p>The next thing folks think of while addressing us racist rednecks is the KKK. Again, history is forgotten; the KKK originally set its sights on Yankee carpetbaggers who invaded the South to take advantage of the post-war economic plight. The racist slant evolved later.

I have been close friends

A few years ago, I got into it with a guy from Missouri when I asserted that West Virginia was a “Yankee” state, despite the fact that it lies south of the Mason Dixon line. The reason? West Virginia was created specifically because its residents did NOT want to align themselves with the Confederacy. The resulting discussion gave me a chance to air my southern pride. Looking back a few years later, I think he equated that “Southerness” with racism and decided he didn’t want to date such a person (there may be a few other factors, but that seemed to be the turning point).

Why is it that if someone raises a Southern flag they are automatically branded a racist? The reason is that most people associate the Civil War with slavery. The South (they reason) was created to keep people slaves, and so people who take pride in their Southerness must desire to reinstate slavery.

I won’t go into the history lesson, but I learned in my middle-school history class that there were several causes for the Civil War; slavery was only one. In fact, most northerners were as racist as their Southern counterparts, and Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation primarily to keep England out of the war.

The next thing folks think of while addressing us racist rednecks is the KKK. Again, history is forgotten; the KKK originally set its sights on Yankee carpetbaggers who invaded the South to take advantage of the post-war economic plight. The racist slant evolved later.

I have been close friends t

e resulting discussion gave me a chance to air my southern pride. Looking back a few years later, I think he equated that “Southerness” with racism and decided he didn’t want to date such a person (there may be a few other factors, but that seemed to be the turning point).

Why is it that if someone raises a Southern flag they are automatically branded a racist? The reason is that most people associate the Civil War with slavery. The South (they reason) was created to keep people slaves, and so people who take pride in their Southerness must desire to reinstate slavery.

I won’t go into the history lesson, but I learned in my middle-school history class that there were several causes for the Civil War; slavery was only one. In fact, most northerners were as racist as their Southern counterparts, and Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation primarily to keep England out of the war.

The next thing folks think of while addressing us racist rednecks is the KKK. Again, history is forgotten; the KKK originally set its sights on Yankee carpetbaggers who invaded the South to take advantage of the post-war economic plight. The racist slant evolved later.

I have been close friends

e raises a Southern flag they are automatically branded a racist? The reason is that most people associate the Civil War with slavery. The South (they reason) was created to keep people slaves, and so people who take pride in their Southerness must desire to reinstate slavery.

I won’t go into the history lesson, but I learned in my middle-school history class that there were several causes for the Civil War; slavery was only one. In fact, most northerners were as racist as their Southern counterparts, and Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation primarily to keep England out of the war.

The next thing folks think of while addressing us racist rednecks is the KKK. Again, history is forgotten; the KKK originally set its sights on Yankee carpetbaggers who invaded the South to take advantage of the post-war economic plight. The racist slant evolved later.

I have been close friends

history lesson, but I learned in my middle-school history class that there were several causes for the Civil War; slavery was only one. In fact, most northerners were as racist as their Southern counterparts, and Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation primarily to keep England out of the war.

The next thing folks think of while addressing us racist rednecks is the KKK. Again, history is forgotten; the KKK originally set its sights on Yankee carpetbaggers who invaded the South to take advantage of the post-war economic plight. The racist slant evolved later.

I have been close friends

p>The next thing folks think of while addressing us racist rednecks is the KKK. Again, history is forgotten; the KKK originally set its sights on Yankee carpetbaggers who invaded the South to take advantage of the post-war economic plight. The racist slant evolved later.

I have been close friends throughout school and college with people from different backgrounds, and am a member of a church that has received its share of persecution. I believe that everyone is of equal value and worth, and everyone has potential; too many people ignore that potential, but that’s another story.

I am Southern to the bone, a tried ‘n true GRIT (girl raised in the South), and I have the accent to prove it. I’m proud to be pre-Civil War Southern, since it shows my ancestors were intelligent enough to have made the right decision about the North. I love the country and the wide open spaces, grew up on horses, and dated more than one redneck.

Does that mean I think that people of any color or ethnicity are of any less value than I am? Nope.

But I do find it interesting that folks prejudge me based on the red in my redneck.