Comments on: Leavers and Takers

By: KNixon

KNixon — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:59:35 +0000

Yes, we are removing our children from the land. We still have family farms here, but it’s hard for the next generation to make a living in farming because small farmers can’t compete with the agribusiness factory farms. Even the ones who still are on the farm usually have “outside” work to survive. Farming is the most dangerous job and hard, hard work. There must be a satisfaction found in that relationship with the Earth that can’t be duplicated anywhere else in life.

By: Bob Dooley

Bob Dooley — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:36:26 +0000

Some very strong points are made herein. The land will be with “us” always. We are not consumers of the land. We MUST pass it onto our successors in good condition to help them survive their four score and ten on this globe. You are describing a disrespectful use and plunering of the earth to perpetuate the human desires met by the hemi Dodge truck and the pack of Marlboro cigarettes.

By: Beth Boyle

Beth Boyle — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:32:47 +0000

I have to say I too cringe when I see those confederate flags in Western NY but you know what? They don’t mean exactly the same thing here. I have spent a great deal of time thinking about this and have even asked some people why on earth they fly a confederate flag. For allot of people around Chautauqua County the rebel flag is like the “Don’t tread on me” flag. They want to just warn others they are not going to be pushed around and they think they are bad asses. It’s about nostalgia to others. To some people it just means good natured fun and a simpler time like the Dukes of Hazard TV program. People in this area for the most part never had to deal with racial strife or even had anyone of another race in the classroom with them growing up. I did not. We had one Jewish family. Because of that they really have no idea what they are doing by flying the confederate battle flag. Part of flying the rebel flag here is often tied to motor cycle and race car culture as well. They associate it with Nasser and racing. Love of country music is another huge reason people around Western NY like the Rebel Flag. The real irony for me of the stars and bars is it was based on the Saltire, the flag of Scotland. That is a St. Andrews cross. Ironically the Scots of today largely are not very religious, they do not believe in unbridled capitalism and they are strongly socialist. I have spent two months in Scotland and the attitude there could not be more the opposite of the deep south. The Confederacy picked the Saint Andrews flag because so many of them were decent ants of Scots and Scots Irish.
I really can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would fly the flag of a failed rebellion that was unconstitutional but they simply do not look at the symbol the way I do. For me it a racist and ugly insignia and I wish I never had to view one as long as I live.