As often happens, people who want an answer can find it in their own question. If Beth Doughty wants to know why they have trouble promoting the Roanoke image, they should try promoting Roanoke – and drop the image.
When they ask businesses to come here it should not be to change the land and the people as if we are broken. They talk to us and I presume to others as if native ways are wrong and only when this backward area is forced into the molds of other cities will it be worthwhile. These cities have different influences, climate and land.
Above all our talents and strengths are what we need, not the “good ways” from other places, no matter how well they might work for them.
Roanoke is made up of citizens from all parts of the world – it always has been. If the ones who want to lead the city would stop worrying so much about promoting Roanoke into something different we all would have what we need. They could take advice from those who came here, joined us and helped this city to thrive. And you can ask anyone who likes it here, it has thrived.
-Sue Collins, Roanoke
