As an Eastern Kentucky native, I have seen my fair share of toothless, dirty and strung-out people. But the one thing everyone seems to ignore is that there are good, clean and well-to-do people in Eastern Kentucky. I am not just talking about the coal company presidents.

It is not difficult to find a hard working, middle class person east of Winchester. We may have a terrible and crippling drug problem, but what community doesn’t? What we do have are beautiful mountains, strong heritage and a landscape many states would die for.

Just because the poverty level is high, drug use is even higher and success is hard to come by, is no reason to not do a documentary on how some people rise above the statistics and make something of themselves. Why couldn’t Diane Sawyer highlight the hard working, prideful and drug-free population, and help to disprove the stereotype?

And why did she lead everyone to believe she was from a community similar to Eastern Kentucky? Sawyer grew up in Louisville, a far cry from anything like the communities in Eastern Kentucky. Do us all a favor and, next time, look around the corner and show some good aspects of Eastern Kentucky.

Mackenzie L. Brewer

agricultural communications sophomore