Senior Cynicism

The older people here in Morgan County are a rare breed that may not be found outside of Eastern Kentucky. They may not be the most educated bunch, but their experience and street smarts more than make up for that deficiency. Algebra confounds my sweet old Mamaw, for instance, but she can find a use for just about anything. Want a watering can? Get an empty milk jug, poke some holes in the cap, and presto! Want nail polish? Find some poke berries and squeeze out the juice.

This kind creativity is a marvel, but it isn't surprising considering the kind of environment she grew up in. Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes, and during the 1950s in Eastern Kentucky (my Mamaw was born in 1945, so the majority of her childhood took place during this decade), there was certainly necessity. Many people in Eastern Kentucky were poor farmers during this time, and my Mamaw's family was no exception. Therefore, people made the best out of what they had. It was a constant of life, and no one expected anything to change soon.

Many people that grew up during that period took that lesson to heart and carried it into their elder years. They expect nothing to get better, and thus, they grow wary of the grand promises of interest groups and politicians, always looking for an ulterior motive. As proof of this theory, here is an exchange I shared with my Mamaw on the day of the March 31st New Cities meeting:

"Mamaw, do you think we'll accomplish anything at this meeting?"

"Why no!"

I believe this kind of cynicism may be part of the reason why Morgan County hasn't met its full potential. We have this belief among older people (and it may have passed on to some of the younger set as well) that we are destined for failure. Now I'm not saying that cynicism should be abandoned entirely. There is no doubt that interest groups and politicans can become corrupt. But keeping such a self-defeating attitude is toxic, and if we really want to make a difference, we need to believe in ourselves and the potential of Morgan County.