Hey "The South"... Let it Go!

I never really knew about "The South" until I moved to Northern Florida from Wisconsin. Just about all of the myths and sterotypes are in fact true. Southern Hospitality is understated up north, as resident folk certainly extend a kind gesture whenever possible. Other traditions like food, family, etc are maintained here and make it a pleasant place to live.

However, while some traditions are important, others are best not perpetuated. These long-standing trends, some disturbing and freaky, are also maintained. Confederate flags wave proudly and some bumper stickers extoll "Free the South". Many here long for the Good 'Ol Days, simpler times when they could collar up the Negroids, slap around the woman and get no back sassin' from the childrens. Free the South? Election Red/Blue maps reveal it not only to be free, but even in charge!

You might think The South is free if it were not sucking the more productive parts of the nation dry. Of the ten states receiving the most federal aid and paying the least, and 5 of these are in The South, four are "other red states", one is Washington DC (not a state at all!). Eight of the ten states that receive the least federal aid pay the most and these are blue states, most being Yankee blue. Free the damn North!

Here are some simple points that are not well understood here:

1. The Civil War is over.
2. Dale Earnhardt is dead and not coming back.
3. It is difficult to display a symbol of hate in good taste.
4. That "... you could be a redneck" stuff was funny in 1986, but is a bit tired now.
5. You can bring your dog into the house during the hurricane.
6. What the world thinks does matter.