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3 Editor:
In last Saturday’s paper, the letter from a former New Yorker is titled “A Yankee gives his views on ACC.” I query why the “Yankee” designation is necessary. Perhaps I have been of the mistaken opinion that we are a “United States of America.” We neither choose our ancestry nor our place of birth.
I am a Yankee by birth – from Pennsylvania and my husband is from Illinois. We met and married in California. Our children were born in California. We have a son in Illinois, who married a woman from Texas in Illinois after being widowed. We have grandchildren in Illinois. We have several grandchildren who were born in Texas, pus a great-grandchild born in Texas but now in Oklahoma and another great-grandchild born in Oklahoma.
We also have a son in law from Hawaii and another from Minnesota originally, who now resides in Texas. I also had a brother who migrated from Pennsylvania to Texas.
We have relatives scattered around the United States.
In conclusion, I would like to add we have many “rebel” friends here and friends from other states residing here, plus many Hispanic friends. We are all God’s children, though we may differ in speech, shades of color or opinions.
Are we at this time of national security the United States? I have had many relatives fight for all of our freedom and some gave their lives.
Mary Burcar
Paige
Mary where have you been? My son in law a born Texan refers to yankees. I do not take offense. Funny thing in the north we never refer to a person from south of the mason dixon line as a Rebel or southerner. In fact that history is not on anyones minds up north. Only when entering the south does the distinction come up. Oh, I am a northerner from Lincolnland. Some things just die harder than others. You are right, we are one nation now if you know how to get everyone aboard you will have performed a miracle.
I think the writer used the “Yankee” designation to illustrate the heavy tax burden those living in many of the northern states live under. The more population density, the higher the tax rate. New York for instance has city, county, property, income and sales tax and the rates are high. I suspect his “Yankee” perspective, regarding taxes, he has been there and done that, and is warning us not to fall into the same tax trap. Unfortunately if his neighbors vote in the AUSTIN Community College TAXING District, the “Yankee’s” will have nothing on us!
I have been refered to as a “yankee” many times since I moved to Texas by coworkers and neighbors. What I find so funny about this is I hail from the beautiful state of Arizona! Am I really a “Yankee”?