There’s a reason we have airports
Certain coastal types like to refer to this particular slice of America as “flyover country,” but to no one’s surprise, they haven’t been paying attention:
The area where I lived was “oil country”, and when the international companies started rebuilding and developing Arabian oil, they came to my neighbors for expertise. Several of the people in our little town had spent up to ten years in Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Iraq.
Having spent more than half my life in the oil patch, I know whereof he speaks. But it’s been the second half, which means I missed out on this:
I had met and spoken to Muslims and Hindus before I ever encountered a Jew, or a Roman Catholic priest. Cubans and Central Americans were around with some regularity. It is a mistake to think “flyover country” isn’t connected to the rest of the world — it’s just that the part it’s connected to generally isn’t the elites and oligarchs that take part in “diplomacy”.
This is not to say that we can’t get a tad insular once in a while; but then again, so can the Hamptons or Pacific Palisades.
Dick Stanley »
22 September 2009 · 9:15 am
Flyover country isn’t a reference to sophistication. It’s what east and west coast liberals call the heartland when dismissing it from their political concern. The phrase makes them look stupid, not us.
McGehee »
22 September 2009 · 10:37 am
Well, the coastal types do regard the inland states as a wasteland in every sense of the word (that matters to them).
What they don’t know is that they’re the reason why us red-state types are less worried about global warming (and consequent sea-level rise) than they are.
Lisa Paul »
22 September 2009 · 1:28 pm
Here’s one coastal type who loves the middle of the country — which I call drive through country. Get me on Route 66 and I can meander through it for weeks. Not to mention the great diners and towns to hang out in.
McGehee »
22 September 2009 · 4:17 pm
Lisa, that’s because when you see the maps that show a big blank between the coasts, with the notation “Here be dragons,” you know better.
Lisa Paul »
22 September 2009 · 4:31 pm
I’m confused McGehee. My map says, “Here be barbecue.”
CGHill »
22 September 2009 · 5:18 pm
Then again, do we barbecue the dragons, or is it t’other way around?
McGehee »
22 September 2009 · 9:16 pm
All I know is, we’re not to meddle in their affairs. Something about ketchup.