I tell the same story when talking to northerners, only change the title of the book to "Yankee Culture." I get the same kind of response there too. Thin skin knows no prejudice and runs equally north and south, and true culture is rare everywhere.
I have a great fondness for the south, having lived many years there as well as the north, and while there are always some who are poor representatives of their own society, I have always found people in all parts of the south and southwest gracious, cultured, and interesting. I am truly sorry to see the old southern culture dying in so many areas, but the same is happening in the north. What we are really loosing is Americanism, I'm afraid.
(Now, if any of you southerners want to prove just how gracious and generous you are, you could send me some boiled peanuts, and I don't mean that commercial stuff, I mean some of those home style peanuts boiled ham juice.)
(stainlessbanner, thanks for the link.)
Capriole said: ...if he were adequately educated he would be familiar with Southern contributions to law, literature, and history ...
I readily admit I am not adequately educated, and never will be, even though I believe education is a life-long endeavor. Of southern contributions I am quite familiar, and proud to be associated with it if only by being part of the country founded on ideas, that, with the exception of Adams, are predominantely southern in philosophy, but saddenend by the history that includes those atrocities and crimes committed against the south called the civil war.
By the way, I appreciate all the responses, especially those that demonstrate some people still have enough guts and courage to stand for something. If we could only channel all that emotion and energy into restoring freedom and individualism in this country, we'd have something to fight for.
Hank