A Letter from the Editor By Jamie Despres, southcoast247.com editor
Half-Full
"With a little help from my friends."
Most Americans are spoiled, whether they realize it or not. Let me explain.
See we are so used to having the freedom to experience pretty much whatever the hell we want - music, television, fashion, excess, etc. So apparently we get so used to these things that we feel we are given the right to complain and pick apart every thing that's doesn't perfectly suit our needs. And most of us just complain, sit back, and never do much of anything to better the situation. We've all been guilty of it at least one time.
I'm talking about the South Coast here, people. Yes, I've packed my bags a few times and moved to other wonderful places. But that has only made me appreciate this area more.
To me, the best thing about living in the South Coast is that I have tons of options. The Cape and Boston are only an hour or so away, and Providence and Newport are even closer. But at the end of the day, I go home to an area that's not as loud and hectic as a big city, yet not as remote and boring as some random dwelling in the boonies.
A ferry ride takes me to the Vineyard or Nantucket, and a train ride gets me to New York City in a few hours. For the cost of waking up early a full tank of gas, I can head up to the mountains of New Hampshire, or the outlets in Maine.
For someone who craves variety, and has a tendency to go stir crazy, the proximity of the South Coast to all of these destinations is a huge bonus.
Yes, I've had my doubts about living in this area, but it's only natural to want to get away from home for a bit. There's a big world out there.
But it's all in how you deal with these feelings. You can either blame the South Coast for the condition of your life, and wallow in it, complaining that 'there is nothing to do' and 'everybody sucks', or you can accept this area for what it is and make the best of it. Personally, I prefer for my glass to be half full. I can't imagine the miserable existence that I would have otherwise.
So it really irks me when people go to all sorts of lengths to complain about how 'awful' this area is. Because if you read the papers, talk to people, or do some traveling, you'd realize how rediculously lucky you are to live here. This is what I mean by being spoiled.
Let me give you some examples. I could go one forever, but I'll only cite a few to illustrate my point.
Well I'm sure glad I don't live in Iraq, and that I don't have to worry about my shit getting bombed, or my family being torn apart. And I'm really happy that I don't live in some African village that is taken over by a different renegade militia every other week. And as a woman, I am ecstatic that I am guaranteed the same rights of a man and that I don't have to worry about getting stoned by an angry mob, or having acid thrown in my face because I was seen talking to another man in the street.
On a lighter note, I'm happy that I don't live in Sicily, where the last hit cd to grace the charts was Tina Turner's greatest hits (although the Sicilians know how to make a mean pizza). And I am sure as hell glad that I'm not living in New York City surrounded by Yankees fans.
I've learned to take the good with the bad here in the South Coast, and although the area has some flaws, big ones at that, I have grown to love it here. My advice to those that can't seem to get past those flaws? Do something about it.
Most Americans are spoiled, whether they realize it or not. Let me explain.
