What’s with all the hatred for Connecticut?
I felt compelled to write a column in defense of my home state after coming across a tweet from a Boston Herald reporter, Meghan Ottolini, that went viral this week.
Ottolini facetiously (I think) asked her followers: “What is your least favorite state in New England and why did you choose Connecticut?”
Out of the six New England states — Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island — I wouldn’t automatically default to the Nutmeg State.
I’ve always had a particular disdain for Maine, but probably because I’ve always found myself having to make the trip there in the winter months for occasional family events. Connecticut and Massachusetts cold weather doesn’t compare to how cold Maine can get.
It’s not just an out-of-state hatred for Connecticut though. A lot of the negativity comes from people who live there.
It’s hard to keep track of how many times I’ve heard my friends back home complain about how there’s nothing to do in Connecticut. But honestly, how much entertainment does someone really need on a daily basis?
Like everywhere else, there are malls, movie theaters, gyms, and restaurants throughout the state. There are also plenty of hiking trails and parks for people who would rather spend their time outdoors in the warmer months.
And for a relatively small state, Connecticut boasts two major casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, which draw people from evidently the other more desirable New England states.
Connecticut lacks major pro sports teams, but UConn is well-known for its men’s and women’s NCAA basketball championships. As someone who attended the school, it’s also not a bad place to take classes for four years.
Some may argue that Connecticut has an identity crisis, with one half of the state favoring Massachusetts and the other half identifying as adopted New Yorkers, but being a border state is also one of its strengths.
How convenient to be able to have a short drive into New York City or Boston depending on what side of the state you live in.
Furthermore, since Connecticut is so small, you can get to any other city or town within the state in two hours or less.
Who can beat that? Certainly not Vermont or Maine.
So, let’s stop hating on Connecticut. After all, it’s not New Jersey, as snooty New Yorkers would say.
But then again, that’s a separate rivalry for the Tri-State Area.
