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swampoodler t1_j55481k wrote

People who hate ‘transplants’ are at heart xenophobic.

In this country you have no right to a place because you were born in a place; it’s a free country. Someone who chooses to move to a city is at least making a conscious decision to do so, as opposed to just suddenly existing in and never leaving that place.

What matters: Do you call this place home and do you want to make it better?

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Devastator1981 OP t1_j557l5q wrote

There's nothing wrong with transplants, hopefully that's not what you got out of my post, happy to edit if that's it the impression.

I'm just pushing back on the "everyone is a transplant here" mantra.

<< Do you call this place home and do you want to make it better? >>

Totally agree.

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swampoodler t1_j55dvms wrote

Ah no not directed at you. Just the general reader. You good. ❤️

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whojintao t1_j57tdxg wrote

Appreciate this, as some approaching Year Seven in DC - which is wayyy longer than the time I’ve spent in any other city, barring my parent’s residence. I consider DC home now, and it’s a bit disheartening at times to be made to feel that i’ll never be “local” because I wasn’t born here.

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swampoodler t1_j58ubty wrote

Being a “native” is dumb AF unless you are indigenous IMO. Folk need to chill. This is our city. If you live here you local.

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NattysfortheNatty t1_j55xgr5 wrote

I generally agree with this sentiment. I just think my and others frustration is not that “everyone is from somewhere else” but that “everyone is from somewhere else, and they’d seemingly rather be there and are working to get back there once/if they can get a decent job there.”

It just feels like it contributed to the very transitory nature of the area, which is just a bummer for establishing stable friend groups/relationships. I’m sure others have had better experiences, but that’s certainly been mine as born and raised DMV’er

Edit to add: and you do feel that the people with more “family/local ties” to an area are less likely to end up leaving in the future

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galore_ t1_j5amlfe wrote

LMAO this is totally the spirit behind colonialism and manifest destiny. The reason why people DO NOT like transients/transplants and despise gentrification its because it's a descendant of colonialism.

Like if we had the opportunity to ask the guys who came here and killed tons of natives to take their land... i'm more than sure they'd share a similar sentiment as yours.

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swampoodler t1_j5aokij wrote

Literally DC is a result of colonialism.

Closing the door after the fox is in the hen house, IMO.

The US today is a free and open country when it comes to travel and choice of residence. Don’t excuse xenophobia. This city, like this country, is made out of the many.

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overnighttoast t1_j5fhuqj wrote

>People who hate ‘transplants’ are at heart xenophobic

I mean, if people came into your home, pushed out your friends, started erasing the culture, and made little effort to engage with you, then turned around and complained that "no one is REALLY from here" and "well you'll find much more culture in LA or NYC" you'd probably hate them too, but go off I guess.

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swampoodler t1_j5fkxpn wrote

No one is busting into someone’s home and taking it. SMH.

The US is a young country and constantly in flux when it comes to both culture and identity.

Should things be more equitable? Yes. Should we try to stop change? No.

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