Are You From Around Here?

In a rather tense meeting last night at the Court House in which many citizens appeared and expressed their opposition to a draft proposal by the Commission about Marcellus fracking which was seen as "zoning", there were expressions voiced of a certain kind of territorial xenophobia. Several times, to punctuate an argument, I heard it said "and you are not from around here" or "I've lived here all my life" and "newcomers" etc. To me, this extreme provincialism is destructive and divides the community; remember a house divided can not stand. We cripple our efforts if we attempt to make certain members of our community or their opinions less important or less valuable than others. Does not the United States rest upon the proposition that "ALL men are created equal". Is not America the melting pot"? Is equality of value reserved for only those "born and raised here"? Does the worth of a family or a father or a mother or a son or daughter depend upon being born within the county? There are many many people who have moved into our county who have brought talent and energy and leadership to our doorstep. It is wrong to discount the value of these citizens and their opinions because of where they were born. As a person who has now lived here 40 years and has worked and been a part of the community all that time, I am offended that I am, by some, still looked upon as an outsider. And I am sure there are many other people here who also feel this ostracism of not being from around here. If we are to ever be a winning team, this divisive attitude must end.

I was unable to choose to be born in Pocahontas County, but I choose to live here now. I've lived in other places and circumstances may, at some future time, require me to live somewhere else again. So what? I'm here now and I aim to do the best I can to live a useful and productive life while I'm able - perhaps another 20-30 years, or so. I know some people resent that I have opinions I'm willing to share publicly and, possibly, that I'm willing to volunteer my time and energy for causes I believe in that will improve the lives of many county residents. I really can't be bothered by people who are sure of what they're against and really don't what things to change. For everyone who may speak negatively about me behind my back there are others who tell me to my face that they appreciate what I'm doing to help make things better. I happen to believe that fracking is a clear and present danger to the county's fresh water which I and most other residents rely on for daily living. I don't believe owners of large tracts of land that are attractive to gas developers should have the right, because the county lacks zoning ordinances of any kind, to implicitly zone their property industrial by signing a lease while their neighbors have no right to protect the underground water supplies that the lessor and neighbors share. For those who have leased their land and hope for a bonanza in royalties when it is fracked, it's all about money, not the land. For the rest of us, it's about the water.