It seems like your post implies Alabama and Mississippi are somehow different and apart from the rest of the South, which is sort of the same attitude you seem to be lambasting in the rest of the country, as to their attitude about us, "down heah."

I'm from Mobile, Alabama, admittedly a port city, that are historically always more liberal. We're closer to 55-45 Republican, than the ordinary 65% vote for the "reds."

That said, I agree with a lot of what you say, as to attitudes about the South. One thing I'd point out is that sadly, the North has become more like the South, that the desired idea that we've become less racist, and more reasonable about everything. Plenty of racists, and bad people exist everywhere, as I always say there are good and bad folks in every region.

We did elect a Democrat as governor, in Siegelman, who was destroyed by Bush and Rove--I'm sure you've heard the sad story. As yet, Obama has not pardoned him, and I see no reason for that, at this point. He's reelected, and nothing to fear, and he's not going to win anything in this time in Alabama anyway.

Addressing what needs to happen for Democrats to win in the South, the most important thing, is this. We've got to get back to jobs, wages, and doing things that clearly benefit the people. We emphasize freedom of, and from religion, perhaps giving an example they'd appreciate, which might be pointing out that any Baptist, Catholic, or Methodist out there would NOT want to be told to switch their religion, which is what we in America support.

Most southern States have roughly 30-40 percent black people. Seeing as how they vote 92/100 for Democrats, getting them out is important. That along with the rest of us liberals, and progressives (different) actually might begin getting support. Add to that, politicians that win need to address what Republicans do, and have done, to hurt them economically. They did this. It hurts you this way. Keep it simple, say it a lot. That is the prescription to win.

I happen to be from Florida and have been for the pasta 30 years.

I like it here.

I HATE the bigotry that comes from other DUers when it comes to Florida and the rest of the South. I guess they just have a need to feel better than someone else.

I agree that we need to stop the voter suppression of the blacks in the South. It is a bit problem with rick scott. He and the rest of the Florida repub party are adamant about minimizing their election impact.

But we are making progress - in small steps, but progress.

as well as your history- and yes, there's a but coming.

Yes, I think that racism in the south plays a larger role than you acknowledge when it comes to elections. You're right that religion does too, but the two sometimes intermingle and play off of each other. there is a widespread belief, according to studies and polling, by many white people in the South that the democratic party favors minorities. One of the regions in this country where anti-immigrant sentiment is most pronounced is the South.

someone just posted this from the NYT:

The fundamental explanation for the strong Republican support among working-class white Southerners is the striking disconnect between rural, overwhelmingly nonunion, Southern white workers and the national Democratic Party’s union-centric approach to labor issues.

This makes it easier for blue-collar Southern whites to convince themselves (with the eager assistance of Republican politicos) that the primary aim of Democratic initiatives like federal worker-training programs was or is to put black people in a position to take their jobs. Even if there is little reason to think the G.O.P. might actually help working-class white Southerners, they know at least that the Republicans are infinitely less likely to do anything to help blacks..

The recent survey found that 58 percent of working-class white Southerners felt that the federal government had been too attentive to the problems of blacks and other minorities. While the survey shows that working-class whites who had received food stamps or other benefits look a bit more kindly on the idea of federal aid programs, the South’s more stringent participation requirements, not to mention the racial stigma, are reflected in figures that show white families accounting for 54 percent of the food stamp recipients in Massachusetts and 28 percent in Mississippi.




The passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act did not usher in immediate political influence for black Southerners. African-Americans and voting rights advocates had to work for years to overcome vote dilution schemes that preserved white political control. By 1982, when Congress reauthorized the Voting Rights Act, Congressional districts were redrawn in ways that led to significant gains in black representation. To do that, however, officials often had to pack those districts with high numbers of black voters, along with handfuls of liberal whites. In the process, surrounding districts became increasingly “white” and conservative. Republicans were well aware of how these packed districts would ease their election, and they eagerly supported the process. It made for an odd alliance between Southern blacks and white conservatives.



snip:



More: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/10/01/the-souths-enduring-conservativism
2

felt like the federal government was too attentive to the needs of blacks and other minorities? Do you really think working class whites ANYWHERE feel dramatically different about that issue than those here?

Also, what percentage of the population of Massachusetts is black compared to that of Mississippi?

I already said Mississippi is an icky place. Every southerner not from there knows that (for anybody from Mississippi, that is a joke. For everybody else...not really).

As for my love of the South, I imagine that if I had been raised in the Pacific Northwest and had a good childhood, I would love it there.

Just like women, blacks EVERYWHERE in this country have a harder time achieving financial equality with their white counterparts. Actually, I would imagine that anybody of any race other than white has a harder time. I have to go feed, but I would also guess that the percentage of the population which is black is higher here than other parts of the country. Therefore, it makes common sense that the South has a higher percentage of blacks on food stamps, etc, than other places. I am not denying the racism here. I just think it is changing rapidly and is not unique to the South.

of those people vote for democrats, liberals and progressive party members.

I don't think MS is icky. I think it's pretty sad but like all places I'm sure there are good people there. I'm not attacking you or the South, but I do and will continue attacking southern republican politicians and those who support them.

We attack Republican politicians and those who support them too.

...go pretty much hand in hand, but that applies to Ohio, Indiana, and Penn just as much as SC, Va, and Fl.

I'm 78, white, from Va. and know what you are saying. I don't know about being an atheist, I am one but don't feel the need to tell people unless they want to pray for my soul. Then I tell them I don't need any prayin'
and yes, we talk slow (we also listen slow), which makes it hard to call a 'help' line and a northerner is on the other end of the line

Thanks for such a good write up.

"What church do you go to?"

I usually find some way to dodge the question. My husband, who is more militantly atheist, says, "We don't do that." which is usually a conversation stopper.

I lived 40 of my 43 years in the South (Fl,Ky, Va, NC) and never got that question. Also my family stopped going to church when I was 7 so we had no church either. The only place that my religion was brought up was in the last year or so when I lived in a very conservative part of NYC where being Catholic was almost required.

Happens everywhere.

I think it is more of a method of identification than anything else. It is a way that people where we are, at least, put people 'in their place', so to speak. We have been asked that twice just this week over in Van Wyck by two separate people.

That would be inconvenient. I have never heard that question in rural Ohio where I live.

I married a man from the north, so I've been transplanted into upstate New York for many years.

By the way, I still have a 50 year old Confederate flag but I was never a racist.

I walk barefoot when I can, love grits with milk gravy.

Yum!!!

.... like Cream of Wheat.

Yes. I'm a transplanted northerner too.

It must be an acquired taste.

It is an acquired taste but then not all southerners eat the same things.

Yes, I live on Signal Mountain, a little community just outside of Chattanooga. The house next door to me flies a rebel flag and most of the people on my street had Romney/Ryan signs in their yard, but we do find like-minded liberals here and there. I hope the Democratic Party will try again the 50 state strategy. There is no competition against these wing-nuts here. We have Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Chuck Fleischman, DesJarlais, and the like for our representatives. It really is quite demoralizing not to have any representation in Washington.

Last edited Sat Oct 19, 2013, 11:29 AM - Edit history (1)

and it's the same here. Guy across the street flies a rebel flag. It's God, country and guns everywhere you go. When I first moved here, I was always asked if I had a church yet.

I found that most liberals here don't say much about politics or religion. I'm different, I'm glad to talk about it. I make a point of being nice and kind to everyone and have found, by doing that, I'm still liked by the other side. Like some questionable white claiming to have a "black friend", I'm now many folks token liberal and accepted as just that. It's amazing what you can get away with by smiling and being kind to everyone. Seems true you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I wish I could be as eloquent.

"waving Confederate flags, singing Dixie and longing for the good ole days of Jim Crow or even slavery" sure seems like the Georgia I grew up in!

Maybe that's changed in 30 years. I should hope so.

My whole life in the South, those few who actually do that would send everyone else into major eye rolling, and then we'd all pretend to agree with them to shut them up.

The Civil War is no more a daily thought than anything else.

Mine seem to be pot, gay marriage, and the background, intergenerational "hate each other less". I'm OK with that.

I get really agitated by the posters who tell us to move out of the south.

I wholeheartedly agree that we should not come on DU and feel pushed to apologize for our background and where we live.

Absolutely friendly folk.

Every region in the country has their assholes.

what has been rattling around in my head for the past week or so. (When I read this, I thought I had been sleep posting.) I too am a liberal, atheist Democrat who has spent my entire 50 years on earth in North & South Carolina. While I enjoy visiting other areas of the country, I love it here and have no desire to live elsewhere.

Like you, I have only heard one (yes DU, I said ONE) white, adult human being use the "N" word. My uncle (by marriage) used to say it with great frequency - it was just a part of who he was. I don't think I've heard him use the word however, in about eleven years, since the birth of his first grandchild. Like you, if my brothers or I had ever used the word in earshot of my parents, there would have been hell to pay.

There are so many points in your post that I could echo, but let me just say that your post is spot on in every regard. Thank you!

and thank you

As a tourist from michigan who has traveled a fair amount around the world, I have to say some
Of the friendliest most helpful people I have ever meant were in charleston, sc.

I agree!

Southerners. I know there is a lot to learn.

I think what sets us off is when we're dealing with Southerners who have very old, old ideas like ideas off property rights (i.e some here have infected the minds of members of the community with ideas of adverse possession and as a group took over the HOA boards to take over the Association's common grounds) or even having government officials who think they're still operating from a backwater in the South, and feel that collusion with the CLEOs (community leaders, elected officials) is a proper way to run a municipality. Of course, there is corruption in the process as they yield their due diligence requirements by allowing their good ole boys to set the city's agenda. (BTW, it's not hard to hire someone from Alabama or Mississippi so their ideas can come along with them.)

It is when we're fighting a battle that shouldn't even exist in the 21st century that we might get defensive. But you take that out of the picture and frankly, the South is as much a part of me as anything can be given the 55 years of being exposed to it. I respect those who have stayed true to the charm and groundings, but let's face it, during the Bush years there was a very concerted effort to circle the wagons and many of us felt excluded as many iconic Southern experiences suddenly felt co-opted by the right. Country music, for instance.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write that out for us. Religion is absolutely the thing that drives people down here. What you say rings so true... especially about interacting with people, meeting people and the thing they want to know is what church you attend. Denomination and attendance is often more important than the color of ones skin. Having said that, I do not deny that racism is alive and well and needs more work to stamp out, but it is not anything like what people like to project on us. I am so tired of hearing about how I am some kind of evil person if I am not willing to pull up stakes and bolt to the nearest blue state. I live in a blue city in a purple state that is chock full of fun things to do indoor and out, great weather (except for effing August), and my family has been here for 200 years or so. Sorry folks, this is home and I am not willing to surrender it to the lunatics and morons that also happen to live here.

Instead of ceaseless bashing, it would be really great if we could get the 50 state strategy back on track and get some Dem Party love down here. Texas at least has a real shot this time around of pushing back against the crazies with the Davis campaign, and coming up soon with the Castros down in San Antonio. We need help from y'all not all these bullshit broad brush attacks on us.

I live in purple Virginia, and relatives in Maryland seem to feel they need a visa to cross the Potomac. My husband is from Georgia, and both my parents have deep southern roots. The South is complex, just as other regions are.

Many here do not believe hate and racism exists north of the mason/dixon line and west of the Mississippi. I have had many conversations with many here and about how they need to start looking in their own backyard.

http://users.humboldt.edu/mstephens/hate/hate_map.html#

especially the religion part.

I live in Kansas and refuse to defend the GOP idiots who live in and run this state. But I still enjoy my life here. But Kansas is seriously bad state full of GOP idiots running it. Kansas politics hurts the liberal movement. I think people defending the south seem not to admit that. It does not mean you need to move, but it is a fact.

I would maybe disagree with you that the southern part of the country does not have more percent of racists than the rest of the country. Maybe I am wrong. But it seems to be more of an issue there.

Atheism is the new "gay" issue. It will happen slowly. More and more people are turning away from religion.

I am an atheist and my 3 children are also. So their kids will most likely be also. It is the fastest growing "religion".

Thanks for a great post!

come out of that area about systemic racism. I don't doubt that there are wonderful people and it is a great place to live. I just wish the people that the area elects did not affect my life. I am so over reading about all the injustice, and happy to hear it's not that way at all.

The South is where the growth work has to be done for the party. So, if you want comfort, go to Discussion, Good Reads or The Lounge. In the rest of the threads you're not going to like what you read as much.

I'm from the west but have great respect for people in every region, naturally.

You're right about one thing: the selective outrage, the blind eye and tacit acceptance of certain types of bashing on DU.

Fat people, men, white people, people from the South, gun-owners, and poor people. Oh, and people of faith.

God help you if you're a poor, fat, white, Southern Christian male Democrat, no matter how progressive and active you are, you are not safe from attacks upon you demographic.

How hard can it be to apply tolerance and acceptance universally and consistenly?

K/R

I'm all of those except Christian and a gun owner and the attitudes of many around here are why I don't post anymore. As a short, somewhat pudgy, very close to being poor, aging, white male from Tennessee I'm definitely not going to win any popularity contests around here. In fact, the words evil incarnate often come to mind after lurking in GD. I just don't see much point in trying to have a conversation with people who despise me and don't even want me in the country let alone in the Democratic party.

I've voted for Democrats for 25 years but I'm starting to wonder if it's really worth standing in line for an hour or two to vote for a party where I'm obviously not welcome. After all, I do have better things to do... like staying home and being insulted on DU.

And yes you do, and that's what people don't seem to get.

Great reply, thanks!

Even the entire South turned blue and voted solid Democrat, the South bashers would still be bashing away because people in the South went to church, owned guns, hunted, liked NASCAR, listened to country music, watched reality TV with Southern people in it, were fat, white, and a few others I've missed.

Al of the above some Progressives express loathing or contempt for.

Great post, one of the best I've read.

sister went to school in SC just south of Charlotte. When I dated a bi-racial man (1/2 black, 1/2 white - a mutt as he always said - lol), I had less stares or comments made to me from people in the South (actually good friends encouraging a healthy, romantic relationship), and friends from up North were saying shit like, blue jays don't mate with crows.

The home town feeling of Charleston is pretty cool for an old assed city. FL is a much more crazy place to live than it was in SC. But there is a lot of poor small towns that cling to that religion, their guns, and their ways because no one else is showing them a better way or has brought anything good to them. On top of that, they are viewed as dumb ass, racist, rednecks.

I agree the church thing is also a pretty big deal, especially the smaller the town... And we all know how the churches have been over run with political messaging since the Reagan days.

And many young men and women choose to sign up and serve in our armed forces (so they aren't fighting for the south, they tend to fight where they are sent off to).

I know better...I was a social pariah there....because of my support for Democrats but most especially Obama....BTW they hate Hillary there even more.

What you are saying is blatantly false.

I have also lived in the north. (one parent from South one from North) We were military...yes I agree there are racists in the North....but there is a "special kind of racism" in the South. Period. And I am glad I left! Hope to never have to return.

There were abolitionists in the South during the Civil War.....we still sent Sherman down there to burn them to the ground....

and I'm glad to see that the issue is again receiving a lot of attention. More than any other type of squabbling amongst ourselves, there is perhaps no more effective means of creating division than making 'witty' comments about specific regions of the country - and, by extension - all those who live there or hail from there. It's a highly personal attack that ranks right up there with race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin. Other types of discriminatory remarks aren't tolerated on DU, so why are state/regional remarks given a pass - ever? It's a question I've been asking for years now, but it still continues. I hope that at least one admin weighs in on this - in a highly public manner - before this festering boil comes to a head...once again.

Anything that creates strife among the poor, the working poor, the middle class and the upper middle class is just fine with the 1%, who fear our unity as much as losing all their money (and THAT'S WHY they fear our unity). A cursory glance at history (for purposes of my argument, the so-called 'Gilded Age' specifically) reveals that the 1% plays an active role in fostering this divisiveness, so I consider those who insist upon maintaining their this bigoted attitudes to be unwitting tools of the 1%; they're certainly doing themselves no favors.

Some choose to pat themselves on the back for the 'achievement' of living in a virtual paradise that is utterly above reproach in any & all ways. A clue: it's not helpful - at all. Mere residence in a so-called 'liberal oasis' counts for nothing - as though its virtues get absorbed by its residents through osmosis. Touting one's place of residence over all others makes no more sense than claiming that descent from some great historical figure makes *you* great, and it is in fact a form of chauvinism - despite reluctance to recognize or admit it. Whether or not it gets recognized it comes across as, 'my dog's better than your dog' - ad nauseam- and if civility were used as a measuring stick, many would be found sorely deficient.

Nicely stated

Your reply serves as a reminder that I didn't include a link to the 'Gilded Age' entry on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age

That's the 'cursory glance at history' to which I alluded in my earlier post.

Any similarities between that era and today's actions are purely intentional.

The more things change...

I lived in Memphis for 3 years, albeit in the late 1960's in my 20's teaching at what was then Memphis State University. I absolutely loved it. The good and the bad...I was there when MLK was killed.
Also spent brief times in other southern cities--Atlanta, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, Muscle Shoals(city?), etc.. . It was always in connection with either universities or the arts in one way or another, so maybe that was a bit one-sided. But..that was my experience and it was always wonderful.

(also lived in Ithaca for many years) So now I live in way upstate NY.

BUT--one thing you forgot to mention. NOBODY, but nobody up here has a freakin' clue about BBQ ! OR grits!!!

And I can say with great confidence that no single region wins honors for an overabundance of Freepers, Racists, etc. I've been among wonderful, progressive/liberal people in each location...as well as the opposite. Broad generalizations are simply not helpful...or accurate.

I am from Alabama and except for gumbo would be chicken-n-dumplins and I do own guns your first 4 sentences describes me.

Having to endure the Southern Image for 46 years I would like to add a few observations;

Racism does exist but nothing like it was when I was a kid. Where it does it is in small groups. What a lot of people call racism is actually classism or plain selfishness.

As to my friends who are Republicans it is due to religious reasons namely abortion, prayer in schools, teaching evolution in schools and gay marriage, race plays no part in their voting decisions. The hate of President Obama was held for President Clinton. If Republicans nominated a black conservative who is against those 4 things then they would vote for them without hesitation.

The confederate flag is much more complex than many realize. It holds different meanings for different reasons. For many it is a symbol of heritage, a heritage many don't really understand. To me it is a form of hate speech and should have the shame of a Nazi flag, just like the swastika was not invented by the Nazis but is now a symbol of hate, the confederate flag wasn't invented by the KKK but it too is a symbol of hate. But, I know many who do not hold that opinion, but other than their pride in that flag show no other evidence of being a racist. One problem with the confederate flag is ignorance (or simply not having it explained to them) of why the flag could be offenses to many or why to many it holds a meaning not rooted in hate.

Use the word "endure," as much as "accommodate." As you pointed out, we sort of deserved it as a whole. To the extent we've gotten better, it is because slowly older generations of Klansmen have been dying off, thank goodness.

I believe in America, so I believe in freedom of religion. No one can stop you from "praying" in school, which is always my point. But clearly there are many religions in America, and putting them in PUBLIC schools, any particular one is a bad idea.

I doubt women in the South would want anyone telling them to have abortions. So they shouldn't be upset that others have the some belief, that they should be in control of the decisions they make about their own body. I never have understood this about people who are so controlling, but they never seem to understand how bad it is, even if they'd absolutely hate it themselves.

But I'm always most surprised at the ignoring of the anti-religion things Republicans have done. We attacked Iraq, under Republicans, who now have killed 500,000 people. Republicans regularly try to make people hungry, and homeless.

Republicans claim that if poor people get insurance, that it'll be the end of America as we know it. I never can understand exactly what they mean. I guess it means poor people might survive, instead of being sick and dying because they were too poor to buy insurance, I don't know. But like many other things that come out of their mouths, I see it as stuff they're mostly repeating, that sounds good, but doesn't really survive the critical thinking, even by religious mores.

So, why is it Republican voters never get pissed about anti-religious things Republican politicians do to people. Isn't killing just as wrong when they are fully grown, and just in the way of getting oil?

I doubt seriously if "enough" people would vote for a black republican, even if he was a holy roller, who wanted fealty to a particular religion in public schools.

The minute we lose sight of that fact, we have lost the country.

I don't like all the demonization I am seeing of the South lately. It is not conducive to national unity.

My husband and I live and travel in a motorhome. We spend a lot of time in red states because they are simply more condusive to this lifestyle. Since July we've been in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and now Kansas, heading back to New Mexico.

In our travels the past four months, there was only ONE time where I felt creeped out by rightwingers. We drove through an area that had several ugly, racist anti-Obama signs and tea party flags. We stopped at a little store that had Fox News blaring and also had a small display of buttons and bumper stickers with some really ugly right wing sentiments. Which of those states I just mentioned do you think I was in? MARYLAND! Yep, blue, blue Maryland.

I remember our first cross-country trip back in 2005, I was actually a little afraid of traveling through the red states. I remember being in a diner in a state that went 60-40 for Bush over Kerry and thinking, "I bet I'm the only person in here who voted for Kerry." Then I looked at the twenty or so other diners and realized that, according to the math, around 12 of them voted for Bush but eight voted for Kerry. And just imagine how cool those eight must be!

Anyway, I could go on and on about what I've realized in traveling throughout this country. The region bashing you see here is mostly pure ignorance. I bet a lot of these bashers would be teabaggers if they had grown up in a red state. Red state progressives are the best, in my opinion, because they are true non-conformists who came to their beliefs by their own thought processes and against all odds. We should be supporting them and applauding them, not bashing the areas they, rightfully, love.

The American Civil War was the American Civil War. I would never call it "the War of Northern Aggression."

Also, I can't gloss over the amount of ignorance and prejudice down here. I love my home too, but I have to admit there is too much ignorance and racism and other prejudices down here more that most other areas of the country. That doesn't mean we are all racist and ignorant. Not at all, but it does mean I believe liberals in the south have to put up with a bunch of backassward assholes more-so than in other areas.

Otherwise, I do agree with the majority of what you say about having to put up with the hatred we get for being liberals in the south from conservatives in the south, only to come to DU and be hated for being from the south. It's like we can't win. We get hated at home and on DU. There is no respite from the unprovoked hatred directed at us. We get it everywhere.

I'm one southerner who has never voted Republican in my life, has always voted for the Democratic Party only, and doesn't plan to change that no matter how many conservatives in the south hate me for it OR how many liberals on DU hate me for it. My politics are pretty much set in now and I feel how I feel. I'd never vote for a damn Republican no matter how many Democrats on DU hate me because I was born, raised, and live in the "wrong" part of the country.

was an allusion to the way a lot of DUers seem to think Southerners think about the Civil War.

I am not glossing over the ignorance and prejudice, I just think it probably exists just about every where to a similar degree.

I never accepted "the war of U.S. aggression," either, as a name for it. We were also taught the Civil War was about "States' Rights," which was also BS, and I saw through that even in my generally racist, southern high school. I'd say "Yea, but the State right in question was slavery, right?" "States' Rights." Just sounds better than "slavery" doesn't it. Quite the educational spin, wasn't it.

Hey, we're getting better, and we've elected a few Democrats too, in Alabama. I think the "southern nut" is going to be cracked more and more by Democrats. They just need to find a good candidate, that focuses on economic issues, and is adept at pointing out how badly Republican politicians have screwed each and every worker in the South. Then of course figuring out how to amicably cover the social religious issues, while pointing out the ways Republicans aren't religious either, is part of it too.

I wish DU would change the policy on southern bashing.

I'm a born and bred Southerner from a long line of Southerners, and you're story is so familiar to me (mainly because it sounds so much like my own). I wonder if our paths have ever crossed. I live in NY now, and view the South in a different light from those around me. It is so misunderstood. The one thing I miss the most: Southern gentility.

Thank you for this beautiful diary.

-FourScore

the Bible or other Judeo-Christian institution and I will get a variety of answers back but always
in earnest.

It actually makes me feel a bit relieved to know there are Liberal Christians and Jewish out there and
I know some are from our Southern States.


Tikki

Christ was about unlimited compassion and love for the less fortunate and downtrodden in society. I really don't know what Bible these right wingers are reading...go figure.

I am a transplant. I was born in Philadelphia, raised in Miami, and moved to the Atlanta area in 1989. I love all the Southern states, though I am not that fond of Florida. I had my fill of it much of my life. There is too much crime, drugs, too many big bugs, and the heat and humidity is miserable all year 'round.

conservatism and bigots here. It's a good sign.

Rec

And coming to DU to write about it. Then having broad brush attacks of your home state by compassionate liberals here.

Excellent post. I wish skinner would pin it to the home page.

I also wish broad brushed attacks against any state were a tos violation with repeated offenses leading to banned posters.

Thanks for the thread, renie.

Thank God.



Incredibly well said. Thank you.

It was filled with racist, bible-thumping idiots. I'll never go there again if I don't have to.

And, it never was the "War of Northern Aggression." That's something the racists call it.

Seeing as you have such a high degree of reading comprehension and open mindedness yourself, the South is just going to have to struggle along without you.

Have a nice day!!

I'll sit up here in the north with my educated fellows.

You really are kind of cute in an angry newbie kind of way.

funniest post I've ever read! The only place I've ever lived where the kids get a school holiday for the first day of hunting season was up north. At least all those testosterone charged animal killers rushing through the woods are educated. What a relief!

We sure don't miss people like you either.

I was in the Army for 4 years and I did get to see all kinds of Americans.

The most racists Americans I had to deal was people from the north.

Y'all just hide your hate but it is still there.

I heard the most racists jokes coming from white yankees.

Spare the north is so pure, the south is so bad.

I always wonder how so many republicans keep getting elected in non southern states, both local, state, and federal.

Somebody is voting for them.

I was born in Texas, my family goes back a long way in Texas.

This is home.

Your hate for the people in the south makes y'all as bad as the tea party type people, no difference.

It doesn't change what I experienced.

See ya!