Истинный вест-вирджинец определяется не происхождением, а вкладом в общество

Few questions spark more debate in the Mountain State than “What makes a real West Virginian?” What if you’ve been here one generation, not six? Do you still count? Here’s the truth: Being a true West Virginian has to do with generosity of spirit, not just genealogy. Do you give more than you take? The capaciousness of your soul is a good litmus test. But we don’t always welcome the stranger. We can be clannish. Myopic. We can be big-hearted, too. Not an easy place for newcomers In a place long exploited, identity becomes a shield we cling to. Suspicion comes first, trust second. We are wary of outsiders. Newcomers may feel excluded at first. I encourage you to keep persisting, because our history speaks of a multicultural reality — a land of strangers working together. In the late 1800s, a language symphony filled the mines: Italian, Polish, Spanish, Hungarian, Slovakian. All races labored together. And that single narrative most often portrayed in West Virginia autobiographies? It’s just one story. We contain multitudes. W.Va. residents never forget their roots Take Senior White House Correspondent for CBS News Weijia Jiang, for example. Her family still lives in Buckhannon. She made us proud on July 24. She delivered the best speech of the night at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, in front of President Donald Trump and the world. She told Trump, “The First Amendment is a done deal.” Right on. She also reflected on Buckhannon. Her father attended grad school at West Virginia University. Her parents opened a Chinese restaurant. They worked as many as 18 hours a day so their daughter could reach for the stars. Jiang spoke of diners sometimes leaving deer meat as tips, which “turns out, is really good in a stir fry,” she added. She thanked her eighth-grade public school teacher, Dianne Williams, and teacher Julia Conley at Buckhannon-Upshur High School for supporting her media aspirations. Jiang’s story reminds us that if we invest in public schools, dreams are possible. Not a perfect place Being a minority, Jiang was sometimes bullied. Sadly, such bigotry persists. It is fueled by laws like Senate Bill 474. Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed it in July 2025. Can you believe it? He thought banning the word “diversity” from college programs would end diversity. What a joke. And don’t forget "Operation Country Roads" where Morrisey kowtowed to Trump’s mission for deportation quotas, rounding up immigrants, some here legally. Last I checked, the Trump regime had gifted Immigration and Customs Enforcement $85 billion. It’s shameful, primarily because immigrants and new folks make West Virginia thrive. Ever been to the hospital? Ever had someone fix your heart or brain? They are often immigrants making positive contributions daily. Some of our best aren't W.Va. natives I’ll reiterate my thesis: You don’t have to be “from” here to be “of” here. And some of our best moved here on purpose. Thousands of back-to-the-landers moved here in the 1960s and 70s. They were fed up with Vietnam and consumerism and wanted lives closer to nature. Many became deeply integrated as community advocates, teachers, farmers, artists and small business owners. Their contributions are legend. Their pride runs deep as our myriad cave systems. Take one Fayetteville woman for example. She told me, “Nobody is more zealous than a first-generation West Virginian.” She said, “I believe in our state deeply.” She arrived during the rock-climbing and white-water boom in the 1970s. She appreciated the lack of pretense and the enterprising spirit. She raised her family here and never left. She has hosted potlucks for over 30 years, taught and helped build her community. She is proud of the arts and outdoor renaissance percolating in Fayetteville today. She adds: “Everyone gets to have their own West Virginia story.” And I’m here to say, who cares if you were born here if your moral compass is broken? For instance, Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., was West Virginia born and raised. That hasn’t stopped him from befouling our land and exploiting our workers. In 2024, his family-owned Greenbrier Hotel Corporation failed to pay millions into employee health insurance funds, even though money was deducted from workers’ paychecks. It’s despicable. And Morrisey? He’s been here 20 years and will never be a West Virginian. Why? We only claim those we trust. Now, to be fair, telling someone you’re a West Virginian after just moving here might be hasty. After all, it takes time to build roots anywhere. Okay, so you’ve put in the time. Simple, enough, right? Well, not exactly. It takes genuine care. We detect fakery. We know if you are treating us equally or in an inferior manner. The tone is obvious; the words, telling. Because it’s the integrity of your spine as much as the length of your roots that determines your West Virginia-ness. You show it by showing up for our state and people. So, come one, come all. For all its rough edges, West Virginia is messy, warm and generous. It has room for all who love her honestly. Let the pretenders sort themselves out.