Saturday, July 23, 2005
H.L. Mencken Is Alive And Well And Working For CNN
(Please read the late amendment at the bottom of this post)
Can you believe the flat out regional prejudice of this?
Fighting toothlessness in Appalachia
STANTON, Kentucky (AP) -- With a silvery Airstream trailer as a dental office, Dr. Jeff Bailey goes about his work, brightening the often gapped smiles of people in a part of the country with the highest rate of toothlessness in America.
Bailey, one of many volunteers who are bringing free mobile dental care to poor people in the hills and hollows of Appalachia, sees case after case of severe tooth decay and gum disease -- the consequences of sugary foods, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, a lack of fluoridated water, and simple neglect.
Oh, it’s fine to mock white southerners... but can you imagine CNN running a story with a headline like, oh, I dunno...
Teaching Personal Hygiene In Compton
Combating Laziness In Puerto Rico
Fighting Gay Promiscuity In San Francisco
Fat chance. But go ahead and mock those whites in the Appalachian south all you want, right? H.L. Mencken would be proud.
Hat Tip: The Therapy Sessions.
Amendment: After thinking about what Allen and Dave have had to say in the comments, I think that I really am tilting at windmills, here. I think this grouchy post resulted from a few things… one, the fact that I’m always quick to jump to the defense of southerners and mountain people, even when the offense is minor, or trivial… or imaginary. And, two, the slipped disc situation, combined with the missed wages it’s caused have probably made me even more irritable than normal.
In fact, I must admit, I’m just a little embarrassed by this post. I won’t delete it, though. This blog is a reflection of my ideas, values, and behavior… and it should be an accurate reflection, even when I say things badly and post opinions that I later rethink.
One of the few things I can actually do with my back messed up is sit here and read blogs and write posts… that’s gonna result in fairly frequent posting, and of course that will leave more room for transgressions on my part.
Hey, sometimes I’m a thin-skinned A**hole! Oh, well… off to pop another Percocet! ;)
Permalink -- Posted by Darrell at 13:52 
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Allen: Perhaps the problem is not CNN's poor judgement here, but rather our cultural oversensitivity to stereotypes and generalizations.
Yes, I'd have to agree with that. I do think, though, that CNN would have been hypersensitive about the story under other circumstances, with other demographics. Thanks for the link, by the way. I really appreciate it.
Yes, I'd have to agree with that. I do think, though, that CNN would have been hypersensitive about the story under other circumstances, with other demographics. Thanks for the link, by the way. I really appreciate it.
Darrell, if I'd read that story apart from the context of your commentary, I honestly would have thought "Wow, what a cool Dentist- going out into the backwoods like that and helping those people."
I wouldn't have thought any more or less of the people indigenous to the Appalachians- they are what they are, and most of them can't afford dental care and haven't been educated in how to take care of themselves. I really don't see any intent on the part of CNN's coverage to belittle the natives or the good Doctor.
I read the story and all I got out of it was a Dentist going out of his way to help people who wouldn't otherwise get the care they need. Matter of perception, I guess.
I wouldn't have thought any more or less of the people indigenous to the Appalachians- they are what they are, and most of them can't afford dental care and haven't been educated in how to take care of themselves. I really don't see any intent on the part of CNN's coverage to belittle the natives or the good Doctor.
I read the story and all I got out of it was a Dentist going out of his way to help people who wouldn't otherwise get the care they need. Matter of perception, I guess.
Rhodester: Matter of perception, I guess.
I can't deny that you have a point. Maybe I'm the one being "hypersensitive," here. It's just that the word "Toothlessness" glared at me. I might not have gotten all hot under the collar if the headline had been "Improving Dental Health In Appalachia," or something like that.
You and Allen are right, the more I think about it. I did get more miffed than I should have. Imagine that, me getting more miffed than I should. ;)
I can't deny that you have a point. Maybe I'm the one being "hypersensitive," here. It's just that the word "Toothlessness" glared at me. I might not have gotten all hot under the collar if the headline had been "Improving Dental Health In Appalachia," or something like that.
You and Allen are right, the more I think about it. I did get more miffed than I should have. Imagine that, me getting more miffed than I should. ;)
..it IS unusual! :-)
Can Wendy just mash up a bunch of Percocets, blend them in water and administer them to you in an I.V.?
Can Wendy just mash up a bunch of Percocets, blend them in water and administer them to you in an I.V.?
Damn straight.
The term "toothless" is loaded for maximum guffaw impact among MSM readers and editors.
It reminds me of how Michael Moore got huge laughs in his "film" Roger & Me by showing recently laid off GM workers in rural areas selling rabbit pelts to get by. They were used strictly for entertainment purposes by Moore.
I searched CNN. There are only two stories mentioning the word "toothless" in their archives. This story and one describing a legislative bill without enforcement mechanisms.
"They know the only minority left in this country that you can make fun of and demean and humiliate and put down and hardly anyone will speak up in their defense are hillbillies in particular, and rural people in general. You can ridicule them with impunity."
--Zell Miller
The term "toothless" is loaded for maximum guffaw impact among MSM readers and editors.
It reminds me of how Michael Moore got huge laughs in his "film" Roger & Me by showing recently laid off GM workers in rural areas selling rabbit pelts to get by. They were used strictly for entertainment purposes by Moore.
I searched CNN. There are only two stories mentioning the word "toothless" in their archives. This story and one describing a legislative bill without enforcement mechanisms.
"They know the only minority left in this country that you can make fun of and demean and humiliate and put down and hardly anyone will speak up in their defense are hillbillies in particular, and rural people in general. You can ridicule them with impunity."
--Zell Miller
Read your Amendment. Too funny. Happens to all of us though; goodness knows I'd like to take down some posts of my own.
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