Anyway, hearing these types of things personally grates on my nerves. Every place has its negative qualities, I'll admit it. And, quite possibly the deep South might seem to have more negative than positive, especially if you aren't from here or you have lived elsewhere for a long period of time. Even so, I'd like to point out some of the positives of living here.
First, there's the constant comic relief. Seriously. Where else can you find a drive thru beer barn?
I promise a day doesn't go by here that being out and about doing general stuff won't provide you with something that will make you laugh your ass off. Just yesterday I went to Wal-Mart and in the parking lot there was a car that had "Redneck Woman" written across the windshield and "I <3 you pooky" on the driver's side window. Funny shit at every turn.
Moving on, it is absolutely beautiful here. I am not kidding. I have never been in any other state that was quite as pretty. Our skies are the brightest shade of blue I have ever seen and our cities look as if they have been cut out of the trees. And at night, you can see stars for miles.
Another positive, which happens to be a double-edged sword, is that the South is wholesome in a general way. While it is a little annoying that there are churches on every corner (sometimes three or four on every corner) and the mayor of Jackson would rather rid the city of strippers and good sex than crime, the overall goodness here is nice. I don't have to worry for the most part about my kids seeing or hearing things I don't want them to. I like that. I like that my life was fairly sheltered, which wasn't hard to do. I like that people are still easily shocked here.
One thing that most people find most frustrating about Mississippi specifically, and Alabama because they are very much alike, is the pace at which everything moves. Slow. Life, in general, moves slower here. But, if you can step back and take a deep breath, it is nice to enjoy the slow pace every once in a while.
And do not get me started about how the South is portrayed on TV and in the movies! Oh.My.God. We DO have running water AND electricity! Go figure! Guess what? I even have broadband internet! We don't all sound like Gomer Pyle and we do all wear shoes, well most of us anyway. It is very much illegal to marry your immediate family and even if it weren't, it's still very gross. We aren't all racist, although bigotry does exist here - but it's no more here than anywhere else! We are educated. We have local shopping - large, national chains even!
Lastly, the South has the prettiest girls, hands down. Seriously, peruse my friends list and I can promise most (with a few major exceptions) of the pretty girls are from the South! I don't know why, maybe it's the cornbread.
I suppose that's pretty much it. I love the South very much. I loved growing up here and although I do want to live elsewhere it isn't because I don't like it here. I grew up swimming in rivers, playing in mud, riding three- and later four-wheelers. I can tell what type of snake has crossed a dirt road by the trail it leaves, just like I can identify whether or not one is poisonous on sight. I can smell the rain before it comes, I know the secret behind a whooey stick, my sweet tea is pretty much simple syrup, and I know what the Confederate Flag REALLY stands for.
All because I'm from the South. Yeah, I'm pretty lucky like that.
Moving on, it is absolutely beautiful here. I am not kidding. I have never been in any other state that was quite as pretty. Our skies are the brightest shade of blue I have ever seen and our cities look as if they have been cut out of the trees. And at night, you can see stars for miles.
Another positive, which happens to be a double-edged sword, is that the South is wholesome in a general way. While it is a little annoying that there are churches on every corner (sometimes three or four on every corner) and the mayor of Jackson would rather rid the city of strippers and good sex than crime, the overall goodness here is nice. I don't have to worry for the most part about my kids seeing or hearing things I don't want them to. I like that. I like that my life was fairly sheltered, which wasn't hard to do. I like that people are still easily shocked here.
One thing that most people find most frustrating about Mississippi specifically, and Alabama because they are very much alike, is the pace at which everything moves. Slow. Life, in general, moves slower here. But, if you can step back and take a deep breath, it is nice to enjoy the slow pace every once in a while.
And do not get me started about how the South is portrayed on TV and in the movies! Oh.My.God. We DO have running water AND electricity! Go figure! Guess what? I even have broadband internet! We don't all sound like Gomer Pyle and we do all wear shoes, well most of us anyway. It is very much illegal to marry your immediate family and even if it weren't, it's still very gross. We aren't all racist, although bigotry does exist here - but it's no more here than anywhere else! We are educated. We have local shopping - large, national chains even!
Lastly, the South has the prettiest girls, hands down. Seriously, peruse my friends list and I can promise most (with a few major exceptions) of the pretty girls are from the South! I don't know why, maybe it's the cornbread.
I suppose that's pretty much it. I love the South very much. I loved growing up here and although I do want to live elsewhere it isn't because I don't like it here. I grew up swimming in rivers, playing in mud, riding three- and later four-wheelers. I can tell what type of snake has crossed a dirt road by the trail it leaves, just like I can identify whether or not one is poisonous on sight. I can smell the rain before it comes, I know the secret behind a whooey stick, my sweet tea is pretty much simple syrup, and I know what the Confederate Flag REALLY stands for.
All because I'm from the South. Yeah, I'm pretty lucky like that.
