To the editor:

We are back on the map.

We should examine our new future. It is our obligation and responsibility to support any interest in our history. Until now people didn’t know the differences now they are ready and they are coming. The Hatfield and McCoy Feud is American History.

It was perceived as not serious, but it is serious. It is us.

The show portrays the human facts: The Hatfields and McCoys were real people with love and passion, with jealousy and hate. This is life. We must get on the bandwagon and ride it to the fullest. We may not have another opportunity to experience this magnificent exposure. The future that we were waiting for is here. We need to follow the best opportunity of our lifetime by supporting the tourism industry and be witness to history being made for our fading region.

We are unique Americans. I know I am aggressive, I am a citizen, this is my home and I will stand and protect it. Now about 95% of this country knows about us and soon the whole world. I feel that it is my duty to serve in the forces that will lead us to economic prosperity and survival in these beautiful mountains. 300 million people now are potential customers.

These are people who did not know about us before. What we will do about it is up to us. It’s like the black mark on the map that people perceived to be unemployed, uneducated and full of poverty, Turned to a green mark of national monuments and national parks.

We can and should turn this problem of being a murky spot in America to a huge relief to our region. Our problems in the past are not that tourists didn’t get it…our problems were that we didn’t know how to sell it. Well, it’s all changing now! So should our attitude and spirit. Remove blame and faults and replace them with leadership and volunteerism and serve them as they come.

We will never have this opportunity again. So what it is going to be? These are serious obstacles and we need serious citizens. We need to go door to door and convince America to come to almost Heaven!

- Yossi Hayon

Citizen of the Tug Valley since 1989