tfp17

"THE FINE PRINT"

The musings of Michael Schrader

     A FEUD IS ONLY JEALOUSY IF THE FEELING ISN'T MUTUAL
(Written December 1994; previously unpublished. Posted in toto with Preface and Epilogue 31 July 2001)

PREFACE -- The second of two columns written on the same day about the attitude of Park Hills. Like the first, this one was also not published. (See Notes for Column #16)

         There has been much discussion recently over the so-called "feud" between Desloge and Farmington North. In one a these discussions, it was concluded that since a Desloge resident did not know a Flat River resident (this was, of course, before the creation of Farmington North), the Deslogian resident was a snob and thought the Flat Riverite was inferior and not worthy of associating with. That may be true; however, it may also be true that the Deslogian had no reason to go to Flat River and therefore would not know a Flat Riverite.
      The fundamental flaw with all of the recent discussion of the so-called "feud" is that it assumes that Deslogians must go to Farmington North for some reason or another and therefore their lack of association with Farmington-Northers is because Deslogians are snobs. Deslogians probably don't associate with Farmington-Northers because they don't have any reason to.
       What reason would a Deslogian have to go to Farmington North?   Not for schools, since Desloge is in a different school district. For shopping? Desloge has a supermarket and a Wal-mart. To eat? Desloge has restaurants.    The only thing that Farmington North has that Desloge doesn't have is a movie theater, and how many people actually watch movies in theaters these days? (I can count on one hand the number of movies I've seen at the theater in the past five years.)
        Therefore, since a resident of Desloge has no reason to go to Farmington North, then, maybe, just maybe, a Deslogian would not associate with a Farmington-Norther because that Deslogian has not had the opportunity to.
        It makes one wonder if the so-called resentment of Farmington North by Desloge is not in actuality the manifestation of a sizable inferiority complex possessed by those Farmington-Northers who actually have the time to worry about it.
        Despite protests to the contrary, the hatred of Park Hills (oops, I meant Farmington North) by Desloge is actually a hatred of Desloge by Farmington North. Why resentment of Desloge? First of all, Flat River needed Desloge's land. Desloge, along with Leadington and Bonne Terre, has the best highway frontage in the county.   Travelers on US 67 have to pass through Desloge. Unfortunately for Flat River, once the new 67 was built, it was left with practically no highway frontage. Passers-by did not have to go through Flat River. Desloge grew, while Flat River stagnated. (If you don't believe me, check the census.) Second, and most important, Desloge, by not joining in the consolidation, foiled Flat River's dreams of once again becoming the largest city in St. Francois County.
         As stated in one of the recent discussions, Flat River "had it in" for Farmington. After all, Farmington did replace Flat River as the county's largest city and commercial hub. Only with Desloge's help could Flat River beat Farmington. Desloge refused. Thus even with the consolidation, Flat River could not beat Farmington. Before consolidation, Flat River was without highway frontage and the second largest city in the county. After consolidation, Flat River was landlocked and the second largest city in the county. Thus, despite the valiant effort, Flat River failed to achieve its goal.
        Sadly, to many in the county, Farmington North is perceived as a sore loser vindictively attacking those (i.e. Leadington and Desloge) who decided it was in their own best interests to not consolidate. To be perceived as a jealous sore loser is not the type of image any community needs. Especially a brand new community.
       Stop the vindictiveness and jealousy before it’s too late. The price to be paid for such attitudes could be the rapid demise of the new improved Flat River.

EPILOGUE -- I saw the same kind of resentment between Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas. Little Rock viewed its smaller neighbor with disgust ever since the north side of the Arkansas River seceded from the city on the South Side. Over the years the north side became known as “Dogtown” because the Little Rock dogcatchers would release their animals in North Little Rock. Little Rock found every opportunity to subjugate North Little Rock, with the most recent episode involving the placement of the Bill Clinton Library. (Much vacant land was available on the north side.) As with Desloge to Park Hills in 1994, North Little Rock views Little Rock with indifference.