[sc06cheer]

The whole point of the show was to show the poverty in the area. The whole "Hidden America". If they had shown all of the good in the area, what makes that a "Hidden America". There are success stories everywhere in America. I live in Eastern KY and although I am not from here, I thought they could have gone without some things shown on the documentary. However, where I am from, you can find people like that as well. It is not just in Eastern KY that it is happening. We were just fortunate enough to have this area shown on national television. People are complaining about it and how it makes the area look bad, but the fact of the matter is it is here. There are people like that. Most people turn their heads and look the other way when they see it, but Diane Sawyer just brought it to light. Perhaps now it will spark a change and some outside assistance to help those less fortunate in the area. I think the fact that Shawn Grimm is being offered more scholarships and a second chance is something positive that has come from it. I for one don't see why he didn't make it at Pikeville College, but maybe it takes getting away from the area so he can see what else is out there to actually push him to make his life better. It is hard for me to feel sorry for people who aren't wanting to make their lives better. I do feel sorry for the children because they don't have a choice as to how their parents raise them. What they do have is an opportunity to make their lives better once they graduate high school. Shawn has this opportunity...AGAIN..and I hope for him that he takes advantage of it.
The parents shown on the show living in filth are choosing to do so. It doesn't matter what size your house is or what kind of car you drive, but living in filth is a CHOICE. Choosing to have diapers and garbage lying all over is a choice and I can't feel sorry for someone choosing to live in those conditions. Giving a child mountain dew in a bottle is not okay and using the excuse "we can't afford groceries" is pathetic since you are smoking a cigarette with tattoos on your body. How much do those cigarettes cost? Buy your children some milk! People like that just want an excuse...they can't afford it. Well in today's age, you work for what you have. If you are perfectly capable of working then don't complain about not having money. I work for what I have. The truth of the matter is people just aren't willing to do it. They want everything handed to them and if it's not, they complain about not being as fortunate as others. Well those other people who have the nice houses, cars, etc.. have them by working and making something of themselves. Not by sitting at home smoking cigarettes, wondering when it is someone is going to hand you a better life. You have to earn it!

Good post. But no offense, if you're not or originally from here like you said then it's probably not going to urk you as much as it does others. I don't know how long you've lived here, but I've seen this stuff my whole life of how we're a "Hidden America." Whenever I'd go other places I'd get asked questions of "Do you have running water, do you wear shoes, do you chase chickens in the morning, do you even have a bathroom in your house now" And this was all in the late 90's and early 00's. They've already done plenty of shoes about this place, and many changes ARE taking place. You are right in saying that people do make the choice to live with trash and stuff in their yards, but sad to say, them being put on TV isn't going to change them. This will go on for a few more months at the most of people wanting to help the Appalachian area, then it will be swept back under the rug and everyone will go back to pointing laughing and making fun of this area until another TV show is done.

It's the same thing over and over again, and I think most people's point is that we're just tired of being portrayed as a "Hidden America." It's not hidden, trust me everyone knows what goes on in this area, they just choose their points in time to make fun or it or try to act big and bad and "help" us.