News-Record.com Staff Blogs: Letters to the Editor: Those Yankee newcomers change Southern culture: Those Yankee newcomers change Southern culture

Those Yankee newcomers change Southern culture

There's been a lot of political hoopla over the pending North Carolina population explosion causing stress on infrastructure; however, the South has been expanding since the reconstruction.

The true underlying concern is the tidal wave of Yankees hitting our state, diluting the traditional Southern identity. As the cost of living skyrockets in the North, our Yankee friends see North Carolina as a beacon of hope to their wallets, just as Ellis Island was to European immigrants seeking freedoms at the turn of the last century.

This influx of Yankees, or, as I call it, Yankification, will bring more money and development to our state at the expense of Southerners losing hold of Southern identity. Consequently, Yankees will no longer be satisfied with expensive Northern containment communities like Cary.

No, they will bleed into the less-costly areas, bringing development. There will be more upscale strip malls and increased traffic and squabbles for parking spaces. There will be more Grey Poupon and less Dukes Mayonnaise on our store shelves. There will be more bagels and less biscuits, more shopping carts and fewer buggies. So bring us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free of the oppression of the North.

Peter Triggiani
Reidsville

Posted by News & Record on July 23, 2007 3:00 AM | Permalink

Comments (12)

Ummm. As a Yankee who moved south 10 years ago, please allow me to say that....I HATE GRAY POUPON! Plain old yellow mustard is my style.

You know what's funny? I tell people that I'm from New York and they usually assume I'm from 'the city'. I've been to the city 4 times in my entire life. I'm from a small, economically depressed upstate area, 2 hours from Canada. When I moved here I thought Greensboro was huge. It's the biggest city I've ever lived in. The entire population of the COUNTY I grew up in is smaller than the city of Greensboro. Actually, I think my hometown is more southern than some southern towns I've been in....we just have different accents and more Italian food. :-)

Posted by Poppin | July 23, 2007 8:20 AM

But the Yankees are doing work the Southerners won't do.

Posted by Styler27410 | July 23, 2007 8:58 AM

"Yankeefication" and increased population as a source of cultural corruption is relative only to those with short memories. The ruin of Southern culture began 50+ years ago with the introduction of television and air conditioning, two inventions that reduce community participation and promote personal isolationism.

IMO, Southern culture was evolved through small communities where everyone knew each other and waved to everyone in passing. Manners and greetings were taught to children whom for the most part remembered them throughout their lives. Oppressive heat and humidity caused everyone to suffer equally and share in the delight of open windows, porches and late night outdoor activities where personal communication prospered. The cell phone will probably be final nail in the coffin of southern culture.

It's all going by the wayside now and the influx of ALL other cultures is expediting the dilution of what once was the indigenous, American "Southern Culture".

Posted by hugh | July 23, 2007 9:05 AM

Obviously some here, need to read the great book by W. J. Cash, "Mind of the South".

Posted by THE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE | July 23, 2007 9:37 AM

Some of us are capable of forming and expressing our own opinion based on lifelong observation, experience and reading without having to use someone else's opinion as our own.

But I can understand why some people do.

Posted by hugh | July 23, 2007 10:15 AM

the ruination of southern culture began with the first utterance of "shazam!"

Posted by buckyreeds | July 23, 2007 10:19 AM

At least Yankees are legal citizens.

Hugh, your description reminded me of Andy and Barney. Those days are long gone.

Posted by Dan | July 23, 2007 11:34 AM

"At least Yankees are legal citizens."

Not of the CSA they aren't!

Posted by Rufus_T.Firefly | July 23, 2007 3:19 PM

ITA, Hugh.

Rufus, you're cracking me up!!