In these days of political correctness and diversity training, some bigotry remains. Too many Americans have a prejudice against International Medical Graduates. But they one I cannot understand is the open prejudice against the South (and by extension Southerners).
Periodically I will read an op-ed that criticizes my state – Alabama – specifically or the South in general. The Wall Street Journal has an interesting book review criticizing a book with an outrageous title – Better Off Without ‘Em: A Northern Case for Southern Secession. The review – A New Turn in the South: Northerners may hate its culture, but they at least ought to try to understand the nation’s fastest-growing region
On the first page, the author wonders why the American electoral system must be “held hostage by a coalition of bought-and-paid-for political swamp scum from the most uneducated, morbidly obese, racist, morally indigent, xenophobic, socially stunted, and generally ass-backwards part of the country.” You expect him to let up, to turn the argument around, to look at the other side of question. But he never does. For more than 300 pages, Mr. Thompson travels through the South observing customs, outlooks and people and subjecting them to an unremitting stream of denunciations.
“A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession,” says the subtitle. Although Mr. Thompson tries hard (often too hard) to be funny, he doesn’t seem to be joking about secession: He really does want the U.S. to be rid of the South.
Think of an ethnic group. Can you imagine a description similar to that in the first paragraph? Can you imagine the outrage?
Why does this writer think that he can stereotype Southerners? Why is this blatant prejudice different from other prejudices?
The reviewer does a wonderful job critiquing a book that I will never read. But I remain angry since first reading this 12 hours ago. Why is such trash even published? Why do we not hear outrage from others who shout whenever other groups have such criticism?
Having lived in the South since the age of 5, I love the people. I love the attitude. We Southerners look each other in the eye. We are nice and polite to each other. We show each other respect.
But not everyone should move here. Please do not come to the South if you are so close-minded as to try to characterize all Southerners with a stereotype.
If you are open-minded, y’all come on down. You will be surprised. Living here allows you to daily have a pleasant quality of life. Perhaps the writer does not like us because we are generally happy.
