Message to Llewlladdwr & all other Southerners: Perspective on the South bashing.

[johnlucas]

2. It's easy to lose perspective when you think you're being attacked

I understand the frustration of people in the South.
Everybody down here ain't bigots & xenophobic haters.
But there's a lot of that down here & coddling it won't do a damn bit o' good.

You don't want to be automatically associated with bigoted ignorance just because you speak with a certain accent or come from a certain region.
What Llewlladdwr feels is exactly the same thing Blacks feel when they're judged on the essence of THEIR being, what Gays feel when they're judged on the essence of THEIR being, what women feel when they're judged on their capabilities.

That feeling should bring him closer to the devalued groups & he should want to fight harder to eradicate the poisonous philosophy permeating his region.
No, he's not responsible for somebody else's ignorant views.
Just like I hope other nations don't hold all Americans accountable for the foolish deeds of our government.

But the best way to shut that down is to be against the ignorance. To stand up against it actively in your circle of influence.
At the workplace, in the public square, in your neighborhood, in your home.
To your family, to your friends, to acquaintances & business partners, to perfect strangers.
SHOW by EXAMPLE that the South ISN'T all about that bigotry.

Link up with others who believe the same & create a wider circle of influence that will transform the image of the area you live in.
Eventually this will be reflected in the voting patterns & personal beliefs of people from that area.
Monkey See, Monkey Do after all.
We're just great apes who mimic each other for the sake of the pack/herd/tribe.

Easy to lose that perspective when you feel like "Quit attacking ME!!! I didn't do anything to deserve this!!!"
You should not feel attacked if you're not part of that disgusting group.
If someone still feels this way, then maybe they have some soul searching to do.
John Lucas