I have a confession to make: I’m a Californian.
Yeah I know. That’s a lot to take in.
After all, Californians are the scourge of society, the bane of bliss.
Californians are from the land of “fruits and nuts.” They drive too fast. They pollute the air with their smog, traffic, and crime wherever they go. They waste water and don’t manage the forests. They are liberals and slackers. Worst of all, they are leaving their state in droves, bringing bags of cash to buy up our cheap homes, freezing out local buyers. Then, they’ll bring their left-wing politics in and ruin our way of life.
Wow. What a lot of assumptions. And yet, I’ve heard each one of them over the years, particularly now as many Californians are relocating to Tennessee and other states in the South.
Let’s rewind a bit. The reason for this post has nothing to do with Californians. It’s more about the perceptions people have about things they don’t understand. What got me thinking about it though is because of some Californians bought some land near us in the country with the intent to build a subdivision. Nothing scares country-dwellers more than the thought of subdivisions, particularly those purchased and developed by the dreaded Californians. Now everything that seems to be out of sorts in our neck of the woods is being blamed on the Californians.
Is it really a California problem? Or does this issue go deeper?
First of all, I was born in California, 57 years ago. I left when I turned 19. That was nearly 40 years ago. Even when I lived there, I never felt like I fit in. I wasn’t a surfer dude. I didn’t spend my weekends surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon. When I returned to California for a four-year tour in Long Beach, California while in the Navy, I realized shortly after arriving “home” that I needed to get away. I’ve lived in places other than California more than I lived there. But when I tell people I’m from California, suddenly the energy changes.
Californians are mostly transplants themselves. My mom moved there from Buffalo, New York before I was born. My grandparents on my mom’s side followed soon after. Much of the population in the Central Valley are transplants from the Dust Bowl back in the 1930s. They were referred to as “okies” (think Oklahoma). Others immigrated from all over the world. California has a large Hispanic population. There is a significant Chinese population that’s resided in the Bay Area since the gold rush. An entire community of Vietnamese refugees settled in Southern California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. And let’s not forget Americans from the other 49 states immigrate to California for the beautiful weather. I’m not really sure what a “true” Californian is.
Californians themselves haven’t been that welcoming to outsiders. Growing up there, I remember people complaining about all the young Marines stationed at the now closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station “driving around in their Trans-Ams, trying to pick up our women.” People pushed back at the Vietnamese refugees. When part of Garden Grove was branded “Little Saigon” complete with signs on the freeways, locals would either paint graffiti on them or cover them with American flags. When rumors began to circulate that the “boat people” were used to eating cats and dogs, pet owners began to lock up their pets, fearing they may be eaten by their neighbors.
Assumptions and stereotypes. Stereotypes and assumptions. An unfortunately, none of them build anyone up. They just seek to tear down and destroy.
So, this week, take a moment before jumping on the assumption bandwagon. Rather than fall into the stereotype trap, take some time to view the person or the situation for what it is, not for what you assume it to be. Ask yourself: Do ALL Californians act like the ones I stereotype in my head? Of course not.
Let’s not forget: we are all from the same species. I’d like to think we’re all on the same team too.