Southern Identity on Decline

POSTED BY: Succatash
UPDATED: Saturday, October 25, 2003 14:08
VIEWED: 11855
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SUCCATASH

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 9:03 PM

Southern Identity on Decline, Study Says
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=18&u=/a
p/20031001/ap_on_re_us/vanishing_southerners

...she's seen so many new people move here that "it's no wonder" the number of self-described Southerners has dropped.

STILLSHINY

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 9:16 PM

I'd say I'm proud to be from the South, but I'm originally from Oregon. So it seems strange. But I look forward to my family having some southern pride. There is a difference living down here. Some good, some not so much. Take the good leave the bad. You might not see me wearing a "South will rise again" shirt, but I'm glad I live here. There is a respect and a pride not seen elsewhere. And dang good cookin'. Plus we all get ta talk like 'em folk on Serenity and it's almost downright natural. (ok, not really)

Mal: “See how I'm not punching him? I think I've grown!”

HJERMSTED

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 9:32 PM

That's odd... I feel like Southern culture is actually infiltrating all facets of American life and that, as a result, Northern culture is on the decline.

Every where I turn it's NASCAR this and new country music that; Big time wrestling here and another Southern President there... All originating from the South (if I'm not mistaken) It's actually become quite oppressive if you ask me.

When I drive 30 minutes out of any major city on the west coast US, suddenly everyone has a southern accident whether they're from the south or not (comedian David Cross calls it the "hick" accent).

My friends and I joke around that the Confederates actually won the Civil War. LOL

I'd love to give America's reigns back to some Northerners for a decade or two.

mattro

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 10:05 PM

In a related story, read here about one of my favorite bands.... and have a sense of humor, mmkay?

http://66.70.157.23/index.htm

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

LIVINGIMPAIRED

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 10:23 PM

Well, I'm actually from the South, myslef. However, I've lived up and down the east coast since then, so I usually think of myself as American, and little else. It kind of makes the question, "Where are you from?" a bit difficult, simply because I never know whether to tell people were I was born or where I'm living now.

Personally, I don't really like the idea of identifying with a specific region of the country. I prefer a broader view.

________________

Sorry to barge in. I'm afraid we have a slight apocalypse.

SARAHETC

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 10:27 PM

Interesting little featurette-- never would have considered Oklahoma the south but okay.

I think it's telling that they interviewed a native southerner, who claims southern identity, but nobody else. Also telling that the single interview is with a woman in Franklin-- a community that gets wealthier every day with much of that wealth coming from transplated executives. (And if she was born in Gallatin, she's moved up in the world to get there.)

Further, they note that that transplant influx is what's diluting the so-called identity, which really doesn't seem to be any actual set of characteristics so much as it's just the claim, "I'm from the south." And the data doesn't take into account, from what the article says, how long a person had lived there and what effect it had on their claim one way or another.

I've lived in the South (insert your own "Not Oklahoma" joke) for over half my life and consider myself southern. My parents though, who live in a the suburb between Nashville and Franklin (transplanted, etc.) have taken some 12 years to stop calling themselves "midwesterners" and expounding on the virtues of "midwesterness." Three or four years ago they never would have said they were southerners. But now? No doubt.

Did anybody else think it seemed slightly pejorative too? It seemed like they were subtly trying to perpetuate some kind of good ole boy stereotype-- a hillbilly with a gun and a membership card in the GOP-- or something. Interesting too, that this is coming from Vanderbilt where the Fugitive School of American letters flourished-- the Fugitives (Robert Penn Warren is the most famous) were fleeing the misleading romance of "moonlight and magnolias."

And it's OT or whatever, but thanks for pointing it out.

I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case

GINOBIFFARONI

Thursday, October 2, 2003 12:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
In a related story, read here about one of my favorite bands.... and have a sense of hum, mmkay?

I see they have a song " Firefly " on the Dirt Track Date

Any Good ?

" If wishes were Horses, then we'd all be eatting Steak "

DRAKON

Thursday, October 2, 2003 10:19 AM

Its called a melting pot. Southern and Northern cultures are declining, or rather intermingling, and hopefully breeding a stronger, better hybred.

Its all that darn fraternization I tell ya.

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

PEG

Thursday, October 2, 2003 11:07 AM

I was born in New Orleans and I've lived here my whole life so Southern is what I am. I think a lot of people are leary of saying that they're southerns because its assumed that they are illerate and bigoted. I have a great deal of pride in the fact that my family fought in the Civil War, but the only flag that flies over my house is red white and blue.

JOHNNYREB

Thursday, October 2, 2003 2:40 PM

Actually, all of the battle flags and national flags of the Confederacy were red, white and blue too. (Not counting state flags.)

I myself was born and raised in the North, but my entire family hails from Maryland. Where's that leave me?

Fox sucks! Viva Firefly!

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