Media disrespect
Bill and Linda Tolliver, Emporia
Originally published 02:29 p.m., April 8, 2008
Updated 02:29 p.m., April 8, 2008
The media that love to portray us as ignorant “hooples” and “gomers” have done it again. A recent interview with two K-State basketball players began with sweeping pictures of cows feeding in a field, windmills, barren plains and an overall impression of total desolation. If nothing else, it is obvious that the network, like so many others basking in their illusions of superiority, feel it necessary to perpetuate the stereotype of Kansas as a place where nothing of interest exists, a place they call “flyover country.”
This time the reinforcers of the stereotype were the CBS television network and some athletes from K-State whom we will not name here. These young men were being interviewed before an NCAA tournament game. When asked about Kansas and K-State, the interviewees commented that there was nothing in Kansas and nothing to do in the small town of Manhattan.
Having lived in four college towns — Carbondale, Illinois, Cincinnati, Lubbock and Emporia, we find it difficult to believe that an educated college student enrolled in a university whose reputation extends not only nationwide but worldwide, could not find something of interest.
Being natives of Illinois but having lived in Kansas for 37 years, we take offense at the perpetuation of these myths. The people of Kansas are generous, compassionate and loyal, particularly to their colleges and athletic teams. Those who represent these colleges and sports teams — especially those whose college careers are financed by the residents of this state they portray as a “nothing” place — should have at least as much respect and support for the institutions and people they represent as their fans and those who provide the full-ride scholarships have shown for them.
As for CBS and their elitist and patronizing view of Kansas, nothing will change their opinion, but we feel compelled to share our disappointment over their trite, inaccurate and insulting view of our state and we hope other Kansans feel as we do.
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Remember what Geraldine Ferrarro said on Hannity & Colmes during the 2004 election - she said you have LA on one side, and NY on the other, and what have you got in between? NOTHING!!!!
(They were talking about blue vs red states)
Nice to know how liberals feel about the midwest.....
April 8, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
It all falls back to Wizard of OZ and farming. Its funny how we have wrong preceptions of other places. I know we wonder how in the world one lives in NY in all those high rise apartments and no cars. I have a hard time just getting to the store here and hauling it into the house on the ground.
April 8, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthinkin (anonymous) says...
Consider the current State slogan... "Kansas - As Big as You Think".... which says to me that the leaders of the state enforce what many have said for years about driving across our beautiful state... nothing to see or do in the state & it takes forever to get through.
Let's go back to "Kansas, the land of AHS" That was a cool slogan. And - ? - why does our slogan change so often - I don't get it !
April 9, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
It sounds like the Tollivers have developed a strong "sense of place" here in Kansas, as have I. What a beautifully written essay.
It is unfortunate but nonetheless amazing how others make sweeping generalities about a region. When my daughter was in New York City recently, people kept asking her where her red shoes were. She, a 44-year-old executive in a large company, suggests "they're not as cosmopolitan as they think they are." However, in Chicago where she lives now, she gets no such comments.
As a native of Hawaii, I can remember hearing the generalities relating to hula girls and surfing as if nothing more existed there. When I first moved here 33 years ago, several people asked how I liked living "in the states." I also remember being 19 and reading a letter from my husband's mother saying, "Sweetheart, you can't bring a dark girl home to the south."
I suggest these people are just plain arrogant, and "not as cosmopolitan as they think they are."
April 9, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ (anonymous) says...
Very good comment Vickie
April 9, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Is it possible to have a civil discussion without the terms "red state, blue state, liberal, conservative" being used? They only inflame the audience, distract from the subject at hand and squelches any possible positive outcome.
To Bill & Linda, I like your editorial. I have to agree, I fight off negative Kansas stereotypes, everyday. The media is a significant culprit of these unfortunate stereotypes.
Thank you,
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
April 9, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
I am happy people think we are hicks, keeps the high and mighty living somewhere else. It does irritate me a little when I see us being portrayed in a negative light(us being Kansans) but for the most part, I don't care what the rest of the nation thinks, I am happy to live here and wouldn't be anywhere else.
April 9, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rbmorgan (anonymous) says...
I agree, I'm thankful Kansas is one of the best kept secrets in the US. Let those who think Kansans are hicks stay on the coasts.
April 9, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I only repeated Ms Ferrarro's comments. She said it, not me.
And I agree. It "squelches any possible positive outcome" for me to form any type of positive opinion of her.
I put up with alot of that crap myself when I was on the east coast. Once they were surprised I knew a current hit song, they had heard that things that were all the rage usually didn't hit the middle US till about 2 years later. I started into a long, lengthy explanation of how television and radio waves were able to penetrate state boundry lines and ticked them all off.
April 9, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
We all have had mispreconceptions at one time or other. Its not Kansas, people all over the world have them too. If its important to change it, then do something about it. To many people complain about issues but stand in the back of the room when it comes time to express it. JMO!
April 9, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sadinemporia (anonymous) says...
I agree with most of the comments...however, it is pretty sad to see around town, there are a few people who have a bumper sticker that says "Kansas, as BIGGOTED as you think" Come on people, how about supporting our great State instead of degrading it!
April 10, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
On a lighter note, you can have fun with stereotypes. A very ornery friend of mine was going to DeVry in KC and one of his roommates was from New York City. When my friend went home he would always visit a friend who lived in the country. His NYC roommate commented on how dirty his car was every time he visited home. My friend convinced him that we only have paved roads in the big cities in Kansas. No joke! He strung the poor fool along for quite a while. I laughed so hard when he told me that I about passed out. It's annoying but we have to learn to pass it off as ignorance and go on.
April 10, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Truly, I am enjoying this ongoing blog conversation. I can't count the number of times I've been asked where I am from originally, and when I say "Kansas" the response from the inquirier is "KANSAS! Really? Oh my goodness!" Shock. Disbelief. Amazement.
I used to take offense at such negative responses, but I've begun using the quick quip, "Yes! It is just as beautiful as you've heard." That sets the person back for a moment to rethink his/her reaction.
But, when the media draws attention to the skeletons in the state's closet (Fred Phelps, tornadoes, the few outspoken rednecks), it makes it hard for native Kansans like me to dispel a stereotype that is strongly implanted in the minds of those who have never visited the Sunflower State (or the Midwest, for that matter).
In summary, we are all victims of the media, spefically those few irresponsible media outlets. If you've never been to California or New York, you tend to believe what you see and hear through the news, headlines and movies. Likewise, for those who have never visited the Heartland, their knowledge is limited only to what they see and hear through the same media outlets. It'a all about perception derived from manipulated information.
BP,
SF, CA
April 10, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
You can go to almost any of our 50 states and find places that some might call desolate and barren. I think that's great. I love the USA and the vast size of it, with the freedom to travel from one state to another, anytime, at will. If you don't like the wide open spaces, then live in a crowded place in a big city. You can do that too, anytime, at will. You can also avoid all the barren areas if you want by flying from big city to big city.
Regarding the sports players' response in the interview, I question why they don't just move on to some place they like and end their drudgery of living in Kansas. No one is making them stay if they don't want to. Same with the media, if it's so desolate and boring to them, and the residents so uneducated and stupid, why give any attention and air time?
I put the mute button, channel selector, or the off switch on my TV to good use whenever that kind of programming comes on. I don't think I've missed anything yet by doing so.
April 10, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I agree with you, B3, that no one is making those athletes stay in Kansas. But what do you want to bet that those same guys are on some very generous scholarship to play ball for K-state yet they have the temerity to insult the good hands that feed them.
April 11, 2008 at 9 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I wouldn't say that it's just the media that disrespects midwest and small-town America. Check out the rather less-than-flattering remarks Obama just made about small-town Pennsylvania voters. Hitting the news right now.
April 11, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )