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"That for the most part doesn't apply to Yankees on this forum because conservative Yankees are generally in favor of most of the attributes of Southern life, like decentralization of government, lack of gun control, close family life, respect for the military and for religion, and perhaps a more leisured way of living."

This Yankee thanks you for realizing that distinction.

Taxed, I lived in the north for five difficult years. I found myself discriminated against and considered stupid and slow until I learned how to talk fast, cut to the chase, and avoid personal talk, even with neighbors. I learned that rudeness is subjective and that every region, every nation, has its own understanding of what constitutes polite behavior.

In many parts of the world it is considered rude in the extreme to jump into a business discussion without some polite small-talk first. This is typical of the South, as well as many western European nations, Africa, the Mideast, and (I'm told) Asia. In other areas, like the North and the UK, such conversation is itself considered appallingly rude, inappropriate, and a waste of valuable work time. A disconnect like this can foster a lot of bad feeling.

Remember that even before the War Between the States there was suspicion and hostility between the two parts of our nation and it had nothing whatsoever to do with feelings about slavery, as the hatred of slavery in the North wasn't whipped up until during the War. It had more to do with two very different cultures intensely suspicious of each other because of behavioral and economic issues.

Today the clash is between liberals and conservatives, not North and South. Conservatives in both North and South need to unite against the forces of leftism and realize that we share a lot of common values even if we speak differently and choose to live differently.