To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Ethan Fry’s commentary in the Jan. 31 edition of The Mirror. Mr. Fry’s entire article was just one big put-down of Long Island. Of course, as one who has lived there all her life, I took personal offense. I am in no way saying that Long Island is the greatest place to live, but it and its residences do not deserve the things that were said in that article.
Mr. Fry completely bashed Long Island, but he did not give any factual evidence for why he believes it is – oh – how did he so eloquently put it? Ah yes, the “fifth ring of hell.” The “mindless materialism” he says he experienced while spending time with friends from Long Island cannot be applied to all Long Islanders. That would be like saying all Southerners are rednecks or believing that all Russians are Commies. This just is not so. True, Long Island does have many wealthy neighborhoods where materialism tends to run rampant, but it also has its middle and lower class sections, as do most areas around the country.
To make such a generalization of Long Island and the people who live there is mindless.
Of course there are people like those Mr. Fry spoke of. I grew up with some of them. I am from one of those wealthy towns where many of the people have money and talk of nothing else but their vacations here and there and what car their ‘daddies’ were going to buy them next.
Although I was surrounded by people like this my whole life, I am quiet different from them. I do not vacation in the Hamptons or Montauk and I have not been corrupted by the materialism Mr. Fry spoke of.
And contrary to your belief, Mr. Fry, a large number of Long Islanders are not how you picture them to be. Mr. Fry, if I’m not mistaken, you live in Connecticut. Connecticut in itself is quite a wealthy state, am I right? In fact, there are some towns in Connecticut where the wealth is equal to or surpasses the wealth of many towns on Long Island.
Now, would I be right to say that perhaps in these wealthy towns there too could be much materialism among residences? Or are the wealthy of Connecticut a different breed than that of Long Island? I highly doubt it. See, the kind of attitude you think is reserved for Long Islanders can be found all over the country and even the world. Why limit it all to one little area?
Have you even been to Long Island Mr. Fry? You must have, to be able to write such an in-depth article about it and its people. But really, I think it’s sad that in this day and age and at a school like Fairfield where we are all suppose to be ‘enlightened minds,’ a person could make such a harsh generalization that is based not on truth, but rather on experiences he has had with only a small number of people.
If everyone followed your example, think of how the world would be. And who are you to decide who is decent or not? Judging from your article, it is a good thing you do not decide. In conclusion, I would like to thank you for writing your article. It just proves that ignorance still exists, even among young, educated minds.
Sincerely,
Kate Meyer
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