WaPo's Kathleen Parker Suggests People with Southern Accents Not 'Smart' or 'Sophisticated'

Breitbart ^ | 6 Apr 2014, 9:11 AM PDT | Pamela Key

[notdownwidems]

Well she can kiss my grits!

[petitfour]

I can safely say there are a lot of unsophisticated and not smart Southerners.

[daltec]

Ahh my old stomping grounds, thanks for the post! And I agree, the whole central axis of the state, and nearly all of the northern part, is definitely “the south” as far as I am concerned.

I guess I should not say much about Miami, I really don’t know much about it. But growing up in Polk County, even back then, we did not consider it “real Florida” haha!

My father used to take me with him sometimes when he would drive all over for his work. We’d range south to Clewiston and Belle Glade, and Immokalee (citrus and sugar), west to around Ruskin and Plant City (tomatoes and strawberries), north to Apopka (woody ornamentals) and east to Fort Pierce, Vero and that region (more citrus). He worked in horticulture and agriculture, if you could not guess! He never missed a FNATS show, and I took in quite a few myself! They they retired to Ocala — more south!

The citrus industry north along 27, Clermont and that region, was already in decline by the late 80s and was severely damaged by a big freeze in ‘89. Although, I remember from the top of the Citrus Tower around 1980 or so, all you could see were groves, in every direction. All you’d see now are houses, I bet! That is all I see from the turnpike anyways.

My mother took me on a tour of the Donald Duck plant on 27, just north of Lake Wales. It’s now the Florida’s Natural plant, or it was the last I heard.

I remember that the FFA kids would all wear their jackets to school. I always liked them, and I have not seen one since Florida.

So, sorry to veer so far off topic with my reminiscing, but thank you again for your post and for making me think of that area. Again, it was a nice place to grow up! In terms of culture, of values, of what people think is important, that part of Florida most definitely is the South.

Many thanks, wardaddy!!

PS I have to say, Florida must be near the top of the list for odd and funny place names.

[virgin]

I was raised in Pa, moved to CO in the early 70’s. Now live on the South Coast of MS part time since Katrina. Graduated from PSU. Have owned my own business since 1990, in health care. Have taught for the Jesuits for adult BA/BS programs seeking degree students in Denver since 1984. Prior to that worked with welfare students through JTPA Programs associated with Arapahoe Community College and Control Data Institute. Ms. Parker, can you spell bigot? I think you know what I mean.