A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-13-04....Mississippi - "Virtute et Armis"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Please join "A Few of FR's Finest" as we make a cyber-visit to another state in this great Union of ours.

Over the past several months each "Finest" hostess has profiled her home state and I will be presenting the other states in random order. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would appreciate your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

Today we are going way down South to Dixie to celebrate the beautiful state of Mississippi.

These are the states
we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico

10-14-03 Georgia 10-17-03 Louisiana 10-22-03 Michigan 11-04-03 South Dakota 11-14-03 California 01-09-04 South Carolina 02-06-04 West Virginia 02-20-04 Oregon 03-09-04 Pennsylvania 03-30-04 Wyoming

As we celebrate each state,
we also salute the Fine FReepers who
proudly fly their home state's flag.

"Virtute et Armis"
- By valor and arms.










Mississippi History -
A Condensed Time Line

1540—Spaniard Hernando de Soto enters the Mississippi region
1682—René-Robert Cavelier of France claims the Mississippi region
1699—Pierre le Moyne establishes the first French colony at Old Biloxi
1716—Jean Baptiste Le Moyne founds what becomes Natchez
1719—The French bring the first black slaves into Mississippi
1763—Mississippi becomes English territory
1781—Spain claims Mississippi’s Gulf Coast
1783—Mississippi, except for the Gulf Coast, becomes United States territory
1798—The Mississippi Territory is created
1812—The Gulf Coast becomes part of the Mississippi Territory
1817—Mississippi becomes the 20^th state
1861—Mississippi secedes from the Union
1863—Union forces capture Vicksburg in the Civil War
1870—Mississippi is readmitted to the Union
1969—A federal court orders the desegregation of Mississippi’s public schools; Charles Evers becomes the first black mayor of Mississippi since Reconstruction. He was elected in Fayette.

Eight flags have
flown over the Magnolia State...



The current state flag...

The Confederate Battle Flag can still be seen in Mississippi. In 1894 it was incorporated into the state flag and the remainder of the flag being similar to the Stars and Bars except the upper bar is blue not red. When the Mississippi flag was drawn up The Battle Flag was never mentioned by name. The history of the state leaves no doubt that this was the intention. In 1861 Mississippi was the second state to join the Confederacy. During the Civil War it used the Bonnie Blue Flag. The second state flag consisted of a white background containing a magnolia tree, with the Bonnie Blue Flag in the canton. In 1817 when Mississippi became a state it also adopted a coat of arms and a seal. Both were based on a seal of the U.S.A. The arms nor the seal were used during the time Mississippi was in secession from the Union.







Mississippi is -
THE LAND OF COTTON...

During the early 1800s, cotton became Mississippi’s major crop. The industry continued to grow as the Natchez Trace connected Mississippi with Nashville, Tennessee. By 1810, the Mississippi Territory extended over all present-day Alabama, Mississippi, and parts of Florida. In 1817, Congress divided the Mississippi Territory into the state of Mississippi and the Alabama Territory. On Dec. 10, 1817, Mississippi joined the Union and became the 20th state. Its population had almost reached 60,000 people. Cotton continued to grow in importance with the invention of the cotton gin in 1793.

When Mississippi was a one-crop state before the arrival of the boll weevil in 1907, plantations thrived, and cotton was king in the fertile soil of the Yazoo-Mississippi delta. Today, though Mississippi ranks among the leading producers, cotton competes with other crops, like soybeans, and manufacturing has replaced agriculture as the economic leader. Mississippi is the nation's largest producer of upholstered furniture.


Mississippi is -
MUSIC...

The Mississippi Delta Blues.....the only true American music.

The blues as an art form has its origins in African culture. Yet, it is a uniquely American phenomenon in that it represents a merging of the similar, but diverse musical, tribal and cultural traditions typifying the long stretch of the west African coastline from Senegamabia to Angola.

The American blues, however, is more than a hybridized form of African musical traditions. It is also a distinctive and creative expression of the experiences of the suffering and pain of African slave descendants who toiled and labored as sharecroppers in the deep south, particularly the Mississippi Delta.

Mississippi's earthy concoction of emotion-filled lyrics and soulful sounds produced music legends like B.B. King and Muddy Waters. Each year, in the land of the Delta Blues, world-famous music festivals, like the Delta Blues and Heritage Festival, pay homage to this original art form - and the mighty Mississippi River just keeps on rollin'.


Mississippi is -
THE GULF COAST
and SHRIMP BOATS...

Mississippi's Gulf Coast is ranked one of the top three "up and coming" destinations in North America by the 2000 Fodor's/ASTA Annual Hot Spot Survey.

With over 200 species of fish, including mackerel, snapper, and grouper, indigenous to the Gulf of Mexico, deep-sea fishing charters, shrimping trips, and fishing in the area's many lakes and rivers are a must when visiting Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast's temperate climate affords virtually year-round outdoor activities, including golfing, sailing, and motor boating. Jet skiing, windsurfing, and aqua-cycling are fun favorites of both visitors and residents. The adventuresome can't miss out on parasail rides, which offer an exhilarating panoramic view of the scenic coastline. With the wealth of festivities, some locals say that the Gulf Coast has a celebration for every crustacean.

Not to be missed is the ceremonial "Blessing of the Fleet" in Biloxi, given by a local Catholic priest, marking the beginning of the shrimp fishing season. Even though it had its origins in ancient times in Europe, the first Blessing of the Fleet in the Biloxi Bay was given in 1929, and now takes place annually in a colorful procession in the Mississippi Sound. The ceremony begins with the dropping of an evergreen wreath into the Sound in remembrance of fishermen who have been lost at sea. Then a procession of more than 30 shrimp boats files past the anchored "Blessing Boat" where the officiating priest stands, sprinkling holy water on each of the boats and giving a blessing for each one, asking a safe and prosperous fishing season.

As with each state that I present, I have had to leave much out. Mississippi is, of course, so much more than cotton, music and shrimp boats! I hope that our Mississippi FReepers will come and help us celebrate their great state by telling us more about Mississippi and why they are proud to be a Mississippian.

The following websites provided information, text,
and/or graphics for this presentation...

Blues History
Mississippi's Gulf Coast
Netstate - Mississippi
Mississippi's State Flags

I will close by adding this rather odd interesting
recipe that I found in my recent Google travels.....

Mississippi Mud

Ingredients:
1 small bottle orange juice
diet or regular coke
ice

Preparation:
Put some ice in glass. Add orange juice, top up with coke and stir. Looks like mud, tastes delicious.

(Hmmmm....not too sure about this one. LOL)

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 04-12-04...Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45MAN danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[Donaeus]

Hope you had a restful vaction & have a safe trip home to DFW.

[Billie]

Hey, Donnie - just coming back to say hello to some more of our Finest Family. Good to see you.

Texagirl, hope you've enjoyed your vacation but we've missed your daily presence.

Dutchess, hope you're feeling better today. Colds and sore throats are so miserable.

Aqua, thanks for your mail.

See you all later! Have a great afternoon!

[petitfour]

Thank you for this tribute to my home state. Despite all the talk about hoop skirts and mint juleps and what-not, what makes Mississippi so special to me are the stories of reg'lar people who live there. Faulkner wrote about 'em. Eudora Welty wrote about 'em. Grisham writes about 'em. And there are many more great writers who call Mississippi home. Not to mention talented songwriters and performers. And then there's Dahth Vader. James Earl Jones is THE voice of Mississippi.

[Donaeus]

Oh *man* - my stomach is growlin'....

((((((dansangel)))))))

I knew that would get somebody. ;) I agree with you 100% on the difference FRESHNESS makes with seafood. Growing up on the Gulf Coast spoiled me to "slept in the Gulf last night" crustaceans and I have a hard time eating them way up in North Texas. Fortunately, we have a few places here that have found suppliers with quality seafood but it has to be an occasional splurge. When we take our trip this summer I'll make sure to eat some shrimp and crawfish for you too.

[Donaeus]

Hello Billie :) I was thinking of you and your wonderful Reagan portraits yesterday. I'm doing some research on him that will turn into or be part my article for Aqua. I'd love to feature some of your artwork when we post.

[Aquamarine]

Another remarkable State Post Mama Bear!
I know how difficult it is to feature one of the States, my Georgia Post almost did me in. lol :)

[Aquamarine]

Do you have something ready for me yet?

[Diver Dave]

Afternoon to the Finest and all the shrimp boats at sea (Gulf).

Great presentation MB. Traveled through Mississippi at very young age on the way to Grandma's House in neighboring Alabama.

You ladies are lookin' mighty gracious in those dresses. Does this mean there's gonna be a formal dance tonight?

[dutchess]

Absolutely beautiful thread today Lori. Feel like I'm in the south...and magnolia's are my absolute favorite.

[dutchess]

You ladies are lookin' mighty gracious in those dresses. Does this mean there's gonna be a formal dance tonight?

Only if you sign all our dance cards :o)

[dutchess]

Aqua...so good to see you!!!! So are you going through withdrawal???? Now you've had your 1 minute fix...get off and rest those eyes!

[dutchess]

Oh yum...all this talk about fresh shrimp, seafood, (and New Orleans cuisine Texagirl....) and here I am stuck in rural Ohio :o(

[dutchess]

Have to check out...hopefully can stop back later. Again, lovely thread!

[onyx]

I already know I could not have selected
a better, or more beautiful state than MS
or found another state with nicer people.
Looking forward to living in Vb.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you ! ;^)

[Mama_Bear]

....but did y'all know that Hattiesburg is the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll too?

I sure didn't. That is very interesting. I didn't come across that information when I was researching Mississippi. I appreciate it so much when the "locals" come and add interesting information about their state to the thread.

From what I have seen and read, Mississippi is a great place to live and a fun place to visit. Thanks for helping us celebrate your state.

[Mama_Bear]

Billie, that blue bird looks almost like the ones we have nesting in our lemon tree. Ours are actually Scrub Jays (they don't have the crest), but they are part of the jay family and have the same temperment.

They are mean birds most of the time anyway, but are down-right fierce while protecting their nest and babies. The momma and daddy bird have gotten more used to us being around the nest now, but at first it wasn't safe to go into our backyard without a helmet. Well, that is a bit of an exaggeration, LOL....but not much.

They are pretty birds and I know they are just doing what birds do, but I wish they would get their babies raised up and move on!

[Mama_Bear]

I just can't wait until June for our family vacation, we're supposed to go to Louisiana but after this how can we miss Mississippi?

Well, that's right! You have to go to Mississippi! I would love to visit the Gulf Coast. Did you see where Fodor's rated it one of the top three "up and coming" destinations? Of course, on the downside, that could mean that every square inch of beach will be covered with people this summer.

Am I safe in assuming that you REALLY like shrimp? LOL! Unlike the rest of my family, for some reason, I never acquired a taste for them.

[Mama_Bear]

Despite all the talk about hoop skirts and mint juleps and what-not, what makes Mississippi so special to me are the stories of reg'lar people who live there.

That's wonderful! And, I suppose, that is what makes any place feel like home, feeling a kinship with the people who come from your area. I've also heard a lot about your "Southern Hospitality" down there, too. There is just "something" about the south, isn't there. :-)

I have read them all, but had forgotten that John Grisham's novels take place in Mississippi.

You've mentioned some people that I had no idea came from Mississippi. Thanks so much for contributing to our Mississippi thread.

[Mama_Bear]

Another remarkable State Post Mama Bear!

Thank you, sweet sistah.

I know how difficult it is to feature one of the States, my Georgia Post almost did me in. lol :)

Well, it is not such a big deal for me now, as it was with the first few I did. When I realized that every state has something uniquely interesting about it; either in it's history, or in it's terrain, or in it's attractions.....something, usually several things, will distinguish it from all the other states. Anyway, I know what to look for now and am more relaxed about it, instead of the instant panic....as in, "Oh no! I know NOTHING about Vermont, what do I do!?" LOL!

Thank you for that lovely aqua graphic. You take care now, you hear?