by Ken King

The webmaster at Southern Maryland Online asked me several months ago if I would be interested in writing an occasional blurb or two. The offer both flattered me and caused me some anxiety. The flattery was that they felt that I was obviously opinionated, had no fear of voicing my thoughts, and that sometimes my thoughts were fairly decent. The anxiety was that I have never written for publication and wasn’t quite sure if I was capable. I let the offer lay about for a couple of months and really hadn’t given it much thought. Today, I thought hard about it and sat down to compile some thoughts in regard to the recent bashing that locals have been taking in these forums. I have decided to give it a go.

While I was not born in southern Maryland, and am still considered an outsider to many of the originals, I have lived here the majority of my life. I have become a southern Marylander both in spirit and heart. The spirit I refer to is in living life at a slightly slower pace as those from urban areas are accustomed too. Enjoying the natural beauty of the area as man exists with nature. Watching as industry, and the associated impact, increases in the area bringing both the good and the bad with them and adjusting to these changes. The heart I refer to is in how we feel about those that want to make us a part of the District, of those that ridicule and denigrate us and our lifestyles, of those that make offensive remarks about the local heritage and those who have enjoyed wonderful lives here.

Why would someone want to change paradise into something that resembles your typical metropolitan area? Yes, I said paradise, for that is what we have whether or not you realize it. Though this is rapidly fading away as the influx of people into the area continues. I can accept this growth and eventually the majority of folks down here will too. What I won’t accept are the rude new-comers to the area that seem to have nothing better to do than complain about what they don’t have instead of finding out what they do have. Before I get inundated with responses I would like to clarify my last statement by saying that in no way do I feel this is 100% of the new arrivals. In my mind it’s about 10% of those arriving that I have a problem with, and when you combine that with the 10% or so native born jerks, we have a 20% population that is not wanted nor needed within the region.

These people (both new and local) seem to have been bred for antagonizing whatever group of people they are in close proximity to. They have little respect for anything, have no problem criticizing or belittling others, enjoy calling people names that cause pain, and basically feel that rules are made for others to follow and not for them. I’m sure you all know exactly who I’m talking about. For some of us they are the same person but I’m sure I know a few you don’t know and I’m positive that you know a few I don’t.

Another thing about them is that they are extremely cowardly in manner. They are always right, at least in their little minds, just ask them. They will yell from the crowd or write their letters anonymously trying to hide their identities. Some are successful in this technique and have been difficult to identify. Others are so blatant that the color of hypocrisy covers all of their communications and you can spot them as clear as Venus in the morning skies in the fall. What are we to do with them when we know who they are? We make their lives living hells, that’s what I’ve seen done and what I have done. The average southern Marylander (myself included) won’t give them the time of day and for that we are rude and unfriendly in their descriptions of us to others.

Imagine that. You don’t like it here and we don’t like it that you are here. A perfect match to start a controversy. I know I’ve gotten caught up into it a time or two. One day I hope I’ll be able to get to a point where I am immune to their comments. Until that time I am going to try to remember something that most of us were taught years ago, you know when morals and values meant something. that being if I don’t have something nice to say about a person I’ll keep my mouth shut. Notice I said person. Businesses, local, state, Federal government, events in the news, general behavior, idiotic items and thousands of other items are fair game and should keep me occupied. Maybe it’s something others could do as well. If we start acting a little more peaceably maybe it will rub off on some of these other people.

Naaaa!!! That will never work. If you don’t like it here just go ahead and get the hell out of here. We don’t want you here anymore than you don’t want to be here, so end the suffering for us all and leave. You can take Route 4, 5, 234 or 235 whichever is quickest and don’t worry -  we won’t miss you.