Like many of you, we have lived in northern and southern California over the years. But that rivalry is diminishing: We watched the Dodgers and Giants play on television last night. The seats largely were empty. We remarked that the bigger baseball rivalry is contained to the Southland: The Dodgers vs. the Padres.
In our state, the North vs. South rivalry has been replaced by a less talked about one: Urban vs. Rural, a debate that splits the state down the middle, lengthwise. Our county is experiencing that right now. Some examples appear on the local blogs:
• RL Crabb, the local political cartoonist: “My criticism, as usual, is that most of Nevada County’s problems come to us from sixty miles away in Sacramento and the Democratic majority that continues to bungle away our future.”
•Todd Juvinal, the co-founder of CABPRO: “I am always amused at race baiters who move to the whitest county in California then complain about ‘lack of diversity’. . . Nevada County doesn’t need race baiters, it is a simple, peaceful place.”
I would argue that some our county’s problems are “self inflicted.” But either way, our future ability to “get along” will depend on building a bridge between our state’s urban and rural communities — a complicated but invigorating task.
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When I was a young lad growing up in Chico we only debated about whether Sacramento was in Northern or Southern California!
John
Todd is a case of what must of been something more earlier in his life. At leat I’m hopeful of that. Most of us didn’t move here because of Todd’s lack of perception. We leave ocassionally to get a little more diversity, but that doesn’t pertain to race only. He is accurate that for the most part this is a simple, peaceful place.
Let’s see…It’s day what?…Seventy-three of not having a budget? This is the norm for as many years as I can recall, and when they finally do get one, it’s got more holes in it than Nevada County has mine shafts.
I can’t put all the blame on Sacramento, though. It’s the voters who keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
It’s particularly telling when one of us states that they leave the area for a little more diversity. I do the same; however, I’d vote for diversity if it means cultural richness, social integration, and responsible citizens. Diversity doesn’t have to mean all the things that people fear or that cause them to look for a safe haven. If you look around, you’ll see small signs of diversity in the populace, businesses, and schools. You’ll also see if you look under the covers, all the same societal issues that are prevalent in the urban areas. Living in a rural community gives the issues more cover but they’re here too.
We should welcome responsible diversity which is good for our children and helps them prepare for the world outside of this county.
And some wonder why the young don’t return to Nevada County? This community is a wonderful one and getting better. Too bad we have to listen to the dinosaurs and their fans.
Jason @ SYRCL has been leading a transformative “Sierra to the Sea” movement that has created a network of organizations and individuals working on issues that bridge that urban-rural span by re-creating the idea of watershed community. His has been an inspired effort, including the film festival, the Salmon to the Sea work, and so much other educational and outreach work emphasizing the relationships between SF/SAC and our rural environs.
Likewise, Mayor Senum has convened several meetings in SF between NC leaders and SF leaders to discuss how to collaborate on energy, transportation, economic development and environmental restoration. These have been full-house events and involving many of NC’s very thoughtful people, all working to bridge this urban/rural gap.
Generally, while some of our issues in the rural Sierra are inflicted from our urban friends, we benefit tremendously as well — every study I’ve seen is that Nevada County taxpayers pay much less in taxes than they recieve, whether from the state or the federal government. We look to our urban neighbors for our culture, our entertainment, our economic vitality, and for the most part, our education.
Jon S.-
I totally agree with you 100 percent. I am 24 and I am in the very very minority of living in Nevada County at my age and enjoying it. I think part of my love of the area is that I am an old soul. I enjoy volunteering, have a passion for history and I keep stalling on going to school down the hill(Sac State lol). I could go on for quite awhile about what the cities/county needs to do to fix everything, but when it boils down to it, I believe the area has been fixed in its ways so long that its going to take a major event to change what Nevada County represents.
James, IMO, most young people want to leave home and go away to school, to work, or to the military. Part of the rite of passage. So, it’s not surprising that a good number of your peers would like to leave. I’d be interested in understanding if your peers and the kids younger than you share the values of the older generations in this community.
My grandchildren live in the Bay Area close to San Francisco and have friends from all walks of life. I am glad that they are having that experience because that’s the way I see the world becoming over time. I think it’s to their benefit to see people as people. Do you and your peers see people as people or as labels? As you can see from participating in this blog, it seems like some people can’t get past a label or calling someone a name. My hope is that your generation and the generations that follow will focus on people as people and work together to get this country moving again.
Do a little “people watching” at the Thursday night market in downtown GV and you may be amazed at the Diversity here. But it only takes one incident that gets press and all of us suffer the consequences.
Bob-
In regards to matching up Gen X and Gen Y to “The Greatest Generation” there is no comparison…you win…and I assume your part of that generation(I apologize if your not lol).
From what I have heard from my friends is that it boils down to several factors. Ease of access in terms of being close to malls, stadiums, airports, restaraunts, shopping etc etc…more things that much closer basically.
Another I found is the pack theory…Everyone finds it cool to live in Roseville, Rockling Lincoln etc etc…I think this is to get away from the old people lol and the small town feel.
IMO I think there are a group in my generation that have observed the older generation and carry on some of the tradition and luster.
I am a bit different then most 24 year olds. I enjoy sitting at a Historical Society meeting surrounded by people in their 70′s/80′s/90′s. I willingly volunteer alot of hours of my life without going through the court system or being baited by a free ticket to Disneyland. Most of what I enjoy doing/involving myself in is alot different than people my age, but I cherish being different. My grandfather taught me to stand out and not to follow the crowd. So I do that….
Your grandfather gave you good advice.
I am a baby boomer. My uncles and older cousins were the “Greatest Generation” – they all served. They keep that part of their lives to themselves. I take pride in their quiet bravery.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.
Bob-
I understand. My grandfather served and I never heard a peep from him about it. Never did I ask either which I think was the right thing to do, but now that he is gone, I wonder?
Your name sounds familiar btw, are you in the Historical Society? or are you a volunteer at one of the museums? I feel like it is something obvious, but I can’t come up with it.
James – I am not a member of the Historical Society. According to the vet for my animals there is a Garza family that’s been here for quite some time. I don’t think they’re related to me but you may have met one or more of their family members in school or through your volunteer activities.
Your grandfather and my uncles and cousins all seemed to follow a certain code which I noticed when I was in the service just before Viet Nam got hot. In my missile squadron, the WWII and Korean War vets never spoke about the war. They all focused on their jobs and being in the military at that time was just a natural progression for a lot of us young guys who went into the service first before getting out and going to school, getting jobs, and getting married.
During the four years I took care of my father, a WWII vet, I found out more about his experiences overseas than I ever had in the previous fifty. He didn’t tell me, but I’d get the stories from the female caregivers who stayed with him while I was working. Go figure.
Reco: with the small cost and even smaller size one has almost a duty to record conversations with family elders.
Simply place video camera and press play and have a conversation (or several) about their life. No need to tell them as that will likely NOT produce the results you seek.
Don’t put this off until it is too late.
Curtis,
You are absolutely correct. The Library of Congress has the Veterans History Project — an effort to capture the experiences and thoughts of our WWII veterans. Most WWII veterans just don’t talk about their service. I think it’s essential that we do not lose their legacy because we failed to ask. Go to http://www.loc.gov/vets. The site has all the guidance, forms, sample questions, etc., for anyone to interview their “Greatest Generation” family member. Do it, before it’s too late.