Midland: Love it or...leave it?
[Note: If you're not a Midland resident, this post is not likely to be of interest to you. Feel free to use this time to frequent one of the fine establishments linked at right.]
The good folk over at Jessica's Well are often harsh in their criticism of Midland's media, and its governmental and civic leadership. That's not a complaint, really; the skewering is sometimes well-deserved, and there's usually a sheen of truth to be glimpsed on the glop that often floats in The Well, if you look at just the right angle.
However, I'm sorely disappointed -- disappointed, I say! -- at the response to a specific comment left today on this post, which deals with the announcement of ChevronTexaco's exodus from Midland to Houston. Here is the comment, copied warts and all, to which I refer:
Posted by: NativeMidlander at December 11, 2003 06:58 AM
The one respondent who attempted to rebut this bit of tripe was piled on like a Baylor running back, and not without some cause, as he attempted to read more into the comment than was there. However, there's plenty there that needs to be addressed, without extrapolating to unreasonable lengths. I'm disappointed that the lads and lasses of JW didn't try to do that, thus saving me the effort. But, somebody's got to do it.
Let's just ignore completely the comment about the "Economic Development Board" and its alleged failure to keep ChevronTexaco from leaving Midland. The thought that any EDC could reverse a Fortune 50 corporation's decision about an office closing is simply naive. So, let's just stick to the meat of the subject.
I hate Midland
How can you hate a city? I can see how you could hate living in a particular city because of its location or weather or the fact that it doesn't have a Pappadeaux's Restaurant. If that's the case, the answer is pretty simple, isn't it. Move. Leave. Shoo. Go away. Seek your fulfillment elsewhere.
Or...perhaps you hate the other element of a city: its people. Now, we may be onto something here.
I hate Midland - its extreme rich people, who are blinded to the extreme poverty of the poor.
So it is the people you hate. Specifically, the "rich" ones. Say, they wouldn't be the ones who each year put Midland into the top echelon of US cities in terms of per capita giving to the United Way, would they? Or the ones who have made the grants to the foundations that ensure that every Midland high school graduate can have a college education? Well, whatever. Without your giving us something more concrete, we'll just have to guess at what you're talking about. All we know for sure is that you hate them.
The ever growing exodus of the middle class to Houston,
Ah, the "exodus." Let's jump ahead for a bit because you also seem to believe that people are voluntarily fleeing this "hell on earth," presumably for the garden spot of the Northern Hemisphere...Houston. I've lived in west Texas for 40 years, the last 21 in Midland. In more than two decades of watching people come and go, I can name only a handful who left happily for Houston, or anywhere else, for that matter. The vast majority were forced to leave by employers or other economic factors outside their control...and many of them came back as soon as they could. Just as many more decided they'd rather be unemployed in this "hell on earth" than leave it for a mere job. That's a little irrational, isn't it? I guess hell isn't all it's cracked up (down?) to be.
But, now we get to the good stuff. ...the Spanish being spoken everywhere, the Wal-Mart bags blowing everywhere...
Well, Mr. (or Ms.) NativeMidlander, you've managed to score a Daily Double here, sounding both racist and classist. Not to mention a little inconsistent. I assume that you have some empathy for the poor among us, given your desire to whack "the rich" for ignoring them. Wonder what economic demographics describe those households and individuals whose primary language is Spanish? Come on; you can be honest with us -- we're all gringos here, you know; I'm sure those people don't read blogs, at least not ones written in English -- do you hate Spanish...or Spanish speakers? It's really hard to tell from your comment.
Or...do you really also hate poor people? Wal-Mart bags...that's code, right?...for "those who shop at places other than Talbots and A&F." OK; that's just silly. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here, and assume that you're railing against litterbugs. We hate 'em too. (That is what you hate, isn't it? Again, your words are just a tad, um, ambiguous.)
Well, that just about does it, I think. You might think I've overreacted, and that my comments are unduly harsh. I submit to you that you should consider the impact of what you place in writing in the future, especially the context in which you use words like "hate" and "hell on earth."
And to the good bloggers over at JW, a simple request: I've seen what you're capable of...please don't let such opportunities as this pass you by in the future. I'm not nearly as good as you at these kinds of things.
Excellent Fisking!
Posted by: George at December 12, 2003 09:44 AMWonderful fisking of the NativeMidlander comment.
Now can you do something about Ralph Wiggam and/or THE EURASIAN?
Posted by: Natalie at December 12, 2003 10:06 AMThanks, folks...just trying to do my small part to Keep Midland Beautiful.
And Natalie, there's only so much I can do. I'm sure those mokes aren't too much of a nuisance, or you'd already have dealt with them via the wonderful IP control device provided by MT.
Posted by: Eric at December 12, 2003 10:44 AMTwo thumbs up! Dang, I completely missed that comment. I guess that's what I get for not checking the blog for a day or two.
If anyone's interested, I've noticed that NativeMidlander also posts his/her electronic feces on the kwel.com message board from time to time.
Again, excellent work!
Posted by: Vaughn at December 12, 2003 03:46 PMEric, nothing I can add but, "Bravo!"
Posted by: Jeff at December 12, 2003 07:31 PMI want to comment on the "extremely rich/extremely poor" perception of Midland. When we lived in Midland, we were definitely at the lower end of the economic spectrum. But we definitely benefitted from the high incomes of others. We lived across the street from a fabulous playground--funded by a charity. We frequented the top-notch children's museum. Entrance fee: free. My oldest son still has vivid memories of seeing the Nutcracker, which featured both local talent, and professional dancers who came in for the season.
On an even more personal level, the families at our church gave us a "pounding" that stocked our pantry when we first moved into the city. A nurse in our church freely answered my questions and gave unofficial diagnoses and reassurance, saving us many trips to the doctor and high medical bills. And we were always treated with respect and kindness--no discrimination because my husband wasn't in the oil industry.
Midland's wealth enriches all of the citizens of the city.
Posted by: Alexandra at December 13, 2003 02:03 PMSpeaking as someone who's had to drive to the permian basin often to visit grandparents who live in Monahans, I have to say that no matter how much you may like living in Midland, it's still smack dab in the middle of nowhere, West Texas annex.
No amount of year-round lawn watering will change that. As such, I can't see much prospect for economic development beyond the petrochemical industry, unless someone in midland-odessa discovers a cure for a major disease or some such.
Hate to rain on the parade, but it's true. Cybercommuniting may make it easier in the future for people to live 100s of miles away from their corporate headquarters, but I question whether such advances would make one want to move to the Permian Basin, especially when there's the hill country to consider. :-)
None of which is to denigrate the fine people who currently live in M-O. Like I said, my grandparents live in Monahans, and have for over 30 years.
Posted by: bryan at December 14, 2003 09:03 PMAlexandra, I appreciate your perspective on these issues, and I think you're right, of course. I know several local millionaires (and I'm talking about the ones who are "liquid" millionaires, not just on paper) and most of them are extremely generous with their time and money.
Bryan, you're not raining on anyone's parade, at least no one I know. We all recognize the realities of the hand we've been dealt in this area. At the same time, giving up, drying up and blowing away just isn't in our nature. I suppose the line between visionary and naive lunatic is a fine one.
Posted by: Eric at December 14, 2003 09:40 PMI have read with much interest the comments posted by "NativeMidlander," and the subsequent comments posted by all the others. I have to say, it looks to me like there is absolutely no objectivity from anyone who posts on these boards. As a local business owner, I happen to mostly agree with the rant that NativeMidlander posted. However, I'm sure its tone was more out of frustration and figurative, and was not meant to be taken completely literally.
In regards to the Chevron thing; we wouldn't have been able to keep them anyway I know, but couldn't we at least try to show some dissapointment, rather than say "this was expected," and "it's been happening for a while?" Excuse me? I thought Midlanders were known for fighting for their beliefs.
There are some pretty "bassackward" problems with Midland right now, that our local government and Chamber seem to be completely ignorning. They have blinders on; they have for quite some time.
Pretending that the problems don't exist, will not make them go away.
Posted by: Tony at December 22, 2003 08:44 AMTony, thanks for the comments. But I must advise you that if you're seeking objectivity, your best bet is to read the dictionary, as it's the only publication I can think of that was written without subjectivity (and even that's up for debate).
Regarding ChevronTexaco, don't confuse acceptance of the inevitable with lack of disappointment. "Fighting for their beliefs" is just not a relevant issue in this case. You know very well that there's no one in Midland who is happy about the corporate decision, but we all just pick up and move on. Any other reaction is a waste of time and resources that are better devoted to strengthening what we have left.
I agree wholeheartedly with your statement that pretending that problems don't exist will not make them go away. I just haven't seen the "loyal opposition" come up with any meaningful, practical solutions to those problems they are so quick to identify and slam others for not solving. Most seem to prefer hiding behind anonymous rants, rather than engaging in constructive dialog.
Posted by: Eric at December 22, 2003 09:04 AMFirst let me say (in the spirit of the Holiday), my apologies to any that I may have offended with my, oh so harsh, statements. My word choice of “hate” was wrong. You see, I had just finished clearing the sand and Wal-Mart bags from my driveway after the latest sandstorm and was somewhat irritated. After which I drove through the McDonalds drive-thru for an ice cold Coke and was asked for my order in Spanish. This was probably a slip of the tongue by the employee as the car in front of me spoke Spanish into the speaker. Perhaps she thought I could speak Spanish as well. I then drove home and made my post.
In retrospect, I should have explained that I am very much like you Eric, George and Natalie. I am for an English only law for the U.S; I voted for Bush, I go to Church on Sundays, work hard and enjoyed vacations with the kids. I think the illegal immigration problem is getting worse and it bothers me to see the increase in poverty in Midland. Since I have lived here for over 45 years, I have seen most of the “white-collar” folks leave our city. The bankers, engineers and geologists that walked our downtown streets are now mostly gone. The buildings downtown are now over 50% empty. This saddens me. It saddens me that my taxes went to build schools, a first rate hospital, a great new airport and now a new sports complex. However, these things are all seemingly meaningless to the executives making the decisions in the major oil company headquarters.
I see towns like Hobbs, Brownfield and Eunice that are only shadows of what they once were – and it saddens me. I see people continuing to move to major metropolitan areas, leaving the farms and small towns that helped make this Country great. Is Midland following in the same path? I think it very well could. My “rant” which so many of you lamented, was just one mans frustration about what he sees happening on many fronts in our city and Country. What is ironic about that is that if I had said things in just a slightly different manner and tone, most of you “gringos” what have probably agreed with my post.
And by-the-way, there have been many examples of cities successfully keeping their existing corporate employers (Phillips in Oklahoma, the recent Boeing plant in Everett, Washington) It simply takes the efforts of the city leaders at least trying. I do not think it is too much to ask if anyone from Midland at least asked if the ChevronTexaco folks if they would not stay, or at least leave a few people. If we cannot at least keep what we have here, does it not make it more difficult to attract new people here?
“If anyone's interested, I've noticed that NativeMidlander also posts his/her electronic feces on the kwel.com message board from time to time.” Vaughn
I will now take my feces and retire to my bed chamber to be visited by the all of the Midland ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Perhaps I will awaken with a brighter outlook and those I greet on the street (such as nice people like Vaughn, who posted the uplifting message above), will also be filled with Holiday cheer!
driving down cuthbert today at the croosstreet of ward, young hispanic punk rolled down his window, and throws trash out in the street. How sad. You litter bums needto go to Calgary,Canada and see how the citizens of the city keep their city clean. No trash in the steets, alleys, gutters, no where. The people are very proud of the city they live in.
we have been there 4 times in the last two years. you can"t beleive your eys, compared to the tall city, this is a dump.
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I could not have said it better myself, WTG ERIC!
Posted by: Bert at December 12, 2003 12:10 AM