Really? "Confederate Memorial Day"?

[Silver Gaia]

50. I am amazed to have spent half my life in these states and

NEVER hear of it. The list of special observance days that you link is different from the one I found, but as you wish. My recollection differs, though.

As for Arkansas, that is not a memorial day. I am well aware of their love for the Confederate flag and the iconography in the state flag, but the holiday you list is a different thing from a memorial day. This is idiots waving a flag. The other is going to graveyards. Both are about a war they lost, but that's it. My family never gave a crap about that flag, nor did anyone I knew as a kid. We thought the flag wavers were kooks. I never knew they had a special flag holiday, either.

So, my original point was primarily that not all white Southerners are evil racists. The South is, without a doubt, a difficult place to live in many ways due to ingrained racism. It is woven into the culture in many ways, some blatantly overt, but others so subtle that people don't notice unless it is pointed out to them. I could not deal with it, so I left. (That was not the only reason, but it was one.)

I've lived many places, both South and North, and now West, where I like it best. But I am compelled to speak when I see anyone using a broad brush, and this felt that way. I maintain that there is merit in the fact that I have lived in these places for many years and have never even heard of this holiday. That said, I am done here. Think as you wish. I will do the same. Thanks for an interesting discussion.