11-07-2007, 01:15 AM
Story last updated at 3:06 a.m. Monday, November 5, 2007
King of Tonga no expert on Lubbock, leaders say
Ruler uses city as example of poor, rural area in National Geographic
ROBIN PYLE
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The king of Tonga has apparently heard of Lubbock, Texas.
And he mentioned it to a national magazine writer.
In a paragraph on the last page of a recent article in a National Geographic magazine, the Tongan leader cast what some may describe as an undesirable image of the Hub City.
During an interview last fall with the magazine, the then-crown prince of Tonga named Lubbock as an example of poor, rural areas in the United States.
The story recently appeared in the magazine's November issue.
In the article, writer Matthew Teague chronicles his experiences while visiting Tonga, a nation of islands in the South Pacific Ocean with about half the population of Lubbock.
The latter part of the story centers around Teague's conversation with the crown prince, who has since become king.
He told crown prince Taufa'ahau Tupou V it seemed unfair that the royals and nobles of the nation had great wealth while others in the country had to rely on foreign help.
"Is that unfair criticism?" the reporter asked.
These are the writer's words about what happened next:
"He dismissed it with a wave of his hand, noting that despite America's reputation for wealth and power, it also has poor people in inner cities and rural areas. 'Lubbock, Texas,' he said, 'and such places.'"
Though it's unknown why the king picked Lubbock as his example, 2005 statistics may back up his claim. Lubbock County has a higher-than-average poverty rate.
About 19 percent of Lubbock County residents were at or below the federal poverty line, compared to 16.3 percent of the Texas population and 12.7 percent nationally, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Plains Food Bank.
Even more children are considered to be in poverty - about 25 percent compared to 18.5 percent of the nation's children in 2005.
Still, some local leaders say the comment in the magazine could portray Lubbock in a poor light to some, though it is unlikely it will do much damage to the city's image.
"Just that comment shows he doesn't have an accurate view," said Marcy Jarrett, executive director of the Lubbock Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Obviously, he hasn't been here. He hasn't bothered to find out the good things about Lubbock. I would advise him to come here."
Mayor David Miller said he questions the credibility of someone speaking of Lubbock who has not been to the city.
"I would say the prince is simply misinformed," he said. "Lubbock is a great place economically."
Miller pointed to a low unemployment rate, a good cost of living and a low tax rate.
"We have a lot more things locally to be concerned about than what the king of Tonga has to say," Miller said.
King of Tonga no expert on Lubbock, leaders say
Ruler uses city as example of poor, rural area in National Geographic
ROBIN PYLE
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The king of Tonga has apparently heard of Lubbock, Texas.
And he mentioned it to a national magazine writer.
In a paragraph on the last page of a recent article in a National Geographic magazine, the Tongan leader cast what some may describe as an undesirable image of the Hub City.
During an interview last fall with the magazine, the then-crown prince of Tonga named Lubbock as an example of poor, rural areas in the United States.
The story recently appeared in the magazine's November issue.
In the article, writer Matthew Teague chronicles his experiences while visiting Tonga, a nation of islands in the South Pacific Ocean with about half the population of Lubbock.
The latter part of the story centers around Teague's conversation with the crown prince, who has since become king.
He told crown prince Taufa'ahau Tupou V it seemed unfair that the royals and nobles of the nation had great wealth while others in the country had to rely on foreign help.
"Is that unfair criticism?" the reporter asked.
These are the writer's words about what happened next:
"He dismissed it with a wave of his hand, noting that despite America's reputation for wealth and power, it also has poor people in inner cities and rural areas. 'Lubbock, Texas,' he said, 'and such places.'"
Though it's unknown why the king picked Lubbock as his example, 2005 statistics may back up his claim. Lubbock County has a higher-than-average poverty rate.
About 19 percent of Lubbock County residents were at or below the federal poverty line, compared to 16.3 percent of the Texas population and 12.7 percent nationally, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the South Plains Food Bank.
Even more children are considered to be in poverty - about 25 percent compared to 18.5 percent of the nation's children in 2005.
Still, some local leaders say the comment in the magazine could portray Lubbock in a poor light to some, though it is unlikely it will do much damage to the city's image.
"Just that comment shows he doesn't have an accurate view," said Marcy Jarrett, executive director of the Lubbock Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Obviously, he hasn't been here. He hasn't bothered to find out the good things about Lubbock. I would advise him to come here."
Mayor David Miller said he questions the credibility of someone speaking of Lubbock who has not been to the city.
"I would say the prince is simply misinformed," he said. "Lubbock is a great place economically."
Miller pointed to a low unemployment rate, a good cost of living and a low tax rate.
"We have a lot more things locally to be concerned about than what the king of Tonga has to say," Miller said.