Diane Sawyer - Appalachian Special

[kokopup]

Reggie I agree that Georgia is no longer that way and neither is Alabama. Actually Appalachia in both states is where some of the more affluent live. There are pockets in West Virginia, kentucky, And Tennessee near where they all come together that still live this way. It is not wide spread but it is still there. This is centered where coal mining use to be king and when it moved out or cut back the people stayed on in poverty. 20/20 did not show the region fairly because they made this appear widespread. Appalachia covers a lot of territory that is now very
prosperous.

[RICHARD]

Laughing out loud, Pam!!!

You're right. I seem to be complimenting Richard all the time. I need to pull in the reins so his head doesn't explode.

Lovely,

I can't get out of the room now!

--------------

I watched the Home Makeover show and my 'cynical' side made me stop.

Of the wonderous things we have to offer the 'next gen', why does it all have to revolve around all the latest toys and crap like that?

I wanted my own bedroom with a desk so I could study.
I did want the 8 dollar AM/FM radio so I could listen to music on my own.
I never went to any school functions-prom or dances because I knew the financial restraints my parents had on them. I am not bitter or angry about any of that. They stressed school and go out and earn what you want.

Now we have a social situation where we hand people things that they should have earned or be pushed to earn.

One question I have is regarding the taxation of the people in these areas.

They don't have much, so that leads me to think that since they have such a poor lifestyle, that they must not pay much in taxes-therefore the poverty they endure.

I don't complain about taxes because every year we seem to get less, but isn't it better than what other have? That's the reason I have a problem with the whiners that complain about paying them. I appreciate the sewer line, the trash pickups and the street maintenance. I don't have the kidneys to bounce around a rutted dirt road.

Soooo, I have a problem when people (TV shows) go into a home and completely raze it, then give people more than they need to live-Oh, I like the fact that some couple who have 5 kids at home raise the other 4 kids when a set of parents are killed or give them away.....That makes me have hope for the planet.....But I really think that a 8 bedroom house with internet and HDTV in each room, the swimming pool for the dog and a 50,000 dollar kitchen is way too kind for people that just need 'enough'.

They come home from Disneyland and get the "move that bus" ceremony and we have people going outdoors in 20 degree weather to take a dump?

God, I even want to scream when I think of all the young women who have to take care of their 'monthly needs' is conditions like that. Wow,now my head hurts.

There is plenty of blame to go around and we just have to accept OUR part of it and try to get things moving.


Change?

I hope so.

[Hellow]

Soooo, I have a problem when people (TV shows) go into a home and completely raze it, then give people more than they need to live-Oh, I like the fact that some couple who have 5 kids at home raise the other 4 kids when a set of parents are killed or give them away.....That makes me have hope for the planet.....But I really think that a 8 bedroom house with internet and HDTV in each room, the swimming pool for the dog and a 50,000 dollar kitchen is way too kind for people that just need 'enough'.

They come home from Disneyland and get the "move that bus" ceremony and we have people going outdoors in 20 degree weather to take a dump?

Well, it is a good break for people who have had a far harder life than the vast majority of us, including me. I've seen some of the poverty that they described in this show, and it is pretty bad, but rare.

P.S.: Why do you never come on AIM?

[zippy-kat]

My parents and I are from WV. A small "hick" place, if you will. My paternal grandparents owned a farm, sold black angus cattle. My grandmother was a post master and ran a small(!) gas station/post office/general store. My grandfather worked in the coal mines, died of black lung before I was born.

My mom's family had a small farm (they didn't sell anything, ate what they raised). Her Dad was a carpenter/black smith, her mom was a homemaker who tended foster children. The house was built mid 1800s and operated as a hotel from ?-? (I forget the dates). When the state road started building the hwy, they had to tear down the stable/carriage house that boarders "parked" in. LOTS of sentimental value on that land. My grandpa was born in the house and lived there until approximately 3yrs before his death; running water and plumbing were never installed.

Neither family was wealthy but you'd never find a more manicured lawn, inviting house, or welcoming arms. Poor doesn't necessarily mean dirty nor a lack in pride of ownership. It ticks me off the way it's portrayed.

Another thing that kinda ticks me off is when people try to equate poor with high crime. I can't recall the radio show (it's been years now) but someone brought up that the poorest community (at the time) was located in WV (I don't remember the county name). In this county, there was only ONE case of person-shooting/killing-person and that was actually ruled a hunting accident.

---
We moved out of state when I was 2 (my dad chose work over welfare). This was in the early 80s. The neighboring county was holding Grand Dragon elections.

My parents have friends that still work in the mines. They knew people *in* the 2006 Sago mine collapse. (They also know people who worked at Sago during the collapse that now work at a different mine.)

So, yes, I know these places exist. I've seen it and lived it (although the only thing I remember is from vacations), but don't necessarily agree/understand it. Tradition is a comfort but why wouldn't you continually try to better yourself FOR yourself, and if not for yourself then for the sake of your family.

[Pam]

There was a small update on Appalachia last night. Did anyone see it? I watched the entire 20/20 (OK I admit I was dozing off a little... ) but they did do a bit of a follow-up right at the end of the program. The boy who plays football is back in college, Angel is getting dentures and lots of other good things and donations have been sent in by viewers. I imagine there will be more following up in the months ahead. I hope this is a turning point for the whole community.

[Medusa]

I hope this is a turning point for the whole community.

One can only hope. IMO, though, it's going to take more than charity to get this community on its feet. It's going to take education and access to assistance for that education and w/building programs, etc.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thanks Pam. I'm so glad to hear that. I was going to watch 20/20 but I got busy and didn't. It makes me so happy to know that the show let everybody know what was going on there.

I really think the huge response and the intervention from ABC might shake up awarenesss about the situation in Appalachia. Maybe things will continue to improve from that alone.

[Marigold2]

I saw the update as well. The young man who shoved coal should practice birth control. With one child and another on the way they are making themselves poor. If they had no children the wife could work and they wouldn't have these enomous child care costs they all of us have things llike diapers and formula etc etc.
Don't see why a young couple with no children but with a half way decent car can't pick up and leave, drive 100 or 500 miles away were there are jobs. Even McDonald's which pays $7.00 an hour to start is not bad if you have two people working that is $14.00 an hour or $560.00 a week combined before taxes, and then you could get a second job. All of my kids have second jobs. If before taxes you bring home say $700.00 a week you can afford a small one bedroom apartment in many cities or small towns. You can buy furniture at Goodwill to start or go to garage sales. Maybe start to take one class a semester at college. It is possible as long as you stop having kids. God helps those that help themselves. Helping oneself to 5 kids before you are 21 is not what he meant.
As far as the young football player is concerned I could not be happier for him. He is intelligent and hardworking and refuses to continue to be a victim. People gladly help those that help themselves, he is a hero.

[cassiesmom]

I didn't see it; does anyone know if it will be on again? Maybe it is on the ABC News site, I will look later.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I didn't see it; does anyone know if it will be on again? Maybe it is on the ABC News site, I will look later.

Elyse, I think they're still running it on their website.

[K9soul]

Don't see why a young couple with no children but with a half way decent car can't pick up and leave, drive 100 or 500 miles away were there are jobs.

It's always easy when on the outside looking in to say what people should do to improve their lives. Even with family and friends, it's easy to get caught up in looking at how they live and how they could improve on things. It just may not be so easy and cut and dry as it seems.

[Daisy and Delilah]

It's always easy when on the outside looking in to say what people should do to improve their lives. Even with family and friends, it's easy to get caught up in looking at how they live and how they could improve on things. It just may not be so easy and cut and dry as it seems.

Well said, as always, Jess.

As I've said before, I was once a person that believed that all things were easy until I met these people.
The bond between family members is like no other. These bonds are made not to be broken, in their eyes. The young people would rather live this way and suffer than to "betray" their family.
Many of these people are ill for one reason or another. Alot of them can't get to a doctor so their conditions go unattended to most of the time. Alot of times, it's too late. For a young person to leave a sick family member is basically unheard of in alot of situations.

The younger people live strictly by what's been taught to them by their elders. The tremendous respect for them prevents the children from abandoning their parents/grandparents. This is the way they live and it's the only life they know. They'll live like this and so will some of their offspring. Other children may hear of a different way of life and make a break for another way.

For example: Different cultures require certain things of their young people. Some things they are allowed to do and some things they aren't. Mostly unwritten laws but known by all of them. These Appalachian people are, by and large, another culture living within the United States.

It's not just the family bonds that control their destiny. They live with alot of fear of change and the unknown.

I would love to see them improve their way of life. I think most people would. However, it's just not that easy for some of them.

[Medusa]

It's always easy when on the outside looking in to say what people should do to improve their lives. Even with family and friends, it's easy to get caught up in looking at how they live and how they could improve on things. It just may not be so easy and cut and dry as it seems.

Absolutely! It's been my experience that the people who are quickest to judge are the ones who should take a look at their own lives. I also feel that depression and the sense of being overwhelmed probably plays a large role in how quickly they begin to make changes. The high school football player is a prime example. He has to be self motivating and it got him so far and then he had no support system which caused him to give up. Fortunately that has changed for him but not everyone is so lucky. So many of us are just plain spoiled and we forget or never even knew what it's like to truly struggle. Can you imagine having to walk 8 miles each way in the rain to get a GED, then when you finally get back home, you probably don't have enough food to eat? I've lived in conditions not much better than that, so I can say from experience that unless someone w/vision, insight, determination, patience and, yes, money, comes in and is willing to take the time to teach and work right alongside these people, chances are that things will never change for them. Sad but true.

[Daisy and Delilah]

So true, Mary. You make some great points.

I think we are super spoiled and have no idea what it's like to have to struggle for aything. We get irritated if the tv cable goes out, irritated to walk to the refrigerator sometimes, irritated if we have to walk too far to get into a store, irritated if we have to wash our new car, irritated if we have to pay for something that we could be without all together, etc., etc.

We just don't know what things are like until we've walked in the shoes of other people.

[Marigold2]

Sorry guys but I beg to differ. I don't understand these people and frankly have very little pity for their self-made problems.
Does my family know suffering oh yes, oh yes we do? Especially my mom who went to concentation camp at 17. She had 10 brothers and sisters and no one lived but her. Talk about suffering. What did we do on our 18th birthday? Hopefully not watch our family suffer and die as my mom did. Both my parents entire families were in the war. My dad's house was bombed in the middle of the night, they lived in a barn for a while in the middle of winter and considered themselves lucky.
My parents wanted something better for the kids, so did my grandparents.
Yes my dad's parent's, and three aunts all lived in one house when they came over from Germany but all learned to read and write English, all worked outside of the home, no one took public assistance. All four bought their own homes and had their own families.
No one stopped speaking German, we just added English. No one lost the tradions or respect of the old courtry.
And it wasn't just my family it was millions of immigrants from all corners of the world, who left everything they knew and loved. They had to change, learn a new tongue, new skills, street signs, food, culture, tradions and they did all after watching their families being killed. They just did it.
And they always wanted better for their kids, always prayed and hoped and pushed their kids to do better, live better, be happy, learn, grow, go to school for most never had a chance with the war bombing their homes and schools.
Walking 8 miles to get a GED try walking 8 miles in a city blown to peices and burning, no food no water and the stench of the dead everywhere. That is WW11 was. If you don't believe me ask some man who served overseas in that time.
If these people loved their kids, they would want their lives to be better then their own. they would encourage their children to get an education and not hold them back for their own selfess reasons. Whom amoung us does not want something better for their child? Whom amoung us does not want the respect of our child? This is 2009 not 1309. They might not have food but I bet they have TV for the most part and plenty of Camel Lights and drugs. Sorry no pity here. They are horrible mothers.
My family came from so much worst I understand the suffering of the innocent. These people brought much of this upon themselves and when they can stop being selfess and put their children first then maybe I will want to help them. And yes I know I sound like a B&^%%
but these children deserve better. It makes me angry to see a selfess mother bred likea dog and not care for her children, sorry to all the dogs in advance. I just want to shake some sense into these woman and ask them what the hell they think they are doing to their child.