First Words of the Year
As it happens, my first words of the year turn out to be a letter to the editor published in the local newspaper today. Visit the Eastern Shore Sanctuary blog to read all about it.
The letter calls for economic and agricultural diversification here on the Delmarva peninsula, of which the Eastern Shore of Maryland is a part. The Eastern Shore was the site of the last two lynchings in Maryland back in the early 1930s and called by H.L. Mencken “a lush stomping-ground for knavish politicians, prehensile professional patriots, and whooping soul-savers.” The growth of “big chicken” in the decades since has only increased the region’s cultural insularity even as its economy has been colonized by global agribusiness. Living here these past nine years has been a trip — on the river Styx!
More words to come, for sure, but maybe not so many in upcoming weeks as I am heading into an intensive push to get my book about that trip (re)written.
Possibly related posts:
January 13th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
You’re right – economic and agricultural diversification would be good for the whole Delmarva Peninsula. We could do so much with alternate energy sources, zero carbon footprints, organic and local gardening, etc. especially since we are so close to large metropolitan areas. Wouldn’t it be great if we could function as a region instead of the stepchildren of three states?