Happy Valley Photo Essay

[_harmony]

It could have been worse, he could have complained the photos made the LDS look like the rural poor from Palmyra.

Speaking as one of the rural poor, I can honestly say... I liked the pictures... Dan's comments, not so much. It just shows that, for a world traveler, he doesn't really understand most of the world's reality.

[_Kishkumen]

Speaking as one of the rural poor, I can honestly say... I liked the pictures... Dan's comments, not so much. It just shows that, for a world traveler, he doesn't really understand most of the world's reality.

I grew up in rural Virginia. My family was squarely middle class. You could have easily taken pictures of our place that looked much like these. I never would have guessed that anyone was calling us Appalachian hillbillies. Indeed, the rich kids from "town" thought we were rich because we had land, near the historic Carter Estate, the Bells, and the Firestones, and horses. Horses were a big deal in hunt country. Go figure.

The whole time, unbeknownst to us, we were Blue Ridge Mountain po' white trash. I am sure my dad's colleagues in R&D at the CIA would have gotten a kick out of that one. Of course, some of them were our po' white trash neighbors in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Talk about deep cover. Working on high tech national security by day, po' white trash by night.

[_harmony]

The whole time, unbeknownst to us, we were Blue Ridge Mountain po' white trash. I am sure my dad's colleagues in R&D at the CIA would have gotten a kick out of that one. Of course, some of them were our po' white trash neighbors in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Talk about deep cover. Working on high tech national security by day, po' white trash by night.

I (well... the bank and I) own 22 acres. To my friends in town who live on itty bitty lots, that sounds like a lot. To my neighbors with 2200 acres, it's a pittance. I live in 2400 sq ft. To some of my friends, that's a lot. To some of my friends (who have to clean twice that much), that sounds 'way too small.

It's all in perspective.

I hope Dan sees the stupidity of his words. I mean, maybe his ignorance isn't his fault. He was raised in California and lives in Utah... so maybe his lack of good judgment isn't his fault?

[_Runtu]

The ethnocentrism and condescension is galling.

That.

[_harmony]

The ethnocentrism and condescension is galling.

Perhaps Dan has no patience or kindness for those who are not Mormon or Arab? He seems to have infinite patience and kindness for Mormons and Arabs...

[_Jersey Girl]

Hokey Smokies! That comments section is still underway!

Just sharing.

:-)

[_Kishkumen]

Here's my favorite of the latest:

A recent angle of attack on me that certainly shows some promise, though, and that has in fact been flourishing elsewhere already, denounces me for my allegedly snooty attitude here toward the rural Appalachian poor. This new theme fundamentally misconstrues my remarks, but, in portraying me as an out-of-touch elitist who holds poor people in contempt, carries a potentially very powerful propaganda bite -- and it has the delicious additional virtue of further defaming me personally while doing so under a veneer of actual relevance to the photos, captions, and essay. You might consider adopting it.

What a drama queen. Of course, he had to make special effort not to appear to do what he was in fact doing--returning condescension for perceived condescension on the part of Shumway--by editing his comments about Appalachia, something Doctor Scratch documented here. Unfortunately his overall tone, dripping with snark, condescension, and defensiveness undermines his self-apology. Oh well. Same ole, same ole.

Whatever his justifications, intentions, and so forth, I maintain that Daniel is not well served by such comments, especially when they are offered in a public forum like the TIME blog.

At the same time, I have to say that the attacks on Pahoran are below the belt. Why drag random apologists into this? As I said before, step back from this and it generally looks pretty bad. Schlegel's comments, however, are spot on, in my opinion. That John Williams guy offered plenty of civil and wise commentary too.

[_Runtu]

What a drama queen. Of course, he had to make special effort not to appear to do what he was in fact doing--returning condescension for perceived condescension on the part of Shumway--by editing his comments about Appalachia, something Doctor Scratch documented here. Unfortunately his overall tone, dripping with snark and condescension, and defensiveness undermine his self-apology. Oh well. Same ole, same ole.

Whatever his justifications, intentions, and so forth, I maintain that Daniel is not well served by such comments, especially when they are offered in a public forum like the TIME blog.

At the same time, I have to say that the attacks on Pahoran are below the belt. Why drag random apologists into this? As I said before, step back from this and it generally looks pretty bad. Schlegel's comments, however, are spot on, in my opinion. That John Williams guy offered plenty of civil and wise commentary too.

Nah, that Williams guy did nothing but attack and condemn. But at least he didn't bring up Pahoran. :)

[_Buffalo]

His comments about his former ward where he was bishop (MS interview) struck me as condescending toward the poor as well, but I chose to take the more charitable view that it wasn't intentional. In light of his tactics on the comments section of Time, I think I gave him too much credit.

[_Kishkumen]

Nah, that Williams guy did nothing but attack and condemn. But at least he didn't bring up Pahoran. :)

Thank goodness. The last thing we need is a pile of feces to attract the flies.