Moving to the south

[NDFan392]

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And yes, without the Bay Area, California would have went for Bush in the last election.

That is factually incorrect.

If you erase the Bay Area (the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco), and all her votes cast in November:

John F. Kerry: 4,818,759

George W. Bush: 4,689,001

Kerry still wins the state of California by 129,758 votes.

 

[Writer1985]

I have a quick question that I hope someone would be able to shed some light on. While I do like Wake as a medical school, I do have some concern about living in the south from a lifestyle standpoint. Can anyone who has moved to the south (NC, TN, SC, KY, VA, etc.) from a fairly progressive state let me know how you like it there? Feel free to PM me. By progressive, I mean someplace like CA, OR, WA, or even Canada. There is just something about supporting Bush on social policy that I just don't understand.

I'm living in SoCal right now.

Don't make the South=conservative=Bush fallacy. The election was divided along urban-rural lines rather than North-South...but that's a whole other issue. As for your question, I grew up in Northern Virginia, which believe me is not at all conservative. My county was overwhelmingly pro-Kerry and does a lot of socially progressive programs. I'm now at college at UVA in Charlottesville, which is sort of like a little liberal enclave amidst farmland. Some of my friends who came from smaller towns (all over the country) have told me they are surprised at the liberal presence on campus. We aren't super-progressive, I guess, but we are by no means conservative.

My point is that urban/suburban areas, even in the South, are more likely to be Democrat, while rural areas are more likely to be Republican. I don't know anything about Wake in particular, but it's probably better to look at the student body/surrounding areas, rather than try to make a blanket geographical statement.

 

[Mateodaspy]

I have lived in the South all of my life, as well. I am not Christian, though I am a Republican. And I have several gay friends. Please leave if you think it is so bad in the South. There are people who have the views you have stated. But, to implicate that it is the majority, is just being a hater. And I think that is what you just called everyone in the South.

I would ask everyone to form your own opinion, and not assume that the South is as bad as this poster and others would have you to believe.

I have known many more Southerners who are accepting of things they don't understand than "thoughtless hicks." And I have lived in more than one extremely small coal-mining town and/or farming town.

I have met the "If the south would've won we'd have had it made" people as well. Don't judge a community by its most isolated individuals. That will lead to a bad judgement in the North or the South.

I love it when people use the argument that they "have gay friends" to show that they are not bigoted or prejudiced against sexual minorities. Yet, these same people go out and vote for Republicans, those who seek to permanently condemn gay and lesbian Americans to second-class citizenship in this country, deeming them unworthy of the same rights and legal protections as heterosexuals. As a Republican "with gay friends", perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those whom you allege to care about...

And to frame this in terms of my decision to leave the state of Texas: I frankly do not wish to reside in a state that makes absolutely no effort to afford me my basic civil rights -- such as my right to not be fired from a job due to my sexual orientation, my right to enter into a relationship with my partner and receive basic legal protections, such as the ability to have hosptial visitation rights, to have and adopt children, and to receive similar financial benefits given to heterosexual couples. When a society makes the decision to embed in its Constitution an amendment that would forever deny my equality, I fully assert that I am entitled to reject said society and go to a place where I will be accepted and be afforded respect under the law.

 

[LauraMac]

i think the OP's question is very valid, and no one should be acting like he is being an a$$. he never said the south was bad; instead he asked for more details/info to see if it would be a good fit for him.

there are certain places i would never, ever want to live in this country. this does not mean i think the people there are bad or that the particular cities are bad. i just wouldn't fit in as well there as i would other places, and that matters a lot for my level of happiness, which happens to be more important to me than anything else in life.

good luck on your decision, OP. i don't know anything about the area or i'd share my opinions.

 

[NPursuit]

I love it when people use the argument that they "have gay friends" to show that they are not bigoted or prejudiced against sexual minorities. Yet, these same people go out and vote for Republicans, those who seek to permanently condemn gay and lesbian Americans to second-class citizenship in this country, deeming them unworthy of the same rights and legal protections as heterosexuals. As a Republican "with gay friends", perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those whom you allege to care about...

Retaining a society's family-unit in its most stable form and encouraging such a society is by no means an act of condemnation or of creating a second-class citizenry, particularly when that family unit has existed for eons with no dispute whatsoever. If you want to think that way, it's my opinion that you're dead wrong.

As a member of society, perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those you allege to care about.

Listen, you want to create victims, I'll create one, too. And mine is a heck of a lot bigger than yours. Every time someone has weakened traditional marriage, society as a whole has paid for it. I see no reason to venture any further down this slippery slope. It's a losing, counterproductice move every time.

 

[MoosePilot]

Retaining a society's family-unit in its most stable form and encouraging such a society is by no means an act of condemnation or of creating a second-class citizenry, particularly when that family unit has existed for eons with no dispute whatsoever. If you want to think that way, it's my opinion that you're dead wrong.

As a member of society, perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those you allege to care about.

Listen, you want to create victims, I'll create one, too. And mine is a heck of a lot bigger than yours. Every time someone has weakened traditional marriage, society as a whole has paid for it. I see no reason to venture any further down this slippery slope. It's a losing, counterproductice move every time.

Preach on, brother!

 

[Mateodaspy]

Retaining a society's family-unit in its most stable form and encouraging such a society is by no means an act of condemnation or of creating a second-class citizenry, particularly when that family unit has existed for eons with no dispute whatsoever. If you want to think that way, it's my opinion that you're dead wrong.

As a member of society, perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those you allege to care about.

Listen, you want to create victims, I'll create one, too. And mine is a heck of a lot bigger than yours. Every time someone has weakened traditional marriage, society as a whole has paid for it. I see no reason to venture any further down this slippery slope. It's a losing, counterproductice move every time.

Thankfully we have a court system that has consistently endured throughout the various civil rights struggles in our nation's nearly 230 year history. I can take heart in knowing that someday soon the tyranny of the religious right will not stand judicial scrutiny.

In the meantime, I'll be out destroying your precious traditional society... i've got a date tonight. =)

 

[MoosePilot]

Thankfully we have a court system that has consistently endured throughout the various civil rights struggles in our nation's nearly 230 year history. I can take heart in knowing that someday soon the tyranny of the religious right will not stand judicial scrutiny.

In the meantime, I'll be out destroying your precious traditional society... i've got a date tonight. =)

Just cluttering it, not destroying it.

If my precious traditional society isn't tough enough to survive you, I hope it does die.

 

[EPA7X1]

I love it when people use the argument that they "have gay friends" to show that they are not bigoted or prejudiced against sexual minorities. Yet, these same people go out and vote for Republicans, those who seek to permanently condemn gay and lesbian Americans to second-class citizenship in this country, deeming them unworthy of the same rights and legal protections as heterosexuals. As a Republican "with gay friends", perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those whom you allege to care about...

I do not choose whom to vote for based on whether or not they support gay marriage, believe it or not. And my gay friends (they are real, not alleged) know that I really do not care about gay marriage one way or the other. I don't know if you understood my point, which was to say that you shouldn't lump the South into one big stereotyped category. I was not using my alleged friends as an argument for anything.

 

[Mateodaspy]

I do not choose whom to vote for based on whether or not they support gay marriage, believe it or not. And my gay friends (they are real, not alleged) know that I really do not care about gay marriage one way or the other. I don't know if you understood my point, which was to say that you shouldn't lump the South into one big stereotyped category. I was not using my alleged friends as an argument for anything.

Then why did you mention them in your post?

 

[LauraMac]

Retaining a society's family-unit in its most stable form and encouraging such a society is by no means an act of condemnation or of creating a second-class citizenry, particularly when that family unit has existed for eons with no dispute whatsoever. If you want to think that way, it's my opinion that you're dead wrong.

As a member of society, perhaps you should think twice about how your vote affects the lives of those you allege to care about.

Listen, you want to create victims, I'll create one, too. And mine is a heck of a lot bigger than yours. Every time someone has weakened traditional marriage, society as a whole has paid for it. I see no reason to venture any further down this slippery slope. It's a losing, counterproductice move every time.

yeah, cause traditional marriage is so intact right now... 🙄

 

[EPA7X1]

Then why did you mention them in your post?

Ugh, here...

 

[patzan]

Hey OP...do you get it now?

 

[medstyle]

I had some family members move to the south, near wake actually, for a long period of time. The south basically sucks. If you like sprawl or whatever you call it when there is a big flat piece of land and huge cheap looking warestyle buildings scattered about, you have NC. Everything is franchises...walmart, food lion, just huge stores. As far as "southern hospitality" goes, I think its only extended to you if you're white or maybe black. Definately not asian.

Its pretty boring. But its cheap. For a med student it might not be too bad though. The women are hotter, but if ur sophisticated enough to find newsweek to be watered down drivel, you might not like it. I know i am stereotyping, but i have been all over the south and saw the same thing. Once u get past northern VA, the landscape changes. Things get better in florida of course, maybe in atlanta which i've never been too.

i dunno, I don't find areas that pride themselves on different varieties of barbeque sauce to be particularly stimulating. This is coming from an uptight east coaster who lives in the suburbs and loves the city.

 

[PhotogMD]

Code Brown, I don't know if you're still reading this, but perhaps I can give you some perspective....

I'm from Texas, I've lived in the east bay near San Francisco, I went to school at the University of South Carolina, I've also been accepted at Wake, and I'm pretty liberal.

The South, does seem to contain a few more conservative people than CA. That's a given. However, I really did not find people's political or religious belief's to be oppressive. Sure, occasionally people approached me wanting to know if I was interested in attending a "fellowship" event, but I also encountered many people who shared my liberal beliefs. Several times I participated in open discussions where differences were encountered. These were dealt with in a mature and intelligent way where people were able to present their arguments without retribution.

I can understand that you're concerned about moving to a region of the country that you don't know much about. I have found the south to be by far the most friendly place in the country. I think you can feel free to disagree without being burned alive and you'll find that there are plenty of people who share your views, particularly in academic settings (like med school). I have had great relationships there with people I completely disagree with politically. Really, it's up to you to make it what you want it to be. There are far more things to talk about than politics and you can find common ground there.

 

[tigress]

If you like sprawl or whatever you call it when there is a big flat piece of land and huge cheap looking warestyle buildings scattered about, you have NC. Everything is franchises...walmart, food lion, just huge stores.

sounds like New Jersey to me...

 

[NPursuit]

yeah, cause traditional marriage is so intact right now... 🙄

Every time someone has weakened traditional marriage, society as a whole has paid for it. I see no reason to venture any further down this slippery slope.

So let's just keep swingin' the ole wrecking ball until we're finished and then say oops? Is that it?

Really, now.

 

[Attentive]

As far as "southern hospitality" goes, I think its only extended to you if you're white or maybe black. Definately not asian.

Actually that's not entirely true. I visited Winston Salem via Amtrak. On the transfer point, an elderly white gentleman approached me on the train platform. He was very friendly, genuine southern hospitality at work. He eyed me up and down, smiled, then approached me, still in suit and tie coming back from interview.

"So there fella, what kind of Oriental are you?"

"Hello...I'm Korean, heh South Korean."

Still smiling then looking at my suitcase.

"So you got some kimchi in there?"

I guess the real point is whether or not you feel like explaining yourself to people who are friendly, curious and just plain clueless about your "group."

It's just that in areas where there are "more of you" to go around, the friendly people know better than to ask such awkward questions. Bigots are present everywhere so they'll always hate you, but at least the friendlies aren't going to unintentionally recollect every stereotype they know in order to find some common ground.

Edit: To be fair, that gentleman was only one blatant example I encountered in a three day stint.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Actually that's not entirely true. I visited Winston Salem via Amtrak. On the transfer point, an elderly white gentleman approached me on the train platform. He was very friendly, genuine southern hospitality at work. He eyed me up and down, smiled, then approached me, still in suit and tie coming back from interview.

"So there fella, what kind of Oriental are you?"

"Hello...I'm Korean, heh South Korean."

Still smiling then looking at my suitcase.

"So you got some kimchi in there?"

I guess the real point is whether or not you feel like explaining yourself to people who are friendly, curious and just plain clueless about your "group."

It's just that in areas where there are "more of you" to go around, the friendly people know better than to ask such awkward questions. Bigots are present everywhere so they'll always hate you, but at least the friendlies aren't going to unintentionally recollect every stereotype they know in order to find some common ground.

Edit: To be fair, that gentleman was only one blatant example I encountered in a three day stint.

I think many in the south are just plain ignorant about some of these groups. Immigrants from all over the world have been flowing into New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco for over 100 years. This is not the case in the south, and I think that many are honestly curious and just don't know.

Incidentally (and not to offend), but the term Oriental (although ethnocentric) was used in the past, and it wasn't insulting either, so perhaps southerners are "outdated" on this point. I would also suspect that they occasionally use the terms "negro" and "Indian", which have been replaced by more appropriate terms in other parts of the country.

 

[Attentive]

I think many in the south are just plain ignorant about some of these groups. Immigrants from all over the world have been flowing into New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco for over 100 years. This is not the case in the south, and I think that many are honestly curious and just don't know.

Yep, upon moving in you suddenly become a curiosity in line at the bank, driving down the street, walking into class. If you don't mind it coming up now and again then it's not a factor. If you're sensitive to it then it becomes a factor. Personally it doesn't bother me too much as I recognize the intent rather than the act. But it is a factor to consider.

 

[MoosePilot]

I think many in the south are just plain ignorant about some of these groups. Immigrants from all over the world have been flowing into New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco for over 100 years. This is not the case in the south, and I think that many are honestly curious and just don't know.

Incidentally (and not to offend), but the term Oriental (although ethnocentric) was used in the past, and it wasn't insulting either, so perhaps southerners are "outdated" on this point. I would also suspect that they occasionally use the terms "negro" and "Indian", which have been replaced by more appropriate terms in other parts of the country.

Depending on his age, he may have also had experiences with people from that part of the world that shaped him as a young man and don't leave him with a completely positive picture. Not nice, but understandable I think. After all, if some are asking for apologies for the Crusades, you can see how one old man might have opinions shaped by World War II or the Korean war.

 

[LSUwannabe]

And to frame this in terms of my decision to leave the state of Texas: I frankly do not wish to reside in a state that makes absolutely no effort to afford me my basic civil rights -- such as my right to not be fired from a job due to my sexual orientation, my right to enter into a relationship with my partner and receive basic legal protections, such as the ability to have hosptial visitation rights, to have and adopt children, and to receive similar financial benefits given to heterosexual couples. When a society makes the decision to embed in its Constitution an amendment that would forever deny my equality, I fully assert that I am entitled to reject said society and go to a place where I will be accepted and be afforded respect under the law.

So despite your contempt for it - the South really isn't the problem; rather the entire country. I guess you're "leaving" to Canada?

 

[Mateodaspy]

So despite your contempt for it - the South really isn't the problem; rather the entire country. I guess you're "leaving" to Canada?

Last I checked Massachusetts had legalized gay marriage, and the public even supports it -- a far cry from Texas where people don't even agree that I shouldn't be able to be fired from my job for being gay. The United States is not some monolithic beast of fundamentalism, as much as the conservatives would like to portray it as such.

 

[Mateodaspy]

Every time someone has weakened traditional marriage, society as a whole has paid for it. I see no reason to venture any further down this slippery slope.

So let's just keep swingin' the ole wrecking ball until we're finished and then say oops? Is that it?

Really, now.

I do believe the huge numbers of no-fault divorces are more of a threat to the institution than anything else. Why haven't there been constitutional amendments proposed to ban that? 😕 😕 😕

Heterosexuals need to first address their own destructive practices that are leading to the downfall of marriage in our society... instead of consistently scapegoating homosexuals.

 

[riceman04]

I am also from So Cal, but I attended Rice U in Houston. If it was not for the bad weather and all the bayous I would have felt right at home. Being that Houston is the fourth largest city (and rapidly growing both in population and geographical size), you do not really feel like you are in the south (well you kind of dont) because there is so much to do and extremely diverse.

Rice is smack dab in the middle of houston, right across from the Texas Medical Center (which by the way is full of opportunity. It is the largest medical center in the world), and about 10 min (on surface streets) from downtown H-town.

And like in So Cal, you will need a car. They are expanding their new light rail so that people will be able to access more of houston without waiting for their sorry bus system.

In terms of housing: very cheap compared to Los Angeles and many of the surrouding suburbs. For example, you can rent out a nice apartment in the med center/ West U./River Oaks/Galleria areas for around $850/month (average). I know that may still be kind of high, but these are the most expensive areas of Houston.

The people: most are very curteous compared to here or NYC (and everybody says maam and sr). But there is still that metropolis vibe present.

Hope this helps.

Finally, Houston, after Austin, is probably the most liberal southern city.

cya!

 

[Code Brown]

Don't make the South=conservative=Bush fallacy. The election was divided along urban-rural lines rather than North-South...but that's a whole other issue. As for your question, I grew up in Northern Virginia, which believe me is not at all conservative. My county was overwhelmingly pro-Kerry and does a lot of socially progressive programs. I'm now at college at UVA in Charlottesville, which is sort of like a little liberal enclave amidst farmland. Some of my friends who came from smaller towns (all over the country) have told me they are surprised at the liberal presence on campus. We aren't super-progressive, I guess, but we are by no means conservative.

My point is that urban/suburban areas, even in the South, are more likely to be Democrat, while rural areas are more likely to be Republican. I don't know anything about Wake in particular, but it's probably better to look at the student body/surrounding areas, rather than try to make a blanket geographical statement.

Sorry, my bad. I didn't mean to toss Northern/Coastal VA into the mix. I was referring to the southern parts of VA in my original message.

 

[Code Brown]

Hey OP...do you get it now?

Yes, it didn't take more than a few messages for it to come across. Thanks to everyone for your responses (even those of you blasting me - those comments were just as useful). Hopefully, this has also helped others facing the same dilemna.

 

[nanosomic]

First of all, I think we need to approach the situation honestly. I'll make note of the fact that the only counties in southern California that actually didn't go to Bush were L.A., Imperial, and Santa Barbara (v. the 7 counties that went to Bush). In fact, it it wasn't for the Bay Area, California goes to Bush. So drawing this mythical little liberal worldview isn't accurate. The same thing goes for the south, of course. Take the city of Atlanta. You have heavily liberal (or at least heavily Democrat, as black southerners are hardly what I'd call socially liberal) Fulton and Dekalb counties. Then you have the conservative Cobb and Gwinnett counties. And then the 8 other outlier counties went to Bush, though they're more suburban sprawl and less populous than the 4 above. So you get a mix no matter where you are.

Though I agree with your overall point you are trying to make, it is absolutely wrong to say that if not for the bay area votes Bush would have won california. Do you know how many votes Kerry beat Bush by? You might want to check it again. Yeah, true that 7 counties in socal voted for Bush but you failed to point out that the population of those 7 counties is way less than the ones that voted for Kerry. Get your fact straight my friend. Are you forgeting about norcal (apart from the bay area). Bush did not even come close to winning cali. Get your freaker facts straight.

 

[riceman04]

Here is more food for though efex! Yes the Rodney Kind Incident did occur in Los Angeles (my home). But had he not acted like a dumb ass that would have never happened. I am not condoning LAPD's actions (in fact I too distrust them); I am just suggesting that that whole situation could have been avoided.

Now let's focus on the issues that some minorities may regularly face while living in the south. Let start with open hatred:
Why is is efex that there are still cities where African-American's know not to drive through. Vidor, Texas is one of them. Brenham is another!
Why is it that a black man (James Byrd) was dragged from the back of a truck by a group of white supremecists? Oh wait that was in southeast Texas as well (the south).
Why is it efex that South Carolina still feels the need to fly the Confederate flag? Yes the one at the capital was taken down, but another one at a different location is up!?!!!!!!???!!!!

SO NOW EFEX YOU CAN ADD THAT TO YOUR "FOOD FOR THOUGHT"!

 

[efex101]

there are also areas (specifically in Lousiana) where if you are Caucasian you do not drive through either..it goes both ways. That is why I commented on the Rodney King incident...hatred and prejudiscm is EVERYWHERE not just in the South.

 

[leechy]

just wanted to add a couple of quick things.

1) i really wish people on SDN would stop equating fanatical christianity with conservatism as a whole.

2) nobody likes in-your-face, proselytizing christians except for other in-your-face, proselytizing christians. again, conservatives are not all brainwashed born-again baptists. many posters on SDN really have a hard time with this, for some reason.

I agree with you to a certain extent, though I think the "conservative = evangelical Christian" connection is one that has been vigorously promoted by the Republican party itself to gain the votes of evangelicals, not only a matter of misinterpretation by outsiders. [I was actually formerly a registered Republican, though I no longer identify with the party or its (current) ideals. This is just an aside, but I'd put my views along the line of a Giuliani or Whitman - pretty much a liberal on social issues, but more conservative than some conservatives on issues of economics and crime. I do think this "Howard Stern" style of Republicanism is dying out, sad to say. But this is just my aside. 🙂 ]

 

[Attentive]

there are also areas (specifically in Lousiana) where if you are Caucasian you do not drive through either..it goes both ways. That is why I commented on the Rodney King incident...hatred and prejudiscm is EVERYWHERE not just in the South.

I agree with you. Bigots are everywhere. Quite a few hate groups actually come from Orange County and quite a few in the Midwest too. Furthermore hate isn't limited to Caucasians. Individuals in groups A, B, C will continue to hate groups D, E, F.

I see the real difference in how the friendly or indifferent people treat you. I think it holds that if you've never met people of another group, it's much easier to rely on stereotypes and dehumanize them so that they can fit into some manner of context.

Thus, in initial encounters, say with a stranger in a parking lot or in a grocery store, they'll rely on that bank of types if the situation becomes stressed.

Depending on his age, he may have also had experiences with people from that part of the world that shaped him as a young man and don't leave him with a completely positive picture. Not nice, but understandable I think. After all, if some are asking for apologies for the Crusades, you can see how one old man might have opinions shaped by World War II or the Korean war.

Actually the man seemed genuinely friendly so I doubt that he was being malicious in any way. He was talking to people all the way down the steps, helping a lady with her bags. Then, as he worked his way down the platform he got to me and went on with that initial conversation.

Also I can see how someone who was in the situation you stated might feel resentment and generalize guilt to a whole group. But then again, I find such people to be idiots for making such an illogical leaps. If we're playing the sins of the father, pretty much everyone has an "understandable" basis for hating each other and we should all be at each other's throats. I'd prefer to be held accountable for my actions.

 

[tigress]

Why is it efex that South Carolina still feels the need to fly the Confederate flag? Yes the one at the capital was taken down, but another one at a different location is up!?!!!!!!???!!!!

There's no excuse for flying the Confederate flag, but as somebody from SC, I just want to say: in our defense, we DID take it down off of the state capitol. Mississippi still has it as an actual part of their state flag (last I heard)!! Also, in SC it's not really flying in a place where it's supposed to represent the state; it's on a memorial near the capitol. Now you might say that's also unacceptable, but it's better than before. Also, northern SC is very conservative, but significant parts of "the Lowcountry," which includes Charleston and other southern portions of the state, are in fact significantly liberal.

I just get a bit defensive of my home state. 😳

 

[MoosePilot]

Actually the man seemed genuinely friendly so I doubt that he was being malicious in any way. He was talking to people all the way down the steps, helping a lady with her bags. Then, as he worked his way down the platform he got to me and went on with that initial conversation.

Also I can see how someone who was in the situation you stated might feel resentment and generalize guilt to a whole group. But then again, I find such people to be idiots for making such an illogical leaps. If we're playing the sins of the father, pretty much everyone has an "understandable" basis for hating each other and we should all be at each other's throats. I'd prefer to be held accountable for my actions.

That's the way it sounded from your story.... but I just can't imagine anyone really being so ignorant they think you might have Kim Chee in your suitcase. Or if you did as part of a lunch (I love Kim Chee myself, but wouldn't eat it before an interview ) that it's an appropriate question to ask. Sometimes really nasty people play the nice card to leave you open for the nasty punchline.

I agree with your second paragraph, but it happens all the time. Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Europeans (and Americans somehow) for the Crusades, Whites for Slavery... yet some of those seem to be politically correct (the last two) and some are condemned all around (the first three).

 

[LSUwannabe]

Last I checked Massachusetts had legalized gay marriage, and the public even supports it -- a far cry from Texas where people don't even agree that I shouldn't be able to be fired from my job for being gay. The United States is not some monolithic beast of fundamentalism, as much as the conservatives would like to portray it as such.

So you'd be comfortable living in Canada...and MA?

Surely you can concede the majority of conservatives do NOT view the US as a "monolithic beast of fundamentalism" although some extremists apparently purport such nonsense.

The lack of nationwide support for same-sex marriage really supports the existence of your misguided characterization of a "monolithic beast."

I personally could not care less who marries whom or where but just because you've clearly had bad experiences in TX doesn't make your perspective of the South (or TX) uniformly representative.

I sincerely hope you find a place where you feel more accepted.

 

[Shades McCool]

I don't care what others think of the South. This is my home and it is a wonderful place.

I can wear shorts 8 months out of the year.

I love a warm spring or hot summer day where I walk around outside barefoot with the grass between my toes.

I love walking down the street and everyone speaking to me.

I love SEC football (if you are a real college football fan you have to go to a big SEC game).

I love the Gulf beaches (especially Destin...my second home).

I love Southern Belles...the prettiest girls in the country.

I love my sweet tea, grits, roe, ect...

I love the respect people have for our elders...

I love the fact that we center our lives around church...

I could go one forever but I don't have to. I am not trying to convince anyone to move down here. I am trying to say that the South is special to me for so many reasons and that is why I will never leave.

Also I don't consider Texas as a true southern state. That thing is its own beast. It seems like the Midwest, Southwest and Mexico all mixed into one.

The South:
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia
South Carolina
Parts of Florida
Virginia
Tennessee
Parts of Louisiana
Kentucky
Parts of Arkansas
Maybe a little of NC but that is really pushing it.

 

[aprince80]

Interesting, you don't consider parts of virginia the south?? 🙂

I don't care what others think of the South. This is my home and it is a wonderful place.

I can wear shorts 8 months out of the year.

I love a warm spring or hot summer day where I walk around outside barefoot with the grass between my toes.

I love walking down the street and everyone speaking to me.

I love SEC football (if you are a real college football fan you have to go to a big SEC game).

I love the Gulf beaches (especially Destin...my second home).

I love Southern Belles...the prettiest girls in the country.

I love my sweet tea, grits, roe, ect...

I love the respect people have for our elders...

I love the fact that we center our lives around church...

I could go one forever but I don't have to. I am not trying to convince anyone to move down here. I am trying to say that the South is special to me for so many reasons and that is why I will never leave.

Also I don't consider Texas as a true southern state. That thing is its own beast. It seems like the Midwest, Southwest and Mexico all mixed into one.

The South:
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia
South Carolina
Parts of Florida
Tennessee
Parts of Louisiana
Kentucky
Parts of Arkansas
Maybe a little of NC but that is really pushing it.

 

[MadameLULU]

He doesn't consider TX part of the south either

 

[Llenroc]

Virginia has too few rednecks to be a Southern state.

 

[aprince80]

Visit the south-western part of Virginia. Totally coal mining and mountains, 100% the south. I love it though, it's my home and i'm moving back.

Virginia has too few rednecks to be a Southern state.

 

[MainelyOurs]

I have a quick question that I hope someone would be able to shed some light on. While I do like Wake as a medical school, I do have some concern about living in the south from a lifestyle standpoint. Can anyone who has moved to the south (NC, TN, SC, KY, VA, etc.) from a fairly progressive state let me know how you like it there? Feel free to PM me. By progressive, I mean someplace like CA, OR, WA, or even Canada. There is just something about supporting Bush on social policy that I just don't understand.

I'm living in SoCal right now.

Please man, you completely insult the entire human race, let alone all Americans. As if there is some kind of intellectual demarcation line running around the southern states 🙄 .

Southern states are just as progressive as any other states. Just probably not "your" kind of progressive. What you're really talking about are values. From out of one's values comes how we act and defines our lifestyle.

I live in the Northeast but some of the nicest, most cordial people I have met have been from the South. I mean they would cut off an arm for you.
😴

 

[tigress]

The South:
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia
South Carolina
Parts of Florida
Tennessee
Parts of Louisiana
Kentucky
Parts of Arkansas
Maybe a little of NC but that is really pushing it.

In terms of what people who grew up in the South would say, this is probably pretty accurage, except probably include parts of Virginia and all of Louisiana and Arkansas. My husband, from the Northeast, was very surprised when he found out that I don't feel like NC is "the South." To him, Maryland is the South! So what people consider part of a region is really regional ( 😛 ). People in NC pretty much consider themselves in the South, but people south of that, like in SC (where I'm from), don't really think of it that way.

It just goes to show you that there are no real boundaries; it's just a hazy definition of a region based on certain attributes, but there aren't any solid geographic lines, and there also aren't solid ideological lines.

 

[DrThom]

The South:
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia
South Carolina
Parts of Florida
Tennessee
Parts of Louisiana
Kentucky
Parts of Arkansas
Maybe a little of NC but that is really pushing it.

I wouldn't consider Kentucky part of the south either. It snows there every so often a year.

 

[Shades McCool]

A little bit of everything.....

 

[LauraMac]

i would just like to note that football is good at any big school, moreso if the football team is super successful. i guarantee that i've had more fun at my undergrad football games than just about anyone else, and i do not go to an SEC school. 😉

 

[superdevil]

i would just like to note that football is good at any big school, moreso if the football team is super successful. i guarantee that i've had more fun at my undergrad football games than just about anyone else, and i do not go to an SEC school. 😉

my ugrad school didn't have a football team! 🙁

oddly enough, its something i've thought about as i try to pick among med schools. dartmouth has a crappy D-IAA ivy league team, case western i think has a D-III team, but ohio state has a huge, successful program, and wake forest is an ACC team, so i'd at least get to see teams like florida state, miami, and vtech come to town. 👍

 

[Shades McCool]

i would just like to note that football is good at any big school, moreso if the football team is super successful. i guarantee that i've had more fun at my undergrad football games than just about anyone else, and i do not go to an SEC school. 😉

It is common knowledge that football in the SEC has the most fan support out of any conference. The SEC has changed the way football is done around the country. They were actually talking about it on ESPN radio this morning. They said that if you are a real baseball fan you have to watch a game in Yankee Stadium whether you like them or not. They then said if you are a real college football fan you must go to a big game (AU vs AL, GA vs FL, FL vs TN, Au vs GA) in your lifetime. If you don't then you aren't a real serious fan.

 

[RaaMD]

A little bit of everything.....

Everyone in the pictures are white or black. How is that a little bit of everything.

 

[Shades McCool]

I didn't mean people-wise...I meant they were pictures of some of the things I mentioned.

 

[1Path]

I have a quick question that I hope someone would be able to shed some light on. While I do like Wake as a medical school, I do have some concern about living in the south from a lifestyle standpoint. Can anyone who has moved to the south (NC, TN, SC, KY, VA, etc.) from a fairly progressive state let me know how you like it there? Feel free to PM me. By progressive, I mean someplace like CA, OR, WA, or even Canada. There is just something about supporting Bush on social policy that I just don't understand.

I'm living in SoCal right now.

I went to high school and earned 3 college degress inthe South. I was born in San Fran ( and no, I'm not a test tube baby 😉 ) an feel strongly that the absolute WORST decision my parents made was moving to the South in the first place.

Moving from SoCal IS going to be culture shock.. If you have children, think real hard about the poor schools in that county not to mention the likelyhood they'll have that knarly southern accent. Yuk!

PS-I'm kidding about the accent as most ALL of my realitives have it too!!