I come from a very minuscule town in Tennessee called Cedar Hill.
I literally mean a tiny little dot on the map but I am very proud to say I was born and raised in this town. According to Census Viewer in 2000,
the population consisted of only 298 people. I am nearly positive that the
number has gone up since 2000 because there is a new house popping up almost every
day there now. When I was growing up, there was not much Cedar Hill had to
offer. You had two gas stations, a post office, one school, railroad tracks,
quite a few churches, and lots and lots of farm land. You had to drive to
Springfield or Clarksville, which was about a 15-minute drive either way, just
to go to Wal-Mart or to the movies. The thing that Cedar Hill did offer was
peace and quiet and semi seclusion from big-city life. It was the ideal place
to live if you worked in the capital, Nashville, because you only had a 30
minute commute, and it was nothing like living in the city. Honestly, I think
that is why the city is growing like it is even today. Yes, much has changed
since then because there is certainly less farm land and more houses and
people. Instead of there being only one school, there are now two.
My point is I have noticed that country life is turning into something different now days. You see less and less farm land and more and more subdivisions taking its place. Why, is the question? Perhaps it is because people really want to escape the commotion that big-city life offers and come home simply to relax. Or maybe it is because being "country" is the popular thing to do these days.
It is not hard to miss; you all see the signs of being considered this so called “country” as a good thing. I cannot log onto Facebook once without one of my friends posting something about how “country” they are and how they are the best because of it. Honestly, I have even been guilty of posting some of these things myself. Who can help it really, a lot of these little sayings are cute. Nonetheless, it seems that being "country" now makes you popular. They even have guidelines to go by to tell if you can truly be considered "country". One of the most popular seems to be the fact that you must love camo. In fact, the more camo stuff you own the better. They even sell camo living room furniture! Now please do not get me wrong, I love anything camo. I would love to have a camo bed set and I love all my camo shirts and jackets. Seriously though, just because someone loves camo, it makes them country? I think not! So in order to be considered "country" you have to have a passion for big trucks, even better for you if you happen to own one. It is a bonus if the truck is loud, and you must take this truck mudding weekly. Again, I do have a truck, and it does have a lift kit on it, also it happens to be dueled out. I happen to love my truck, and I have gone mudding in it several times. It is fun; I get that. But because I own this truck and love my camo can I seriously call myself a true country girl? No, I cannot. There are other things that people who claim to be "country" say they love like hunting, fishing, preferring to sit round a fire instead of going to a restaurant. The list goes on and on really but do these “country” people truly love these things?
Why is it about being "country" that is now so
popular? I have asked this question before, and many people like to blame the
show Duck Dynasty. I do love this show, very much, but I would have to disagree
with this response. In fact, being “country” was becoming favored long before
the show came out. I would honestly say that it was this new trend that helped
make the show as popular as it is today. Mind you, I said it helped the show because
I feel this is not the only contributing factor in its popularity. I actually
think Si and the fact that they are close nit, no drama, laid back, and God-fearing
family is what helped the show rise to the top. What other shows offer those
qualities on the television today? Few! I
can say that I agree that the show may be contributing to the rising trend now.
So if not the show, what then?
Do you not think that it should take some country values and
experience to be able to call yourself “country”? I am an avid fisher; I own a
big truck; I like to hunt even if I rarely do it, I think mudding is super fun
and somewhat scary at times; I own my fair share of camo items, and I love to
sit round a fire. Do these aspects about me make me country? Here are some more things about me. I like to
shop, go out to eat, and I prefer to live somewhere in between the sticks and
the big city. I enjoy going these great cities and hanging out, but I
definitely would never want to live in one. Does this revoke my right to call
myself "country"? I think not; I do truly believe that I am country.
I know country people; I have many friends who are "country". I think
being "country" is all about moral values and not property values. I
think country people are people that live life the best they can, making ends
meet, and lending a helping hand to whoever needs the help. Country people are
known for their morals, their love of the land, their love for the outdoors,
their passion for food, their passion for family and friends, and most of all
their respect for the Lord. Do not confuse “country” people with rednecks and
cowboys. I find that there is a difference. Just take a look at the Robertson
family from Duck Dynasty. What do these people have that is not only camo and
beards? They have God, family, love for
the outdoors, and morals. This is what makes someone “country” in my book.
So are people flocking to the country because it is the
popular thing to do or for the right reasons. I am still not sure what the
answer for this question is. However, I do know this. If you are moving to the
country and building all these subdivisions just because it is the popular
thing to do then please stop! You are ruing the land and the seclusion it
offers and when the trend is over and being “country” is no longer the popular
thing to be, what happens then? We are left with vacant neighborhoods full of
houses and paved cul de sacs that could have been better used as farm land and
putting food on the tables of American households.
Here is a link that you may find interesting:
Duck Dynasty Values
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