Californicate: another take

[Peter A. McGraw]

Whatever the ramifications of "Californicate" as used in various places, in
this view from "south of the border" the word is seen as focusing directly
on the movement of people, even if the movement is only temporary.
(Excerpt from an article in the SF Chronicle.)

Peter Mc.

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Monday, March 25, 2002
Subject: SF Gate: Our friendly neighbors to the north (fwd)

     THIS YEAR, WHAT with the economy and airplane security measures and all
that, many people are making plans to vacation closer to home. For some on
the West Coast, that may mean a trip to exotic, unknown Oregon.
     Some of you may already have been to Ashland. Ashland is not Oregon.
Ashland is a not-yet-formally-annexed part of California. The real Oregon,
in all its complexity, is elsewhere.
     Bend. Eugene. Coos Bay. The Dalles. These words ring with the mystery
     that has made Oregon a mecca for poets, painters, German tourists and
Japanese lumber executives.
     Why are we so reluctant to visit this international destination?
     Because people in Oregon hate Californians. Yes, unreasoning ethnic
hostility is an unfortunate part of this primitive land. "Don't
Californicate Oregon," the signs say, and "Welcome to Oregon: Now Go Home."
     People with California license plates suddenly find motels "full up."
     Walk into a bar in Oregon and order a Long Island iced tea, and you'll
be told that "Tuesday is hunters-only night."
     People from California would be well-advised to downplay their origins.
     Do not use phrases like "It's all good" or "That's so wrong." Say
instead: "I am fine" and "No problem here." Do not wear T-shirts with funny
slogans; wear instead four-color T-shirts with detailed representations of
automobiles, women, ducks or all three.
     And don't bring up Berkeley. Just don't. More trouble than it's
worth....

[snip]

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2002 SF Chronicle


---------- End Forwarded Message ----------r





---------- End Forwarded Message ----------



****************************************************************************
                               Peter A. McGraw
                   Linfield College   *   McMinnville, OR
                            pmcgraw at linfield.edu