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Mississippi - state of mind
Peters I find your topic interesting in that you say racism is still alive (technically all humans are a race, so we really aren't pitting one race against another since there is only one Race and that the Human Race). We are talking "Ethnicity".
Anywho, as I mentioned I'm a Michigan yankee working on the MS Gulf cleaning up Katrina (yes, still).
Nearly every day I have to knock on doors looking for work. I have been discriminated against not for my color, but from where I was born (and I have german and french roots) by dyed-in-the-wool MS locals who have told me to my face, "you ain't frum heeah--you all haven't done NUTHIN' fo' me--an' I don't give ANY wouk to ANYONE that ain't frum heeah". I tell them I understand, and they calm down a bit and shake my hand, and I never hear from them again.
Now keep in mind, I'm white, male, and 43 years old---and travelled 3600 miles total getting my equipment down here to help out (and of course pay my bills---I'm not a non-profit organization but it feels that way sometimes  ). What I think they're referring to is the Civil War. I've met numerous people from MS and Arkansas who are still living the War (well-to-do white males in their late 60's early 70's). We Yankees see it as History---get over it. You can't move forward if you can't get past your past.
That said, I have met many nice people down here, many of whom have opened their homes to me and allowed me to set up camp on their property (not always for free of course--we trade work for rent). This probably wouldn't happen in the north.
I really like it down heeah. Oddly, this place feels more like home than "home" does.
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Mississippi - state of mind
KT: "Funny how such a smart person was so dumb to get right in the middle of really stupid people."
I'm at a loss as to what these means. Are you referring to me?
As far slavery in the north, the automotive industry is a good example, employees ARE seen as property. 'Nuf said.
And I have never heard of notherners buying and selling slaves. Unless you're talking about the East Coast, then yes like Boston.
Further, it well documented that it was in fact the friends and families of the "africans" that sold them originally. It wasn't as though an american ship pulled into port and then abdcucted them and took thm back to america to be sold. They were sold by their own people.
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Mississippi - state of mind
I was told by some higher educated MS resisdents that the reason I was shunned by the older white guys who didn't want this Yankee around was for one reason: The guys didn't want my Northern views put down their throats. I asked what exactly that meant. Much to my astonishment hey replied "slavery"---huh? Slavery? I thought we were past that? But it still pervaids the last generation's thoughts that the North tried shove their way of life on the South---and that's what they I was here to do. Where does this stuff come from? Are there stories that are apssed down to the generations? Is it a frame of mind? Are these guys on drugs? Please, someone give me some insight to this.
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Mississippi - state of mind
WW: I'm not up on my Civil War but the terms Rebel and Yankee, aren't they associated with fighting the Britians for independence? Maybe Damn Yankee is a reference to the slavery part of the CW? In the north the Civil War is taught from a perspective that here are the facts (whatever the "facts" are depends on which side the Mason-Dixon line you're on I suppose).
You mention not liking Hitler and his gang. Incidentally, my great uncle fought against his uncle in WWII. You may have heard of him Albert Von Kesslering. Family folklore says my great uncle took a lot flack from his fellow soldiers when his name was read aloud. Just like the CW, brother against brother, uncle against nephew.
To answer your question about "counting to a hundred"...that was waht boggled my mind: this guy was very wealthy as were the other jerks who gave me a piece of their mind (or what was left ) 150 years ago these same guys could have been the slave holders we talk about!
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Mississippi - state of mind
Here's another thing I noticed about the culture here: It seems there is a lot of engrained discrimination not against blacks, but white against white.
MS people on the Gulf resent New Orleans "Coon Asses" buying property here.
New Orleans people don't call themselves rednecks (Yankees lovingly call anyone south of Toledo rednecks). They call themselves Southerners.
White New Orleans people associate themselves more with their Boston, Mass. cousins than anywhere else in the country just by the way they speak.
White N.O. people don't like to let on to MS people where they're from---not that that they can hide it when they speak, mind you.
I heard a 19 y.o. MS girl in a Subway restaurant making fun of the way her New Orleans boyfriend talked, like he was retarded. I told her she sounded different to me too. She said, "why not? MS people are known for being the dumbest and poorest people around" I was shocked that she not only was talking about herself but that's how she was taught.
What I have to laugh at is people are people no matter their background, where they are from, or how they live. The only thing that makes them different (good or bad) is the the name they themselves give themselves that divides them.
Just like blacks, if you want to be like a white american and have all the same choices as white americans--don't call yourself and African-American---now yu just gave yourself a name and divided yourself against the majority. Then you put up a wall that says I'm different than you, and tough--you're gonna like it. Or so says this FrancoBelgianGermanAmerican-IndianEnglish-American.
But I'm jis' sayin'.
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Mississippi - state of mind
Peters: I'm a christian myself.
However, invoking scripture is out of place here. This borders on preaching and this isn't the place for it. And I for one don't want to hear it. Period. This isn't a soap box. I not only feel uncomfortable about hearing it, I get very suspicious of motives. Besides, invoking God and His word doesn't lend credence to your or anyone's else's argument; rather, it weakens it to the point that the argument is nothing more than quotes. And it shows a complete lack of reasoning, thought and logic. Anyone can spew old, written down thoughts and words, and this isn't what this venue is for. So let's keep it lite, accurate, and above all... fun.
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Mississippi - state of mind
Peters: You said, "Being from the north or anywhere else is not good. Why are you here has been a question all over the US."
Is this directed at me? If so, what exactly do you mean by that? If not, what do you mean by it anyway?
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Mississippi - state of mind
Peters and DenisS: For the record I'm a Fundmentalist Baptist.
"EW: The question why are you living here? Only indicates that we are not following what we are commanded to do as Christians and have no concept of what it means to be a Christian.
If you are not comfortable about talking about the most important aspect of your life, you might need to rethink your objectives and priorities."
My "priorities and objectives" aren't up for discussion here. Again, we can have a discussion without being preached at. Just because you lean one way or another religion-wise doesn't mean you have to bring it to the table (read: keep it to yourself). Bringing the bible into the fray is like saying you have the last word, or that no one can challenge it---case closed. That is very dangerous. From your religious perspective (not a "thinking-man's" you have the last and final word, because YOU have it from/on a "higher authority". That's bunk. Anyone who thinks this way is like a machine---"garbage in, garbage out".
Here's another analogy: It's sort of like when a little brother says to the older brother at dinner time "come inside and wash your hands". Big brother doesn't listen does he out of instinct but moreover self-preservation (you ain't in charge)? BUT if little brother says "MOM says come in and wash your hands" there is no question that he has "authority"--no discussion---no debate---AND no reasoning--no thought on big brother's behalf. See what I mean? If you leave MOM out of it and use your own words and thought processes to get your point across you will fare better in a discussion. You should be able to think on your own, reason on your own and speak on your own in an intelligible way without having to bring man-made, feel-good, look-at-me, "religion" into it. Anyone can regurgitate scripture to make fit a particular purpose or cause--look at the problems we have terrorists and al Queda as an example. And they think THEY are right and hell-bent on having the last word. Borderline zealotry has no place in discussions or debates. And for that matter in society in general.
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Mississippi - state of mind
KT: "Youse guys" isn't a northern thing as in where I'm from. It's mainly eastern seaboard (NY, Mass., etc.). We...ahem... speak proper english, thank you very much. Where I'm from where "you" can imply one or many in a group, just like "they" can mean one or many. BUT we (I) do say "you guys" and I have to catch myself down here in mixed company as a matter of respect. Case in point, I was working for a female customer yesterday whose friend/helper is in-your-face gay. He refers to himself as Mary---so I was at a loss for words when I bid them good-bye as I started to say "see you guys later"--neither was a "guy" . Mary had a wide grin on his face when he watched me trip over my words. All in a day's work though. And KT, like you suggested privately (thanks) I had many a Coke, even dinner and lunch with them and they are just good, down-to-earth people. But, to be fair they were long-time transplants from New Orleans living here is Miss.
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Mississippi - state of mind
You are forgiven my son. Go forth with thine post and prosper. Fill your loins...errrr...that was a line from a porno flick---never mind---wrong discussion group.
What's funny is the naked bushmen being exploited by porn as stated above. Now that's NOT one video I'm going to rush out and buy---"Bushmen Gone Wild", or "Umaba Does Africa".
And while I'm on the subject, ever notice that those who preach against porn, prostitution, being gay publically are the ones who are addicted to it privately---Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker come to mind.
Porn, just like any thing else is in the eye of the beholder. Just like drinking is. I saw a preacher the other day drinking a beer, on a Sunday. And back home south of Detroit (I lived north of) the Catholic churches have "beer tents", "carnival days", and "Bingo nites"---hmmm. The last time I looked those were all Sins (capital S).
Bottom line, it's all what you want to make it into. Or for some, justify.
But I'm jis' sayin'
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Mississippi - state of mind
KT: I can understand now since they are from Dayton! The use of the slang term "yous" is used by largely those of limited...ahhh...edumacation. However the term "ya'll" is not necessarily considered slang as it a contraction of two words "you" or "ya'" for short and "all".
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Mississippi - state of mind
WW: What about Big Business? They are the biggest stumbling block to progress. Case in point: Back in the '20's I had a great uncle who was a machinist for GM. On his own time he made a device that looked like a simple impellor that mounted between the carb and the intake of a Caddillac. It nearly doubled the fuel mileage. He contacted one of the big gasoline supplier of the time. They came out and bought his invention and the tools in basement for $3000.
Why?
They didn't need competition.
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Mississippi - state of mind
DenisS:
"EW,
It's a free country - what stopped your uncle from me the invention himself?"
How can you tie being "free" with "marketing"?
Assuming you knew my uncle (and you must have to make an off-the-cuff remark like that) how can you assume he didn't market it? The fact that an oil co. DID buy it qualifies as "marketing." For your edification, I have marketed my inventions going back over 20 years. It takes more money, more time, and more perseverence than you could ever imagine. My dad was an inventor also; he was featured in Popular Science Magazine in 1976 for a waste-oil-burning heater he developed that put out 6 million BTU. And he ran into marketing blues, though Chrysler and GM were in line to buy it.
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Mississippi - state of mind
SG8: How would things be different if the North hadn't won the war? And why does this "us against them" still persist today, That's more of a statement than question.
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Mississippi - state of mind
SG8: "It is the old chip on the shoulder, cant get it from under your skin. It seems to be a matter of competition more than right or wrong."
SG, but that is the bigger question: (keeping in mind I'm Yankee and have not be engrained with Civil War still lives thinking---seriously) why does it have to be a a "competition"? To my mind it causes a rift, in the same way when blacks who are 10th generation americans refer to themselves as african-americans. They're as much an african american as I'm a german-american. Seriously, think about it---do you see the paralell?
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Mississippi - state of mind
SG: Something to think about: I was watching Tony Brown's Journal on PBS. They had a speaker on the show that made the point there are not "races" plural, but only one "race" which is Human. "Ethnicity" may be the word you're looking for when it comes to pride.
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Mississippi - state of mind
SG: Yer missin' the boat.
There are no racES.
Only one racE:
Human.
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Mississippi - state of mind
Awe, com' on... gimme a hug. If I'm the smartest, then you might wanna get to know more people 
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Mississippi - state of mind
SG: Hey, buddy ol' pal... you used that "smartest man I know" another time toward me (I think about power rakes if memory serves). What's up wit' dat?
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