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walkingman

(10,878 posts)

102. Born in Mississippi

Sat Apr 11, 2015, 12:43 PM

Apr 2015

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2015, 10:06 AM - Edit history (1)

and grew up in the heart of the civil rights movement. Saw several KKK crosses burned in my youth (born 1950). Graduated from University of Alabama in '72, lived in Birmingham for a while then Marietta, Ga. with my first real job and then was transferred to Houston in '74 and now live in Austin. My point being is I have lived in the South my entire life.

After the Civil Rights Act I witnessed the entire South turn GOP simply because of the prejudice of most citizens. I despise racism and although things are better it is still a big problem in this country. I personally think we are much further to the right these days (especially in Texas) and the South plays a big role in that factor. I think I would enjoy living in a more progressive area but there is much that I love about the South. The weather being a big factor.

Maybe it's a Utopian dream but I hope before I die I see a shift away from the mean-spirited right wing ideology that tries to dehumanize anyone and everyone that does not look, talk, or think like them and towards supporting people over business interests. Greed has not served us well.

I am hoping that the youth of this nation do a much better job than my generation in that regard but only time will tell.

Peace

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South-bashing [View all] WilliamPitt Apr 2015 OP

As a former New Jerseyan I can tell you we have had our share of putdowns..However, we have learned monmouth4 Apr 2015 #1

I support Jersey bashing. The less people that wanna come here, the happier I am. Hoppy Apr 2015 #14

New Jersey: "Deliverance on snow mobiles" (stole that KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #22

Jersey has their "Piney Power" rednecks, once home to a KKK Grand Wizard, an SPLC hotspot. TheBlackAdder Apr 2015 #60

I'm mortified to see California leading the pack, given that I live here. In our defense, my wife KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #113

Of course, the differences in population are not considered Mariana Apr 2015 #116

It has now been re-stolen Jackpine Radical Apr 2015 #64

LOL. Used to live in Madison many a moon ago and I know KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #112

When they sent young mental health professionals into the north woods Jackpine Radical Apr 2015 #123

A friend says the same about the State of Washington. merrily Apr 2015 #27

Every state has a Stupid Belt. hifiguy Apr 2015 #107

If you've got a good thing going somewhere, I don't know if merrily Apr 2015 #137

Best tomatoes I ever had came from New Jersey. KittyWampus Apr 2015 #61

I agree, some say it's the iron in the soil....n/t monmouth4 Apr 2015 #84

True. No tomato like a Jersey beefsteak tomato. Good corn, too. merrily Apr 2015 #139

My mom's family was from the south, her grandpa a prisoner of the Union when he came home for roguevalley Apr 2015 #68

Same with us Californians. If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that smug, silly put-down calimary Apr 2015 #98

Once while driving across UTAH ..I saw yuiyoshida Apr 2015 #136

Florida's in the South RandiFan1290 Apr 2015 #2

Florida, like a lot of states, are extremely "Political by Area" BlueJazz Apr 2015 #4

Except for Tallahassee TBA Apr 2015 #13

Your words are true. My bad. Forgot about that BlueJazz Apr 2015 #49

My home town. Grew up in Tally. I miss it so much. Lochloosa Apr 2015 #57

Don't blame you. Was there a few years ago for a Red Sox spring training game. Nice! merrily Apr 2015 #30

Florida is still a pretty red state. Most of inland Fl is red. We couldn't Fla Dem Apr 2015 #82

yet Obama carried Florida TWICE DrDan Apr 2015 #119

Perhaps more impressively, he carried even Indiana. But not twice. merrily Apr 2015 #138

Florida liberalmike27 Apr 2015 #20

I grew up in Florida. I would never move back. Atman Apr 2015 #58

You were almost named after benihana? Scootaloo Apr 2015 #3

I will always love my southern home. In_The_Wind Apr 2015 #5

You are a very fortunate man, WilliamPitt. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #6

Thank you WilliamPitt. DamnYankeeInHouston Apr 2015 #7

"...just to see their terror" WilliamPitt Apr 2015 #9

In Texas, you have to be friendly or they'll shoot you. DamnYankeeInHouston Apr 2015 #11

LOL. Reminded me of George Carlin's suggestion that we KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #25

I also call Houston home by choice, fell in love with friendly here. Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #33

Me too. You know those,"I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could" stickers? ScreamingMeemie Apr 2015 #94

If you got here around the 80's there were bumper stickers which said Thinkingabout Apr 2015 #108

People I've never seen before say hi to me on Boston streets. One day, merrily Apr 2015 #34

How did Texas miss out on this? PDittie Apr 2015 #8

So you don't feel left out... GummyBearz Apr 2015 #23

Well said. obxhead Apr 2015 #10

Born and mercuryblues Apr 2015 #12

Thanks, WilliamPitt Thespian2 Apr 2015 #15

We need to be vigilant against broad-brush put-downs in all its forms Martin Eden Apr 2015 #16

I wish that I could BlueMTexpat Apr 2015 #65

Thanks Martin Eden Apr 2015 #80

TX also produced my maternal grandmother, LOL. BlueMTexpat Apr 2015 #90

"mandatory national service for all US citizens" Martin Eden Apr 2015 #95

Definitely. BlueMTexpat Apr 2015 #135

I live in the South and bash it nearly every day. No sweat. mmonk Apr 2015 #17

Me too. secondvariety Apr 2015 #24

I do as well. fleur-de-lisa Apr 2015 #52

I like the bashing mitch96 Apr 2015 #18

Is that why you guys have no protection from discrimination in employment for LGBT people too? Bluenorthwest Apr 2015 #85

Naw�.. mitch96 Apr 2015 #140

From What I Can Tell liberalmike27 Apr 2015 #19

Too bad we don't commemorate all of the Native American massacres B2G Apr 2015 #21

As one who has been guilty in the past of some good-natured (I hope) South bashing, I KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #28

Exactly B2G Apr 2015 #32

Because the south still clings to their ante-Bellum mentality. BillZBubb Apr 2015 #100

Bullshit B2G Apr 2015 #110

You hate the south much? 'not all', 'on a one on one basis', 'they'. Who are you to talk? appalachiablue Apr 2015 #117

Be Black in South Boston (Southie) on St. Patrick's Day. WilliamPitt Apr 2015 #37

Most folks west of the Rockies would never allow such a thing. Zorra Apr 2015 #50

But they did. It's their history. B2G Apr 2015 #53

Your point is hard to follow. It's a good thing that no one commemorates these massacres. Zorra Apr 2015 #93

Let's all bash Wisconsin HelenWheels Apr 2015 #26

And don't forget which state gave us Senator Joseph McCarthy (of KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #31

I am sorry Helen Kalidurga Apr 2015 #38

Feel free to bash Wi. old guy Apr 2015 #124

No red state for me MaggieD Apr 2015 #29

I'm from Delaware treestar Apr 2015 #35

"Why is this still a thing?" WilliamPitt Apr 2015 #39

By that same token treestar Apr 2015 #42

"it's been over a hundred years" WilliamPitt Apr 2015 #44

They are still resenting that down there? treestar Apr 2015 #48

That's like saying 'slavery ended over a hundred years ago', so B2G Apr 2015 #51

I'm aware of it, but you're talking about the suffering of white southerners treestar Apr 2015 #55

How do you know how they suffered? B2G Apr 2015 #59

OK I'll listen though you didn't need your last condescending part treestar Apr 2015 #62

I wasn't trying to be condescending B2G Apr 2015 #66

That tactic always comes off condescending treestar Apr 2015 #74

So you choose to write a manifesto B2G Apr 2015 #109

+1 BeanMusical Apr 2015 #115

Yeah that pattern of not actually discussing the issue and instead making you the issue Rex Apr 2015 #122

"But it didn't take the National Guard to enforce the take down." BumRushDaShow Apr 2015 #67

Wow, I didn't know about this at all. BeanMusical Apr 2015 #114

Jim Crow originated in the north BB_Smoke Apr 2015 #83

+1 Pooka Fey Apr 2015 #75

Perfect BB_Smoke Apr 2015 #79

Wilmington gets bashed alot BumRushDaShow Apr 2015 #40

What's a Fluffian? treestar Apr 2015 #43

That's how we Philadelphians pronounce "Philadelphian". BumRushDaShow Apr 2015 #54

I worked in Philly one summer treestar Apr 2015 #56

It's part of the "tristatearea" (one word) BumRushDaShow Apr 2015 #69

too right treestar Apr 2015 #77

Having no state sales tax has its benefits! BumRushDaShow Apr 2015 #96

Bashing southerners or the south is no better than bashing people for any other reason. Kalidurga Apr 2015 #36

But generally accepted here, pecwae Apr 2015 #121

Thanks William Sedona Apr 2015 #41

Thanks, WilliamPitt stonecutter357 Apr 2015 #45

I lived in North Florida for 5 f@$#ing years (2005-2010)... Strat54 Apr 2015 #46

This white southener.. BB_Smoke Apr 2015 #88

Thanks Will, but we're used to it. trof Apr 2015 #47

Yes and Yes again. Some of my friends are like your's. We can talk about anything but we tend ... BlueJazz Apr 2015 #63

And the REASON this great writer and thinker LEFT THE SOUTH ? vkkv Apr 2015 #70

Haters are everywhere, that's obvious, but somehow the mountain grammy Apr 2015 #71

They 'never paid a price'? B2G Apr 2015 #72

What I meant was mountain grammy Apr 2015 #76

Agreed, and right now the South is rewarded for being backwards vkkv Apr 2015 #78

Yep mountain grammy Apr 2015 #86

Thank you. BB_Smoke Apr 2015 #73

Tell that to South Carolina police depts! n/t vkkv Apr 2015 #87

Ferguson happened in a Union state BB_Smoke Apr 2015 #91

150 years ago. My how things have changed. vkkv Apr 2015 #103

Painting an entire region and its people with the same brush is uggly. Agnosticsherbet Apr 2015 #81

Who creates these "policies" ? vkkv Apr 2015 #89

Their Government formulates policy, but not everybody supports the government of their state, Agnosticsherbet Apr 2015 #99

But enough to make it very ugly. n/t vkkv Apr 2015 #105

Painting everyone in a region by the same brush is called prejudice. Agnosticsherbet Apr 2015 #118

Well, as a Southerner, I think we need and deserve a lot of criticism. I grew up with George Wallace Hoyt Apr 2015 #92

It isn't bashing if it is the truth n2doc Apr 2015 #97

Yes. And causing a great war to keep slaves is CELEBRATED, not repudiated. BillZBubb Apr 2015 #101

Time to get off the Moral High Horse. bvar22 Apr 2015 #132

There is only one state that was first to elect a black governor in the 20th century carolinayellowdog Apr 2015 #125

And Virginia has this n2doc Apr 2015 #127

one anecdote doesn't justify ignoring a great many indisputable facts. carolinayellowdog Apr 2015 #129

+1 Pooka Fey Apr 2015 #131

Frankly, Scarlett, I too no longer give a damn mountain grammy Apr 2015 #128

Born in Mississippi walkingman Apr 2015 #102

My family (father's side) has been in Florida since 1850... steve2470 Apr 2015 #104

let's call it what it is . . . bigotry DrDan Apr 2015 #120

Here's another perspective to compare from a war from 70 years ago Pooka Fey Apr 2015 #106

I won't bash the south, Blue_In_AK Apr 2015 #111

LEAVE BRITTNEY ALOOOOOONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t tazkcmo Apr 2015 #126

Randy Newman agrees Dyedinthewoolliberal Apr 2015 #130

Thanks, Will. bvar22 Apr 2015 #133

I'm from the part of the South that's really the Western Carribean. nolabear Apr 2015 #134