Some people should just keep on driving if they're pulled over

It wasn't so long ago when Midland's practice of stopping motorists on I-20 and offering them a room, dinner, a ballgame and some hospitality for the night was considered a neighborly gesture. But now we have heard from on high that we are little more than hicks who'll do just about anything to peddle ourselves to strangers, including kidnapping passersby and forcing them to give us a nod, a wink and a Hey to Goober.

Of course what the writer fails to mention is that motorists do have the option of saying Thanks, but I really must go, when they are greeted. It's been awhile since we actually carted unsuspecting visitors away in handcuffs to have dinner with us, but once we get our Cracker Barrel, we can't make that promise anymore.

Midland received a handful of reader comments on MyWestTexas from people elsewhere in the state who were pretty brutal in their assessment of this practice, yet another sad example of how the Internet is all too often used to spread hyper-critical anonymous comments in this age of virtual free speech, vastly different from the real thing. It's fairly easy to condemn when you're half a state away and nobody knows your face or your name, so thanks for your input, but really, you shouldn't have.

I do agree with Jessica in that this practice is a bit curious, but others who have left comments as if writing on the wall of a junior high school bathroom, we can probably live without your censure. We're quite capable of criticizing ourselves.

After having been here for a few years of my life, it is apparent to me that the Midland Chamber is doing little more than trying to get the word out about this place one visitor at a time. We're without some of the entertainment opportunities of a larger city, but that doesn't mean we can't at least try to be cordial to others. Fortunately, only the friendlier drivers are likely to stop by for a spell. If I was driving through the Arizona desert, a hundred miles of cactus on all four of my sides and someone offered me a chance to kick back for a little while for free, if my schedule permitted I believe I might be grateful for their generosity.

We have a nice little place here -- certainly not as good as wherever those who criticize us are from, don'tcha know -- and not a lot of people know about it. The practice of pulling motorists over is meant as a friendly handshake, really nothing more (we don't actually expect you to move here).

Unfortunately in these days of whining from personal mountaintops, some people should just keep on driving if they're pulled over.

Comments

[Ospurt]

Over the years I have thought the practice of "pull you over marketing" was kind of unique and inventive.

I agree with you that the comments of those spread far and wide across the state which criticize the practice are totally uncalled for.

My real questions are, Why Now? and Why in this Way? The M-Squad has been doing this since at least the 1980s! You'd think the strangeness of it, or the use of law enforcement in this endavor would have been an issue before now.

I think our political affiliations and being the hometown of Bush and Craddick have heightented "Midland Envy and Hate" across the state.

Maybe the NYT's Bush Immigration roots over mexican food at Dona Anita's thing a couple of weeks ago has sparked a series of Midland Hit Pieces.

[Jimmy]

As if those two are the only two to ever come out of Midland. A bit shallow, 'specialy for big city folk, dont'cha think?

[Ospurt]

Very shallow.

I say more power to the M-Squad. Every story I've ever read that interviewed the recipients over the decades shows those visitors were truly grateful of our hospitality.

Midland has A LOT to offer, and I wouldn't live anywhere else.

[Darrell Ward]

Having read the column by the "humor columnist" that started this whole brouhaha, all I have to say is consider the source. A "humor columnist" from the southernmost yankee city in the lower 48. What would you expect? The M-Squad (great folks, by the way) could be emptying dump truck loads of $100 bills from overpasses onto motorists on I-20 and he would find some way to make snide, arch remarks and tie it into Bush Derangement.
Oh, and allow me to add my favorite to the list of famous folks to come from Midland...Wahoo McDaniel, football player,pro wrestler extraordinaire and definitely an underappreciated alumnus of Midland and the Midland school system.

[Jimmy]

Darrell ... a guy who can't tell a lingerie show from the Hilton laundry room ya gotta kinda wonder about.

[Tom Partain]

If someone disagrees with MWT editors they are just the Devil. Orr was upset earlier in the year about polls not being answered the way he wanted them to be. And I do not, as one who lives in This Connecticut Kid-Bush country, believe law enforcement should use their precious time on the Chamber of Commerce agendas. I am here and will tell it to your faces.

[dale]

Hooterville thought their town was wonderful too!!!....I've lived here three different times and 8 other places...and Midland has a number of problems besides poor government, high taxes (34% higher than Dallas), poor medical infrastructure, and just plain ugly...out of 4 different oil companies(you know how they love to merge)..I never met anyone who wanted to move back to Midland

[B John]

Tom Partain-
With respect to "I do not ... believe law enforcement should use their precious time on the Chamber of Commerce agendas. I am here and will tell it to your faces": this project generally uses officers assigned to community relations-type activities from the PD as well as the SO. As such, it does not take officers off of the street. And I'd be glad to explain that to you in person also, just come by 400 S. Main sometime!

[dennis]

we have too many police now...we've given up on the war on drugs, we can't stop the terrorist, we can't stop the illegal aliens, so we now do what we are qualified to do....click it or ticket...and we spend millions advertising it...so don't need the number we have now

[cindi m]

Apparently Dale hasn't met the right people....I, for one, moved back by choice over 30 years ago, after graduating college.....My brother-in-law, a Houstonian, chose Midland over others after his stints in Houston, Dallas, Tyler, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia....and if you need more proof - go visit a meeting of the newly-formed YPM group of Midland (Young Professionals of Midland)-- a group of 20-somethings that happen to love Midland, and heaven-forbid, many chose to come back after college, and time in the big city! It may not be for you, Dale, but for many, "there's no place like home".