Published: May 03, 2008 11:49 pm            

VASICEK: The truth about Indiana

We are “naturalized” Hoosiers. My wife and I were both born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, and arrived in Kokomo 25 years ago. Our children were born and grew up in this fair city. We consider ourselves Hoosiers and our move to Kokomo among life’s most fortunate events.

Yet, according to the April 24 New York Times, that makes us resistant to change:

“With all the talk among the Democratic presidential hopefuls about change, they may wish to consider this as they wander Indiana: People here practically revolted a few years ago when their governor, Mitch Daniels, pushed to change to daylight saving time like most of the country ... Change, it seems, may not carry quite the same political magic in the state as it has elsewhere.”

So what gives? As an insider who once was an outsider, how do people in other regions look at us? Let me share a few thoughts about this matter.

Indiana has a track record for being monolithic, but that is not the same as saying Hoosiers are more resistant to change than other states. Webster defines monolithic as, “exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity.”

When we first moved to Indiana, we noticed a uniformity the likes of which we had never experienced in the Chicago area. You could predict the answers to these questions: What is your favorite sport? Basketball. Who is your favorite old time comedian? Red Skelton. What is your favorite food? Chicken and noodles. Favorite vegetable? Green beans cooked in bacon grease. Favorite soft drink: iced tea (and coffee drinkers were few and far between). If you were a man and you didn’t hunt or fish, you were in a slim minority.

Modern Hoosiers would prefer pizza, (sadly) do not know who Red Skelton is, and look at all those coffee joints!

But here is the point to note: When we came to Kokomo, Marylu and I answered all those questions “wrong” – and still people accepted us. Some narrow-minded people thought we were weird (maybe they were right?), but we melded exceptionally well into our church and community. We made friends and were accepted.

But how do we explain Indiana’s monolithic culture – does that mean we are particularly stubborn? The answer is isolation. Seventy-four percent of the population of Indianapolis was born within the state of Indiana, and only 7 percent are foreign born. In Chicago, 22 percent are foreign born. As a result, Hoosiers have not intermixed with immigrants (and their cultures) to the degree that much of the nation has. The “melting pot” in Indiana has been more like a “melting saucepan.” As a result, Hoosier viewpoints are more “old school” American viewpoints.

Indiana is not the rural stronghold it once was, but the rest of the nation has not noted this change. If you think about our classic songs (“Back Home Again in Indiana” or “On the Banks of the Wabash,”) the theme is constant: There is nothing in Indiana but the Wabash, new mown hay, and lonely old folks creaking along in rocking chairs.

We know Indiana has a lot to offer. Our fair city, in particular, has been a hotbed of creativity; we have championed so many innovations that we are rightly called “The City of Firsts.”

But this leads us to another question: What is wrong with “rural” anyway? As food prices escalate and the food shortage swells, it won’t be long until farmers are recognized as the heroes they are. We have to remember that the pitchfork precedes the kitchen fork.

We are often perceived as resistant to change because many Hoosiers are “values driven;” we understand that change can be for either the better or the worse. Since many of us embrace Judeo-Christian values, we believe in absolute truth. Relativists may view us as simply resistant to change, when, in fact, we value our convictions.

True, many New Yorkers would probably not enjoy moving to Indiana. But consider this: moving to New York would be a nightmare for many Hoosiers.



Ed Vasicek is pastor of Highland Park Church and a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.