20/20

[disneyjunkie]

Anyone watching? It’s about kids in central Appalachia.

I feel so bad for those kids.

 

[dislal]

I am watching it makes me sad that the parents can afford drugs, beer, cigarettes, pepsi, but cannot afford milk or meat.

 

[SeaSpray]

I'm watching it too...

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I am watching it makes me sad that the parents can afford drugs, beer, cigarettes, pepsi, but cannot afford milk or meat.

This is what gets me. The kid is under the impression that they don't have enough money for food, but there is money to put Pepsi in the baby's bottle and they can buy cigs. Don't get me wrong, I live in Central Appalachia and work with children every day, but if parents want to improve their child's life they need to make better decisions.

 

[bigmerle1966]

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I don't want people to get the wrong impression from this report on 20/20. This is an economically depressed area and there are many who live in poverty. But not all of us do. Most people are hard working, law abiding people who can support their children. We do have lots of problems, but many cities have areas that have similar problems too.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Why are the kids allowed to stay with the parents? Where the heck is children services?

 

[Rebelmom67]

I see the "Mountain Dew mouth" as the exact same thing that happens in "Meth mouth".

In a patient addicted to Meth, they will sip Mountain Dew to prolong the "high" they get from meth, due to the high caffeine content. I have no idea if there is a high incidence of Meth use in Appalachia, but I wonder if there is a connection. Sad either way you cut it.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I don't want people to get the wrong impression from this report on 20/20. This is an economically depressed area and there are many who live in poverty. But not all of us do. Most people are hard working, law abiding people who can support their children. We do have lots of problems, but many cities have areas that have similar problems too.

I understand. It's the same way with inner city communities.

Many of us living here are college educated, middle class... If you listen to the media, you’ll think we’re all collecting welfare, dealing/using drugs, don’t care about education...

 

[pepperw23]

I don't want people to get the wrong impression from this report on 20/20. This is an economically depressed area and there are many who live in poverty. But not all of us do. Most people are hard working, law abiding people who can support their children. We do have lots of problems, but many cities have areas that have similar problems too.

I figured as much.

O/T: Where the heck is that tree? Oh my goodness that is a big tree.

 

[tennvalgirl]

looks like a giant redwood tree

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I understand. It's the same way with inner city communities.

Many of us living here are college educated, middle class... If you listen to the media, you’ll think we’re all collecting welfare, dealing/using drugs, don’t care about education...

It's not true, is it! I just resent the fact that if someone knew where I am from they presumes that I am uneducated, ignorant, living in poverty, etc. when the facts are that I work with kids every day to try and help them improve their lives. You know, if some DISers heard my accent they would automatically think that I am dumb! Not knowing that I have a Master's Degree and an in-demand job that I could make a lot more somewhere else. But this is where my family is.

Anyway, enough with my rant. You are cool, DisneyJunkie, keep your chin up.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I figured as much.

O/T: Where the heck is that tree? Oh my goodness that is a big tree.

That was in Yosemite National Park. See, we Appalachian people travel too It is a giant Sequoia in the Mariposa Grove.

 

[flying_babyb]

nice not to be the one starting the 20/20 thead. It pathetic, some of these people could make it and become better. I mean What are they doing with the money they get for selling drugs? Im not avodacting drug sales for money but come on, if your gonna sell Use it to make your family better. Its nice to see some families trying to be better. Also was I the only one who noticed some of the older people are umm chubby?

 

[pepperw23]

That was in Yosemite National Park. See, we Appalachian people travel too It is a giant Sequoia in the Mariposa Grove.

Really cool!

I'm really glad someone could donate the money for you and your family to be able to travel. Were you able to bring your drugs and Mountain Dew?

I hope you know I am kidding.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Also was I the only one who noticed some of the older people are umm chubby?

There are umm chubby people in all communities.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Really cool!

I'm really glad someone could donate the money for you and your family to be able to travel. Were you able to bring your drugs and Mountain Dew?

I hope you know I am kidding.

**Funny** We were wondering how we could get our moonshine on the plane but figured that the felony charge was enough of a deterrent Kidding too, I love living here and don't want to leave.

 

[flying_babyb]

I guess what im saying is if there so poor that they cant afford food where the extra pounds from?

 

[tennvalgirl]

Food stamps supply them with enough money to eat junk food, and stuff their kids with junk food to keep them quiet.

 

[pepperw23]

**Funny** We were wondering how we could get our moonshine on the plane but figured that the felony charge was enough of a deterrent Kidding too, I love living here and don't want to leave.

well tarnation girl! Don't ya know dat' moonshine gots to be drunk up afore ya git on da plane? Geeze you dag nab Western V'Gininan's. Us southern V'Ginian's gotta show ya'll everythin.

In all seriousness I have been out that way, it is really a beautiful area. It is near Pound Va right? My DS had a baseball tournament there a couple of years ago. I really loved the way people treated each other. Everyone was so nice and the folks I met seemed to really care about the community. They welcomed all of us with open arms too. It was good times.

I am not much of a mountain girl I discovered though. The roads scare me. I am more of a beach girl. Nice and flat here at the beach.