I guess you could say I doing a tourist plug for New York State, but not really. I have lived my entire life in rural, Western New York: Smack between Buffalo and Rochester; about an hour from Niagara Falls; a stone's throw from Letchworth State Park; Watkins Glen; and either of the lakes, Ontario or Erie. All beautiful places to visit.
I live in small town farm country: Green pastures; golden fields of wheat and fields of swaying corn...Some say they can listen to the corn grow on quiet evenings. And let's not forget the cows. I jokingly say the cows outnumber the people in my neck of the woods. Farm country is an entity onto its own. Spring, Summer, and Fall, are seasons of planting, tending and harvesting. Norman Rockwell would have been in his glory in small town New York.
We, as Western New Yorker's, can experience four seasons in a twenty four hour period, no kidding. We have gone from temperatures of negative ten degrees, to plus fifty degrees in a matter of days. Not so good for the immune system
New York State has it all. We can hop in the car and drive thirty minutes to view rolling hills of incredible beauty, or set course across state to the majestic Adirondack mountains, and Thousand Islands. We can head north a ways and walk the beaches of Lake Ontario, or wander among the apple orchards. Late winter is maple syrup time, and Autumn in New York State is an incredible masterpiece of color: vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges burst on the scene, taking our breath away. God truly does good work.
Over the years I have dreamed of living in other states, warmer states. South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia; all gorgeous; all warmer. The strange thing is, however, that no matter how beautiful these other states are, no matter how much warmer they can be, when we end our vacations and cross over into New York I feel we are coming home. And when we actually drive into our small town...I am home.
I live in small town farm country: Green pastures; golden fields of wheat and fields of swaying corn...Some say they can listen to the corn grow on quiet evenings. And let's not forget the cows. I jokingly say the cows outnumber the people in my neck of the woods. Farm country is an entity onto its own. Spring, Summer, and Fall, are seasons of planting, tending and harvesting. Norman Rockwell would have been in his glory in small town New York.
We, as Western New Yorker's, can experience four seasons in a twenty four hour period, no kidding. We have gone from temperatures of negative ten degrees, to plus fifty degrees in a matter of days. Not so good for the immune system
New York State has it all. We can hop in the car and drive thirty minutes to view rolling hills of incredible beauty, or set course across state to the majestic Adirondack mountains, and Thousand Islands. We can head north a ways and walk the beaches of Lake Ontario, or wander among the apple orchards. Late winter is maple syrup time, and Autumn in New York State is an incredible masterpiece of color: vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges burst on the scene, taking our breath away. God truly does good work.
Over the years I have dreamed of living in other states, warmer states. South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia; all gorgeous; all warmer. The strange thing is, however, that no matter how beautiful these other states are, no matter how much warmer they can be, when we end our vacations and cross over into New York I feel we are coming home. And when we actually drive into our small town...I am home.
I love our state. Always have, always will. Something has drastically changed in the past month, however, that has tarnished the beauty of our state. On January 24, 2019 our state's governing officials passed the bill, making it legal for a woman to have an abortion up to and including the time of the baby's birth...and after. The law was passed amid jubilant cheers and shouts. Our Governor very proudly and defiantly announced that New York City is the capital of abortion. He also announced that our state has no room for "radically conservative Christians" who support life. As far as he's concerned we can all just pack our bags and leave.
So why am I writing this article about my state? After this law was passed, I was reading comments from people around the country to do with this decision, and I was brought to tears. New York State was deemed by some as evil, a place they would never step foot in. We were all doomed to hell. My tears quickly turned to straight-out anger. Anger at our representatives, who in no way spoke for the majority of the people of our state, but as a result of their actions tarnished us as a whole.
These new laws have taken abortion over line into infanticide. Tiny, helpless babies can now be slain right up to the time they are born, and beyond. And what happens to these babies? Are they given a burial by the families? Some may, but most don't. Many are sold for body parts, and experimentation, (It's all about money) or others are disposed of as toxic waste. All suffered horribly before their deaths.
New York State, and New York City, even though considered to be one entity, aren't. New York City may be the capital of abortion, but so many of us in the state of New York State support life. Our Governor and other representatives, who tend to forget Up-State and Western New York exist, did not speak for us. If they had the result would likely have been entirely different. No matter your stand on abortion, these new laws are nothing to be cheered about.
Our culture as a whole is changing rapidly, faster than I could ever imagine. These new laws are just one example. But, the message I need to put out there is these new laws do not speak for us as a whole. This is a beautiful state, filled with wonderful people. People of all beliefs. For the most part we respect one another. So, to answer those people who said they would never step foot in this evil state; that's your choice. But, know this; New York State is a wonderful place to live. It's my home.
So why am I writing this article about my state? After this law was passed, I was reading comments from people around the country to do with this decision, and I was brought to tears. New York State was deemed by some as evil, a place they would never step foot in. We were all doomed to hell. My tears quickly turned to straight-out anger. Anger at our representatives, who in no way spoke for the majority of the people of our state, but as a result of their actions tarnished us as a whole.
These new laws have taken abortion over line into infanticide. Tiny, helpless babies can now be slain right up to the time they are born, and beyond. And what happens to these babies? Are they given a burial by the families? Some may, but most don't. Many are sold for body parts, and experimentation, (It's all about money) or others are disposed of as toxic waste. All suffered horribly before their deaths.
New York State, and New York City, even though considered to be one entity, aren't. New York City may be the capital of abortion, but so many of us in the state of New York State support life. Our Governor and other representatives, who tend to forget Up-State and Western New York exist, did not speak for us. If they had the result would likely have been entirely different. No matter your stand on abortion, these new laws are nothing to be cheered about.
Our culture as a whole is changing rapidly, faster than I could ever imagine. These new laws are just one example. But, the message I need to put out there is these new laws do not speak for us as a whole. This is a beautiful state, filled with wonderful people. People of all beliefs. For the most part we respect one another. So, to answer those people who said they would never step foot in this evil state; that's your choice. But, know this; New York State is a wonderful place to live. It's my home.
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