Connecticut: the fifth state to be admitted to the United States, one of the oldest areas in the country, home to beautiful historical homes, Sikorsky, amazing pizza, lots of history and ghosts, and not to mention Yale. Recently, I came across an Instagram reel about how “CT is the worst state to drive in, ever.” I was shocked and aghast; —sure, we may have the worst drivers at this point in your consumer-filled-summer-road-trip-of-New-England, but get ready for Massachusetts. As I scrolled down the comments, I was even more shocked to find that almost everyone in the very-reputable-and-important Instagram comments was from people in the other New England states. This is odd, right? New England (plus upper state New York) is pretty much one, monotonous region, so why are people just hating on just Connecticut? In this article, I will address the anti-Connecticut propaganda that (really) raised my blood pressure, made me feel compatriotship for other Connecticutters (for the first time in my life), and actually made me proud to be a New Englander. 

The number one thing I’ve heard and read from people about Connecticut is: “it’s just a highway/ cut through to the other, better, New England states”. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Don’t you fools understand that claim makes us one of the best states? You want to go to Narragansett Beach? Oh, cool, we’ll be there in an hour; oh, you want New York pizza? Go to New York; you want to go visit Plymouth Rock, MIT, or Harvard? Surprise! We’re already in Massachusetts. Nothing is better than living in a place where you can pretty much get anywhere in an hour and a half. Also, think about that claim for a minute; Connecticut doesn’t have to be your cut-through. You are the master of your destiny—why let Connecticut dictate how you get to Narragansett for your yearly-sunburn-fest while you swear that it’s not a burn, it’s a tan? And on top of that, almost every New England state is a cut through to get to another New England state—spoiler alert: it’s the coast. There’s nowhere else to go, unless you want to go into New York, into the Atlantic Ocean, or the Long Island Sound (and we all know that you probably don’t want to go to New York, either). 

The second claim I read about Connecticut was “Connecticut shouldn’t even be considered New England” or “It’s barely New England.” What constitutes “New England” to you? Because according to Britanica.com “The region was named by Capt. John Smith, who explored its shores in 1614 for some London merchants. New England was soon settled by English Puritans…”. This means that the New England states are “New England,” because there was a large English population residing in this area. If we are to accept this definition it means, if anything, Connecticut is one of The-Most-New-England-New-England-States (right after Massachusetts and Rhode Island, of course). Not to mention Connecticut has all the geographical markers of a New England state, as well. Four seasons that are accompanied by changing leaves, rolling hills, dense trees, and small rural towns. Overall, the claim that Connecticut isn’t New England is based on ignorant beliefs held by people who have never spent more than a hour and a half  in CT besides in New Haven, stuffing their faces with what they say is not the best pizza (yet they can’t stop eating it). If you know so much about New England, counsel of New England, what is Connecticut? It certainly isn’t midwest or mid-atlantic. Yes, we are transatlantic, yes we are! 

I was mostly shocked, as stated in my (awesome) intro, because people from other New England states were the ones to make defamatory statements about Connecticut and stab us in the proverbial back (et tu, Brute?). People from Maine, although I love your state (it is the way life should be, I have to agree), you shouldn’t have come after Connecticut. You are barely New England. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye”, Maine? You’re a stray piece of Canada; moose, maple syrup, pine trees, snow, Tim Hortons, and French speakers—that’s just Canada. People from Vermont and New Hampshire, I’ve never done anything but drive through your state. You have….well, I don’t know what you have because I’ve literally never heard anyone speak about your states. When recounting the states in New England, you’re the ones people forget (and Connecticut, but that’s not the point). Rhode Island, what’s in Rhode Island? Beaches and weird accents. Massachusetts? Horrible drivers, even weirder accents, fake Irish people, and nothing exists outside of Boston. I don’t even feel the need to elaborate.

To conclude, New England states should stick together. We all share the same region, there’s no point in pretending like one state is better than the other. We all suck, when it comes down to it; living on a floating rock, flying through space, destined to be engulfed by the sun. We make up fake arguments to feel more exclusive. So, in the end, spread love and understanding; stand together as New Englanders—is what I would say if Connecticut wasn’t the best New England state.