Love The South; But Some Need to Get On-Board

The past five-years during winter months of January and February, my wife, Gerry and I have been blessed with the opportunity to be part of the large contingency of 'Snowbirds' who migrate to the sunny and warmer area of Florida. On our treks to and from our destination, we naturally travel through the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The mid-South and Deep South.

Those States each hold their own unique beauty. In our travels, I have met people mostly similar to other people whom I've met in travels North, West and East. There is one exception. In the South, you are more likely to observe more expressions of 'regionalism identity' and even more unfortunately, racism.

Don't get me wrong. I don't believe American regions outside the South are free of bigotry, prejudice and racism, however I am convinced many folks in the South more freely suggest and express those negative 'feelings.' How else would one explain a sign on a major Florida highway stating, "Niggers Go Home." Wherever the hell 'home' is. During those winter months in the South, I see many people of color in service roles but fewer people of color enjoying the 'same' life I'm enjoying as I might see in the North. Now, on every given Saturday in Alabama and Florida those good old boys want some 'black boys' goin' deep for passes on the gridiron...for sure! But those same football-fellas ain't so welcome in the some neighborhoods or telephoning daughters of some Crimsons Tide football season ticket holders.

Another show of 'regionalism' is the locals' misguided attachment to the South's role in the Civil War. This nonsense regarding the Confederate Flag and those Confederate statues is absolutely 'racist-stubbornness.' That thinking is on the WRONG side of history. The South was fighting to destroy our United States over slavery. When you lose a war you don't get to erect statutes of your wrong-minded leaders and you don't get to flaunt the enemies flag. You don't see statues of British Generals or the British Flag in any of the 13- original colonies.
Thats What I Like About the South