If these mountains could talk, if they could tell their secrets, we might be astounded at what we could learn. Appalachia and its people have long held their secrets, their stories. A proud people, a culture that has withstood not only the harsh realities of mountain life but the interference from outsiders since the beginning.

The people of Appalachia came to the mountains from far away places, mostly of Scots-Irish descent. Finding the piedmont and tidewater areas already occupied, they continued on to the mountains where they settled and took up the task of trying to raise families and live off the land. They had a strong love and an even stronger respect for the moutains. Farming became a way of life, they needed nothing but a plow, a hearty mule and a strong back. Fishing, hunting and gathering herbs supplimented what they raised on the mountainsides.

It was not an easy task, raising a family here. The winters were harsh, summers brought drought or an over-abundance of rain. Crops failed but neighbors helped neighbors, forging a "neighborhood" bond that withstood the test of time and trouble. The hard life helped to create a culture, a people who believed in working hard, depending on and caring for your own. Pride in that culture ran deep, a man without pride was not a man at all.

No doubt, when people refer to Appalachia (without the final "n") they are referring to the Southern Appalachian region. Because of perceived geographical, social, and economic isolation of the so-called Appalachia, the place and its people have long been seen as backward and unsociable. The movie "Deliverance" went a long way towards perpetuating that stereotypical myth. In fact, the opposite was and is true. The people of Appalachia have a strong sense of family, of neighborliness, of right and wrong. They also have an independent spirit that has been evident for centuries. It was in the Appalachians that colonists first declared independence from Great Britain. In northeastern Tennessee, the Watauga Association dissolved the bonds with the Crown and formed their own government in 1772. "They were," as Theodore Roosevelt described them, "the first men of American birth to establish a free and independent community on the continent."

This sterotypical image of the Appalachian people probably came about due to the suspiciousness they felt for the outsider, the people who came to Appalachia with no intention of residing here, of becoming part of its culture, instead they came to rape the land, and to exploit the people in their quest to secure the resources beneath the surface of these majestic mountains.

Throughout the history of Appalachia, "outsiders" have come. At first, as stated earlier, they came with their machines to mine rich resources found beneath the surface of the soil and for the strong timber found in its trees. They left deep scars on the mountainsides and within the hearts of the people who called the area "home". They brought commerce to the region, but it was not those who lived here who became rich. They were paid a mere pittance compared to the riches that were taken from the area.

Years later, people began to see the resources above the ground: the beauty in the mountains, the rich, fertile valleys, the clear flowing streams and the wildlife that also call this area home. They brought commerce in the form of tourism. Where once, eagles flew above the tree-tops and bear, deer, raccoon, and squirrels foraged for food among the trees and leaves, the sound of man and machinery are once again being heard. Although the federal government has proclaimed much of the mountains as protected area, the evidence of "outsiders" continues to leave it's mark and take it's toll.

But the more things change, the more they remain the same. Just as when they came with the intention of bringing "culture" and enlightenment, of educating the "backward and uncivilized" Appalachian people, they met with an unending pride and an enbending resolve: we still refuse to allow "outsiders" to dictate how we live. Oh, we'll listen to their words, we'll smile and make all the right gestures, we'll be polite and hospitable but inside, we remain the same. The beauty, the freedom, the serenity and the security of our mountains allows us that priviledge. And I shall remain, forever, captive of my beloved Appalachia.

(Note: The term "outsider" is in no way used to identify those who come to our beautiful mountains for the peace and serenity and leave with an appreciation for what they have enjoyed. It refers to those who come with the intention of material gain through manipulation or exploitation of the mountains or her people.)

The midi you are listening to is entitled "Mist Covered Mountains". It was sequenced by Barry Taylor. I got it @ http://www.dulcimers.com/music/midis.shtml.