"Heart of Dixie" disputed on Alabama license plates (More Liberal Intolerance)

AL.Com ^ | 12/11/04 | PHILLIP RAWLS

[Log]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The state slogan "Heart of Dixie," a source of pride to some and embarrassment to others, is disappearing from more Alabama license plates every year.

One-third of the groups that promote distinctive and collegiate license plates now choose to leave the slogan off their tags.

The standard state license plate still has "Heart of Dixie," but it's reduced to letters one-sixteenth of an inch high and it's placed in the bottom corner of the tag where it's barely visible to passing motorists.

[lentulusgracchus]

Get the pitcher yet, bub?

[GrandEagle]

political asylum from the socialist cesspool
In my travels I have found that folks up North generally like a bit more Government than we do down here. I'll have to admit though that they do seem to get quite a bit of "bang for their buck". up there.
I was just out of Albany, NY when the big snow storm hit last year. WOW - three to four FEET of snow in just a day and a half!
In no time, they had the roads clear and in only about another day and a half I could travel anywhere I wanted to.
They also have people who travel around the interstate system looking for stranded/broke down motorist.
I wouldn't want the trade off, but it did impress me a bit.
On a small note of humor, I had pulled over in a parking lot waiting for some of my colleagues. It was dark (around 8 pm or so), and I had backed in to a parking spot. Noticing that I had no front tag, inspection sticker, and other assorted paperwork attached to the front of my truck, an officer stopped to question why I was sitting there.
He asked "Well do they at least require registration in Alabama?". I chuckled and produced the paperwork for him. He asked if I have any firearms and I explained that normally I would but having left the Republic I decided that it was best to leave my weapon behind. (We were having a good natured discussion). He seemed intrigued that I could just "strap on" (his words) my pistol and go to town.
We chatted briefly and he went on his way. All in all a pleasant and professional encounter. In relating this story to some of the local guys at work, they were very surprised that he talked with me for a few minutes. It seems that sort of thing is unusual up north.
They were also surprised that he asked about weapons but did not seem to want to search my truck.
Just a small example of how different the Southern culture is. It didn't seem unusual at all to me to be having a cordial chat with an officer of the law.

[Gabz]

My family came here in the 20th century, so we're not going find any of my ancestors in either the Revolutionary War or the Civil War.

We have no records of any member of my husband's family fighting with either side in the Civil War, just the Revolution. However, with a slight spelling change (apparently common in his family) his last name is a rather prominent name in some parts of Virginia. So one never knows.

[lentulusgracchus]

I had heard of segregation but it wasn't until I came to Alabama that I saw it first hand. The cafeteria had ALL whites on one side and ALL blacks on the other,...

And therefore, the cafeteria overall was integrated. The blacks were in the cafeteria, not in some different cafeteria down the street.

What, exactly, was your complaint?

I could care less about being "southern".

Oregon is nice.

[Gabz]

I remember that snowstorm - we still lived in Delaware and had 33 inches in that same day and a half. We had just signed the contract for the sale of our house and had yet to come back down here to do more house hunting.

The entire state of Delaware literally shut down for almost 3 days. Upstate NY and throughout New England, they are used to the snows and know how to deal with it. Heck Maryland can deal with it better than Delaware.

The week after that storm we drove down here to meet with our realtor and had just had another 6 inches of snow over night. I'm only talking 100 miles - but you would never know there had been any snow here at all. And our realtor was talking about all the problems they had the week before with the big storm - and they only had 6 inches here.

[quack]

But did you go to school here?

I did.I graduated in 1989 from Johnson High School in Huntsville.Which school did you attend,because when I was there,we all got along just fine.

[GrandEagle]

My family came here in the 20th century
Well then, WELCOME to the USA too!
We have been here for a while. We've got records of relative on my Mothers side in the Revolutionary war. Seems that my Dads side spontaneously generated around 1800. We have some records that they could have been here as far back as the 1730's but the "tie-in" in only validated in one very weak place. Most of our family records were destroyed when the courthouse was burned in Union, MS during the Civil War. We have relatives Father, Son, and Grandson that were killed in Vicksburg. Another that was captured at Fort Donelson. He was held in a POW camp somewhere outside of Chicago until returned during a POW exchange. He ended up on the Roanoke river near Plymouth, NC at when hostilities ended. Had to walk home. Took him nearly three months.
We have many other's who fought with several units.
However, none of this makes me anymore Southern than anyone else IMHO.
I am Southern because I choose to be and we welcome anyone who enjoys our values.

Cordually,
GE

[GrandEagle]

and they only had 6 inches here.
LOL! That would be a blizzard down here! (Mobile, AL).
We get somewhere around 1/2" every seven or so years! The State stops and all the schools are let out.

GE

[Gabz]

I appreciate the welcome.

[Texaggie79]

The first few years I lived here, I was miserable. But I am now content with the state, and actually would rather raise a family here than back in Houston, where I'm from.

I just see some things that need improvement. Am I not free to criticize my own state? Can I not say something when the audience of a high school basketball game in Cullman hurl racial insults at it's opponents, which were all black?

[Texaggie79]

Friggin YAWN dude. I might just live in the south just to piss off people like you who put trailer park livin, confederate flag waivin, mullet wearin, nascar watchin people on some high pedestal where all other forms of life are SCALAWAAGS :-P

[Texaggie79]

I'm not "Running down the South". I'm running down certain aspects of Alabama that disturb me. Now if you consider racism to be "part of the South" that should be upheld.... you need help...

[Texaggie79]

BTW, Revolutionaries died for our whole nation, before any Confederate's died.

[Texaggie79]

It doesn't "offend me". I just think it's corny and so 100 years ago. Now, thank the good Lord most of the kids here in Alabama feel the same. Change is-a-comin baby. Yee haw.

[Texaggie79]

I like us just fine!

Don't get me wrong. There is a LOT to like. But there is still things that need to be addressed. I mean, it's almost like you people are saying "as soon as whites start treatin minorities the same as other whites, the south is just gonna go down the drain.

[Texaggie79]

Huntsville is an exception. The vast majority of Hunstville residents are from out of state.

[Texaggie79]

Way to reply to yourself t-sip.

[GrandEagle]

Am I not free to criticize my own state?
Absolutely. My intent was not to suggest that I wanted you to leave, just that there may be places where you would be happier.
You seem to have experienced much more of that sort of stuff than I have. I graduated HS in 1973 and I would have thought that I would have seen more.
I would suggest that before you condemn Alabama so much for racism, that you see how it is in other places.
I have traveled I suppose around 30 or so of the states, and have seen much worse on the Eastern Seaboard, and in the New England area.

I would agree with you wholeheartedly that racism is ignorant. I also distinguish between racism and a dislike of another's culture. There are several cultures that I do not like, but since we all (If one believes the Bible's account of Creation) came from Adam and Eve, then we are all related. Therefore one particular race can not possibly have more value than another.
To equate being Southern with being a Racist also shows a very severe lack of understanding of what being Southern - or being from Dixie, is. (IMHO)

Cordually,
GE

[Texaggie79]

And therefore, the cafeteria overall was integrated. The blacks were in the cafeteria, not in some different cafeteria down the street.

Great logic there bucko. Just like blacks got to sit in the SAME BUS as whites, even though it was in the back, but at least it was the SAME BUS!!

[Texaggie79]

Huntsville doesn't count.