. It then became the Appalachian State Teachers College in 1929 with over 1,300 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree programs.
Appalachian then grew into a university between 1955 and 1969, with Dr. William H. Plemmons as president. “Appalachian State Teachers College became Appalachian State University in 1967. Appalachian experienced a doubling of enrollment during the 1970s to about 9,500.”
In 1969, Dr. Herbert Wey succeeded Dr. Plemmons. He was president first, then chancellor in 1971. Dr. Wey started the student teacher program that is still here today, founded the College of Business, and allowed students to take more elective courses. Finally the Bachelor of Arts degree program was added.
Dr. John E. Thomas was the next chancellor. He was an engineer, a lawyer, and a manager. He was dedicated to expand growth to a maximum resident enrollment of 10,000 students. Chancellor Thomas then sought out a top-notch faculty. He supported international studies and education, seeing the rise of exchange programs with campuses in countries including China, Germany, and Costa Rica. Appalachian was the recognized by U.S. News & World Report, as “one of the outstanding comprehensive universities in the Southeast and nation.”
In 1993, Dr. Francis T. Borkowski became chancellor. He made partnerships with two-year colleges in the region and worked to better Appalachian’s affiliations with other universities in the world. Appalachian was also named Time Magazine’s “College of the Year in 2001”!
One thing I didn’t get to mention in class is that I used to work at the Appalachian Fund here on campus every night over at Raley Hall. “App Fund” is a student caller organization where students call Appalachian alumni and ask for donations for the university while we also fill them in on current events at ASU that may interest them and answer any questions they may have (I loathed that job; that’s why I only stayed there a year. I hated calling strangers asking for money, even though App Fund is a very good cause). However, what I want to mention is that we had different groups we would call; one group was the “Black and Gold” group that consisted of alumni that, get this, graduated between 1920 and 1940 (if I recall correctly)! I never reached any of them when we were calling but I hated to imagine trying to talk to such “decagenarians” (is that the polite term?) on the phone and get a donation from them without any trouble (some would not be able to hear you and many would be deceased).
http://www.appstate.edu/about/history.php
Watauga Academy was founded in 1899 by brothers Blanford B. Dougherty and Dauphin D. Dougherty. It only had 53 students enrolled in 3 grades. It then became the Appalachian State Teachers College in 1929 with over 1,300 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree programs.
Appalachian then grew into a university between 1955 and 1969, with Dr. William H. Plemmons as president. “Appalachian State Teachers College became Appalachian State University in 1967. Appalachian experienced a doubling of enrollment during the 1970s to about 9,500.”
In 1969, Dr. Herbert Wey succeeded Dr. Plemmons. He was president first, then chancellor in 1971. Dr. Wey started the student teacher program that is still here today, founded the College of Business, and allowed students to take more elective courses. Finally the Bachelor of Arts degree program was added.
Dr. John E. Thomas was the next chancellor. He was an engineer, a lawyer, and a manager. He was dedicated to expand growth to a maximum resident enrollment of 10,000 students. Chancellor Thomas then sought out a top-notch faculty. He supported international studies and education, seeing the rise of exchange programs with campuses in countries including China, Germany, and Costa Rica. Appalachian was the recognized by U.S. News & World Report, as “one of the outstanding comprehensive universities in the Southeast and nation.”
In 1993, Dr. Francis T. Borkowski became chancellor. He made partnerships with two-year colleges in the region and worked to better Appalachian’s affiliations with other universities in the world. Appalachian was also named Time Magazine’s “College of the Year in 2001”!
One thing I didn’t get to mention in class is that I used to work at the Appalachian Fund here on campus every night over at Raley Hall. “App Fund” is a student caller organization where students call Appalachian alumni and ask for donations for the university while we also fill them in on current events at ASU that may interest them and answer any questions they may have (I loathed that job; that’s why I only stayed there a year. I hated calling strangers asking for money, even though App Fund is a very good cause). However, what I want to mention is that we had different groups we would call; one group was the “Black and Gold” group that consisted of alumni that, get this, graduated between 1920 and 1940 (if I recall correctly)! I never reached any of them when we were calling but I hated to imagine trying to talk to such “decagenarians” (is that the polite term?) on the phone and get a donation from them without any trouble (some would not be able to hear you and many would be deceased).
http://www.appstate.edu/about/history.php
Friday, February 11, 2011
Piddling with Fiddles
So, I had planned on going to the fiddler’s convention in the Plemmons Student Union today, but they said it wasn’t going to start until 7:30 tonight and I wasn’t going to be on campus then and cannot go tomorrow because of work. I would have come to see Rick Ward if I hadn’t thought that the convention was all day Friday. However, I have been to the fiddler’s convention before here at ASU with my father and grandfather. All three of us play bluegrass instruments (I play mandolin, Dad plays banjo, and my grandfather plays the fiddle/mandolin/guitar) so it was interesting to see people crowded together for the sake of bluegrass music, musicians and luthiers alike!
What I can remember is that Dad took a particular interest in the banjos made by a man named Clancy Mullins from Tennessee. His banjos were beautiful; he made different sizes and he had them stained all sorts of colors. Dad’s attention was mostly focused on one with a green hue to the wood (since green is his favorite color). A few weeks after we went to that convention, Dad eventually got in contact with Mr. Mullins to trade in his old banjo for that green one. This would eventually inspire my father to undertake a project like nothing he had ever done before!
I haven’t mentioned this in class yet, but Dad is a very gifted carpenter/woodworker. He recently built his own workshop where our old woodshed used to be. He spends most of his free time out there working on birdhouses, mailboxes, and even the popular “corn toss” game boards for anybody wanting some. However, some time after buying that banjo, he decided to make an actual fiddle! He was able to get in touch with some luthiers (makers of stringed instruments) and find online videos to teach himself how to construct a fiddle. He used a very pretty leopard wood and ordered the neck and chin guard from Taiwan. Finally he finished the fiddle after 6 whole months! I have provided a picture of it and the banjo made by Clancy Mullins below.
What I can remember is that Dad took a particular interest in the banjos made by a man named Clancy Mullins from Tennessee. His banjos were beautiful; he made different sizes and he had them stained all sorts of colors. Dad’s attention was mostly focused on one with a green hue to the wood (since green is his favorite color). A few weeks after we went to that convention, Dad eventually got in contact with Mr. Mullins to trade in his old banjo for that green one. This would eventually inspire my father to undertake a project like nothing he had ever done before!
I haven’t mentioned this in class yet, but Dad is a very gifted carpenter/woodworker. He recently built his own workshop where our old woodshed used to be. He spends most of his free time out there working on birdhouses, mailboxes, and even the popular “corn toss” game boards for anybody wanting some. However, some time after buying that banjo, he decided to make an actual fiddle! He was able to get in touch with some luthiers (makers of stringed instruments) and find online videos to teach himself how to construct a fiddle. He used a very pretty leopard wood and ordered the neck and chin guard from Taiwan. Finally he finished the fiddle after 6 whole months! I have provided a picture of it and the banjo made by Clancy Mullins below.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Washingtonians: A Separate Entity
I just finished rereading the chapter in The United States of Appalachia called “The First Washington, D.C.” The chapter provides a very important insight to understanding American history, not to mention Appalachian history as well.
Basically the colonists were able to find a loophole that would allow them to lease land from the Cherokee, not breaking any of the rules given by the British treaty. They leased the land for ten years. Of course, soon after is when the rebellion grew even worse. The colonists just started purchasing more and more forbidden land in America. The Cherokees soon learned how powerless the British were in controlling the Americans.
A newly elected Carter was able to use the “community’s long-perfected stall tactics” by declaring that the Washingtonians were still loyal and used a delay as an excuse for their actions. “Amazingly, the British authorities and the Cherokee accepted the appeal.” They then were able to use that grace period to build two forts before they were attacked by the Cherokee. The Washingtonians held off the attack though. Afterwards they ravaged through the Cherokee villages. The battles between the Americans and Cherokee would continue for another generation. These battles would be a precursor to the American Revolution.
After reading this chapter over, I was able to cultivate a few thoughts. My first thought is that it is absurd to think that during the Eighteenth Century, one nation could successfully control a new nation across the ocean. The people colonizing the new territory were already looking for new lives. Of course they will eventually be tempted to want pure unadulterated freedom in their new land, it being even easier when the Crown is thousands of miles away! These people knew what they wanted and were not afraid to take it. They were “outlaws” rebellious to the law, and took action.
My second thought is about the Cherokee. One part that stunned me was how peacefully the Cherokee and Washingtonians were able to “commingle”. The Cherokee even offered atonement for those “who ambushed innocent Cherokee”. However that peaceful coexistence did not sustain long due to the Washingtonians’ refusal to compromise and further expansion into land illegally. What could have been a beautiful cohabitation ended up being a war between two nations, leading to much bloodshed and ultimately the future American Revolution.
This chapter is very informative and I have left many details out to cut this post short. It is a great chapter though, teaching me much that I didn’t know about our country’s history.
Basically the colonists were able to find a loophole that would allow them to lease land from the Cherokee, not breaking any of the rules given by the British treaty. They leased the land for ten years. Of course, soon after is when the rebellion grew even worse. The colonists just started purchasing more and more forbidden land in America. The Cherokees soon learned how powerless the British were in controlling the Americans.
A newly elected Carter was able to use the “community’s long-perfected stall tactics” by declaring that the Washingtonians were still loyal and used a delay as an excuse for their actions. “Amazingly, the British authorities and the Cherokee accepted the appeal.” They then were able to use that grace period to build two forts before they were attacked by the Cherokee. The Washingtonians held off the attack though. Afterwards they ravaged through the Cherokee villages. The battles between the Americans and Cherokee would continue for another generation. These battles would be a precursor to the American Revolution.
After reading this chapter over, I was able to cultivate a few thoughts. My first thought is that it is absurd to think that during the Eighteenth Century, one nation could successfully control a new nation across the ocean. The people colonizing the new territory were already looking for new lives. Of course they will eventually be tempted to want pure unadulterated freedom in their new land, it being even easier when the Crown is thousands of miles away! These people knew what they wanted and were not afraid to take it. They were “outlaws” rebellious to the law, and took action.
My second thought is about the Cherokee. One part that stunned me was how peacefully the Cherokee and Washingtonians were able to “commingle”. The Cherokee even offered atonement for those “who ambushed innocent Cherokee”. However that peaceful coexistence did not sustain long due to the Washingtonians’ refusal to compromise and further expansion into land illegally. What could have been a beautiful cohabitation ended up being a war between two nations, leading to much bloodshed and ultimately the future American Revolution.
This chapter is very informative and I have left many details out to cut this post short. It is a great chapter though, teaching me much that I didn’t know about our country’s history.
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