Comments on: A brief intro, or, what’s up with the rebel flag et al …

By: DCup

DCup — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:38:31 +0000

I’m here via Amber. I love this post. I’m a Northern transplant to Georgia. A hoosier, long time resident of Chicago and now here for five years. I try so, so hard to not be one of those snotty superior yankees, though sometimes I fail. Then I sound like an ass because who am I to be superior? I’m from Indiana!

I look forward to more writing from you.

Cheers!

By: Furry Girl

Furry Girl — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:56:42 +0000

Off topic: I was so bummed that the laser show at Stone Mountain wasn’t playing on my last Sunday in Atlanta. I would have been all over that.

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:07:34 +0000

But what I wonder is, is *anyone* “there?”

In my experience there are Northerners who like to be very superior about *not* being from the South, thereby avoiding any responsibility for examining their own prejudices. If they can shift the blame, they don’t have to do any work themselves!

By: travis

travis — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:39:53 +0000

very well put. i can’t wait to read more blog entries.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:19:21 +0000

Though I was raised in a very moderate Methodist church, I attended more than my share of Baptist-driven Vacation Bible Schools. I remember one in particular. They had us make paper-maché hot-air balloons, which was pretty cool, but the day ended with an assembly in the sanctuary, complete with sermon. The last place a southern kid wants to be on a summer afternoon is indoors. But it was there in that pew that I found my first ever Chick Tract. This is the one.

By: debrisblanche

debrisblanche — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:27:40 +0000

Thanks Kimberlee! You said some things I wanted to say (especially that MLK Jr. is from here) but I didn’t want to/have time to write three pages.

You’re totally right about the south bearing the brunt of the scapegoat-ism of racism in this country, though, of course, our history of Jim Crow, segregation, lynchings and the KKK are definitely more visible. On the other hand, Southerners are still looked down upon in this country by those in the north, as if we’re all uncivilized, inbred yokels who live in trailer parks, swill moonshine and have sex with our siblings. And, we’re *not.* We’ve made a lot of progress over the past 50 years, though we’re still not “there” yet (wherever “there” is, in terms of the eradication of bigotry, religion/superstition, etc.)

By: Being Amber Rhea » Blog Archive » New blog, and a brief Southern reflection

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:02:59 +0000

[...] Debris Blanche has moved to WordPress.com, with a new blog name, a new layout – and, I believe, a first post that should win a prize for “best first [...]

By: kimberleecline

kimberleecline — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:04:23 +0000

You’re fucking hilarious!

i have to say, I really love Atlanta. I’ve only visited twice, but had an amazing time on both occasions! Part of what was valuable to me is that Atlanta offers many opportunities for us to reconsider our past and evaluate how we will move forward in the future. It is the home of MLK Jr. It is a special place indeed. And are there any special places or special people for that matter who don’t have a messy past that they’ve learned from?

I also see racism everywhere. If the Union were truly fighting to free slaves, why are northerners so racist? The war propaganda is not the truth and written history is rarely honest. I don’t think it’s fair to dump all responsibility for racism on the south, it is rampant in many parts of our country, but not excusable anywhere.

I think making people laugh about this stuff is a good way to help people process through it without having to hate themselves for the past that they’ve inherited, I don’t think people are able to change from within when they hate themselves. Hate makes it harder to see solutions.