California Bias A Sad Commentary
Three years ago, ex-Californians Tom and Janet Wing had a sure-fire way to attract Coeur d’Alene residents to their moving sale. In a newspaper ad, they invited Lake City to help send two “pesky” Californians back where they belong. Or to just send cash.
Nearly 500 showed up during their weekend sale. Most were out-of-staters wanting to swap war stories. The Wings also received an envelope in the mail containing a $5 bill and the message: Good riddance.
Said Janet Wing at the time: “I’ve never been anywhere where people judged you by what state you lived in last. That should be ninth or 10th on the list. The first should be what you can do for your neighbors, what can you learn from them, what do you have in common.”
She was right, of course. People should be judged by the contribution they make to their communities, schools and neighborhoods - not by their former address. Blind prejudice against any group of people is wrong, whether its based on race, religion, gender, disability - or, in this case, state of origin.
Sure, sure. Americans love to poke fun at themselves and others. But teasing goes too far when it becomes bashing and good people like the Wings are victimized.
Unfortunately, a study of Oregonians by a California sociologist reveals Northwest resentment toward Californians is innate and widespread.
According to Glenn Tsunokai’s study, Oregonians believe Californians are competitive, superficial, calculating and impersonal. In fact, 68 percent of Oregonians believe their neighbors to the south would cause a negative change in their communities.
Maybe you do, too.
During the past 15 years, a lot of Californians have moved to the Inland Northwest - to become scapegoats for locals who blame them for all our growing pains, from traffic congestion, crime and higher housing costs to longer lines at the checkout counter. Never mind that the transplants have propped up an economy that has switched from a dependence on mining and logging to tourism. Never mind that they have brought with them energy, experience and valuable insights.
Disturbingly, Tsunokai conducted his research by using questions from other studies that examined prejudice toward blacks, homosexuals and other minority groups. He just substituted the word “Californian.”
In commenting on his study, Tsunokai gave familiar advice for fellow Californians thinking about moving north: “I would change my license plates real fast, and not wear any of those kinds of shirts that identify you as being from California.”
That’s a sad commentary.
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