What outsiders often don't realize about Pennsylvania...
Last edited Sat Aug 6, 2022, 03:10 PM - Edit history (1)
I spent my first 69 years in Pennsylvania before moving to the Jersey shore, so I believe I know what I’m talking about.
Pennsylvania is in and of itself a fascinating yet quirky state. You have to realize, that we grew up being told rightfully that the United States of America was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Constitution was written and ratified here. The Betsy Ross house where the first flag was sewn is right down the street, the first capital was here, and on top of everything else Pennsylvania has numerically more cities, towns, and hamlets than any other state in the United States. While it is true that in a very real sense we are Alabama in between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, we are all very much Pennsylvanians and feel a tremendous loyalty to the state, pardon me, the commonwealth, and to its institutions. However, we have had to play second fiddle to New York, California, and now Florida and even Texas as important states which contribute to the greater good. Pennsylvanians know that we have most likely the best healthcare facilities and education in the country, that we supply tremendous amount of research and development in pharmaceuticals and technology, that our Dairy land is almost unparalleled, And that there are tremendous natural resources here. We have been eclipsed by other states and the populace is somewhat resentful in that regard. When I was a kid, we were third in population and due to the growth of other states we are slowly dropping down the list. Our sports teams are usually also-ran, however we have diehard fans of franchises or colleges all over the state. Steeler fans are loyal to their team as our Eagles fans who claim to bleed green. The Phillies and Pirates are among the original teams of the National League, and although their longitudinal records are less than stellar, they have been the sites of some amazing baseball. Penn State is one of the great college franchises in the United States, and unfortunately fell prey to that abuse nightmare a number of years ago, and it took some time for recovery.
Our outgoing governor Tom Wolf was by no means an extraordinarily charismatic individual, but he had all the bona fides you would need to be elected statewide, and was and is in every way a Pennsylvanian. The same goes for lieutenant governor Fetterman who personifies the true working class Pennsylvanian who understands the peculiar vagaries of the state and its inhabitants. He is also a truth teller and not a bullshit artist. For the moment, I will mention him here: Dr. Oz is not a Pennsylvanian, has no concept of what is going on in the state, is economically so far removed from the citizens here that it’s embarrassing, is foreign born, clearly a resident of the somewhat reviled New Jersey, and is unfortunately for him completely lacking in Pennsylvania charisma.
Wherever you come from in the state, you have enormous loyalty to the Products and entities which emanate from your region. For example, if you’re a Philadelphian, you love particular aspects of cheesesteaks, of Tastykakes, the Phillies and Eagles without question, soft pretzels, the geography and delineation of the city, the different qualities and personalities of the public and parochial schools and the neighborhoods which they serve, the Big Five college basketball teams, and other local peculiarities. I cannot speak as a Pittsburgher because I am not one, but my father was, and he had unswerving loyalties to a variety of things which were peculiar to that city and its environs including but not limited to the professional teams, the beers, and the three rivers which are associated with the city. . I did work for some time in North Central Pennsylvania, otherwise known as Podunk/Alabama, and in that area, although possessing primitive conservative politics, and the deep racism in many cases, the people there understood the nature of what state functions were, the manner in which the roads were paved and maintained, the importance of rural infrastructure and its preservation, and they were without question Pennsylvanians by birth and mistrusted anyone not from their area but definitely if they were not from the state.
When Governor Thornburgh presided over the 3 Mile Island crisis in 1979, and came to the attention of Republican establishment, he was made Attorney General many many years ago, but when he returned to Pennsylvania he no longer acted like a Pennsylvanian. He spent most of his time at the Duquesne club hobnobbing with rich people, and promptly lost an election to the United States Senate to a former college president Harris Wofford. The national media completely misread this election, and stated Wofford won because of his positions on healthcare. That was bullshit. Thornburgh lost because he lost his Pennsylvania touch. It was simple as that.
In the upcoming election, you will see Mr. Shapiro trounce this tinhorn Hitler creep the Republicans put up, and you will see the mediocre doctor go down to defeat easily because Pennsylvania’s will not put up with this kind of nonsense. They want people out of their pocket books and wallets and out of their personal lives. And possibly most importantly they want a Pennsylvanian in the office. That is almost without question.
= new reply since forum marked as read
But, I am hopeful, we elect Tim Ryan and send carpetbagger Vance packing.
South Philly is red. Northeast Philly, especially the Far Northeast, has a lot of red spots. This is well-known about Philly.
Also....just because you never saw any Aryan (without your quotes) or confederate flags doesn't mean they have never been flown in this city. I've never seen the Phillies win a game live, but I know it happens. 
You can find photos and whatnot online, but this article talks about it's use in the metro region and names a few Phillyneighborhoods:
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/confederate-flag-regional-pride-racism-philadelphia/1971495/
Philly also has it's own KKK chapter (something something Christian Dixie Knights or whatever) among other SPLC hate groups.
It's called southern Illinois. The farther south you go in this state, the more you start feeling like you must have crossed the Mason-Dixon line without knowing it.
I haven't been down there in a long time, but I hear it's very, very Trumpy.
Last edited Sun Aug 7, 2022, 08:27 AM - Edit history (1)
You 'Philly' people need to remember the "h" in Pittsburgh! 
But seriously, I agree with the rest of your points - Mastriano IS scary - but I'm finding that some "R's" that I know are quietly hoping that he loses - but they won't openly admit it!
And then there's still the House and Senate...... 
Sorry about that! I fixed it in my comment. 
I'm seeing his signs up in the usual places around here, BUT they enthusiasm definitely seems subdued. I know a few GOP folks who are not happy with him and claim they are not voting for him.
"Let he that is without sin............" 
It comes and goes! ( https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/history/the-pittsburgh-h/ )
The Naming of Pittsburgh
Originally Fort Duquesne, the earliest known reference to the new name, Pittsburgh, is in a letter sent from General John Forbes to William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham, dated November 27, 1758. This letter notified Pitt that his name had been given to the place, spelled "Pittsbourgh." In the city charter, granted on March 18, 1816, the Pittsburgh spelling is used on the original document, but due to an apparent printing error, the "Pittsburg" spelling is found on official copies of the document printed at the time.
Pittsburgh Loses Its "H"
In 1891 the United States Board on Geographic Names adopted thirteen general principles to be used in standardizing place names, one of which was that place names ending in -burgh should drop the final -h. At this time the city's name was rendered "Pittsburg."
The Board supported its decision to rename Pittsburgh by referencing the printed copies of the 1816 city charter which featured the spelling Pittsburg rather than Pittsburgh. Based on those copies, the Board claimed that the official name of the city had always been Pittsburg. However, the members of the board seem to have been unaware that the original 1816 charter specified the name of the city to be Pittsburgh, and that only the copies of the charter featured the erroneous spelling "Pittsburg."
The "H" is Back!
The new official spelling was resisted by many people in the city. The Pittsburgh Gazette refused to adopt the Board's decision, as did the Pittsburgh Stock Exchange and the University of Pittsburgh. Official city documents continued to use the old spelling. Responding to mounting pressure, the Board reversed the decision on July 19, 1911, and the Pittsburgh spelling was restored after 20 years of contention.
Many cities across the United States named after the city of Pittsburgh, such as Pittsburg, Kansas, and Pittsburg, California, continue to use the "Pittsburg" spelling in their names. Other independent municipalities, such as the borough of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reflect the modern spelling.
John instinctively knows what you speak of is 100% true.
I am not a native, but I have lived in Pittsburgh for over 25 years. We are #PittsburghStrong. (And I include Western Pa too.)
Examples:
How the area reacted to the awful hate crime mass shooting in Squirrel Hill - with horror and repugnance. But with strength and love for the survivors too. (My wife's co-worker lost her husband in this tragedy.)
How the area reacted to NFL star running back (Erie Native) James Connor, who went to the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Steelers, and by the way defeated cancer while accomplishing all this. With Love and pride.
How the city that was once one of the dirtiest in the world overcame the 20th century economic loss of the steel industry, remade itself into a modern Green (literally - 3 of the Greenest Hi-rises in the world are in The Golden Triangle) Progressive Renaissance City in the 21st Century. With tenacity and Love.
How a progressive mayor helped the impoverished crime stricken town of Braddock become a hugely better place to raise a family. With Love and compassion.
I'll say that again: RENAISSANCE CITY. #PittsburghStrong 
John has taken this native love for our region and commonwealth, and our native distrust of outsiders, and made it into the 'Keystone' of his campaign for the US Senate.
I hereby propose #PennsylvaniaStrong. as one of the characteristics of his campaign that will lead to a huge victory in November.
#GOTV2022
#VOTEBLUE2022
#VOTEBLUEPA
I moved here…
It has its strengths. It’s blue first of all…
All reassuring and all. Pennsylvanians unite! GOTV and keep Pennsylvania for Pennsylvanians.
And for America, too.
In our travels we haven’t made it beyond Maryland, but it’s in the bucket list to go through the “Originals” up there.
My favorites are the snickerdoodles and apricot filled fingers.
After attending my first Pittsburgh wedding in 1993, I was in love with the state. Yuengling, The Pens on TV, Dancing the Hokey Pokey and COOKIES! What more could one want?
Well said, PCIntern.
I love your Allegheny National Forest area, with winter's golf ball-size snow flakes.
KY.......
Funny!
'sylvania' - In Latin Baby Names the meaning of the name Sylvania is: From the forest.
Thus:
Penn's Woods = Pennsylvania!
When you stay in one place for SO long you 'develop' theories about people from 'other' places. Living in western PA all of my life - as did my parents - I had 'learned' from my Dad that the 'worst' drivers in the world were from New York and the people that drove 'junkers' were always from Ohio!
As I grew older and met people from other places I later learned that those same attributes were always given to the people from the surrounding states where those people lived!
My parents joined the "white flight" into the Jersey 'burbs in the late 60's after my younger sister was born, but family roots remained in Philly, along with Dad's job with the government. If you stood at the window of Pat's and looked down the street, you'd see my grandmother's house. When we got married, my husband said the best piece of advice he got was from his boss (also a Philly native), "Just don't try to mess with her."
Yeah, there's something about that city that's special, and these guys just don't get it. I mean, I'll bet if you told either Dr. Oz or Mastriano to meet you at the Eagle, you'd get a blank stare back.
Oh, and my last (married) name is "Mummer". 