The South Exposed? Or just sour grapes?

[TennesseeWalker]

http://www.metropulse.com/dir_zine/dir_2003/1335/t_edcorner.html


We got off on a weird foot, Knoxville and I. One of the first pieces of mail I ever received here was from a local theater owner who objected to my review of his show. Which was fine. I like getting mail and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.

Had the letter stopped there, all would have been peachy. But it didn't; it descended into a two-page tirade about my professionalism and credentials—two things that I'd never before been called upon to defend—then spiraled off into name calling. I'd never before had someone call me a cunt, to be honest, and it stung like hell.

It wasn't what I expected. Before I moved here, everyone assured me that Knoxville was a wonderful place, full of friendly folks and near the much-beloved Smokies. And that's true, to an extent. But what continually gets glossed over is how deeply suspicious East Tennesseans still are of outsiders, especially those with college degrees and opinions who have the nerve to be female. Knoxville is a bitch of a place to live if you aren't from around here.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I think it has less to do with the south than the sorry state of debate

in America. I think that kind of treatment can get on one anywhere outside of a major metropolis.

[WilliamPitt]

2. No one from the North

has ever called someone a 'cunt.' Ever.

Um...

[TennesseeWalker]

3. No...much more enlightened up there!

We know this because of Howard Stern, of course. :)

[WilliamPitt]

5. And George Steinbrenner

[AWD]

4. I lived in Knoxville for a year

It was both pleasant and hell at the same time. Plenty of friendly people and beautiful landscape.

But the writer was right...there's an angry side to a lot of people from East Tennessee. It shows up towards anybody who "ain't from around here".

But that's far from the prevalent feeling I got. I enjoyed my time there, and I'm sure that people with a profile higher than average take a lot of heat when they're from 'elsewhgere' (I was a radio DJ, so I got a lot of that).

Still, I liked it there. Had we not been pregnant, we most likely would have not returned to Ohio (grandparents, you know?)

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. Could it have something to do with...

The Uni Students? The constant influx and clash of cultures endemic to the influx?

Last time I was down there, I had no probs, but since my mother's side of the family is from South Carolina, I "yes/no, m'am/sir" everything that moves, by default. ;-)

[TennesseeWalker]

8. Or home folks that "don't think right".

I love it in East Tennessee...one of the most beautiful places in the world. However, the descendants of the survialist, rugged individuals that stayed in the isolated mountains when everyone else moved to more hosptiable lands left behind a very independent mentality.

You do see a suspicious mindset toward "outsiders" and "foreigners" (which can mean somebody from the NEXT TOWN 8 MILES EAST as easily as an Iraqi or (God forbid) a Frenchman!

"If you aren't a Baptist and a Republican, you're going to go to hell, son!" Guys, this isn't such a terribly unusual thing to hear down here. Now, not everyone here is like that, and most of the people here who vote Republican really sound like Democrats when you actually hear what's on their minds. However, the Republican party is seen to be the party of GOD here, and there is a large Christian population that can be rather.....judgemental at times, especially in matters of the erotic persuasion. Abortion is always rather loudly debated, and the battle cry is, of course "THERE'S TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT". "Oh, BeHAVE" seems to be the message fed to us all every day.

The vocal true believers of the right wing propaganda machine, (of which there more than a few) actually DESPISE the government, even while we basically couldn't get by without Tennessee State Government providing most of the jobs here in Northeast Tennessee! The Appalachian Regional Commission provides many millions for East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, and CDBG grants and USDA and FHA infrastructure grants/loans are the order of the day. Our State Department of Transportation builds roads where there are no PEOPLE, just to spread the money around to the roadbuliders and their labor, who would have NO WORK without the state paying for roads we don't really need. Hell, we wouldn't have electricity without FDR, TVA, the CCC, the WPA, and all those other letters in the alphabet.

Rush Limbaugh and his many imitators have held sway here for far too long. There are those who disagree, but most are either too lazy or too afraid of the social stigman if they dissent.

I am at wit's end trying to demonstrate that government can be a GOOD THING. I try to get them to open their eyes to what's in their best interests, and try to encourage them to see beyond the propaganda. A lot of folks here are SERIOUSLY disturbed with Our Great Leader, but have a hard time believing that he isn't watching out for "them".

HOW can we change this impression? I feel East Tennessee is populated with relatively loyal foot soldiers of the Bush Empire, but they do so totally out of ignorance. Most of these people are highly moral, sympathetic and loyal in times of crisis. However, shallowness and intolerance too often shape the opinion of the "street".

The lady's statement that this area (and the South in general) has unlimited potential is TRUE. Many good time-honored traditions, respectfulness, loyalty and hard-working attitudes are here that could benefit us all if we replicated them. I just want us to get there....and we seem to be reluctant to take the next logical step forward.

[w4rma]

7. The legacy of right-wing hate radio (n/t)

[SharonAnn]

9. Oh, this is so true! I live in/near Knoxville and I could've written

the entire article, except that I'm not as good a writer.

I feel like she and I have lived the same lives. I've been here for 3 1/2 years and I've experienced and noticed everything she comments on. She's absolutely right, we're living in the 19th century here.

On June 30, 2002 the following letter to the editor appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel:

"Where I grew up in Yankee country, people generally regarded the South as a region uniquely marked by demagoguery, anti-intellectualism and deep, deep ignorance.

Judging by the antics of the state legislature over the past three years, I'd say we got it just about right."

I think it's the anti-intellectualism that is the hardest to cope with.

[TennesseeWalker]

11. Anti-intellecutalism is required reading in grade school.

Well, not really, we have pretty good schools (really). However, the "Appalachian Street" in general pretty much frowns on all that highbrow book learnin'.

Oh, and wait, before anybody tries to turn this into an extreme South-bashing thread, please don't. I'm begging you. This is my attempt to talk to you guys about how to capture the hearts and minds of people I love and protect them from This Cold Republican Winter.

And I thank ya'll....or youenses...take your pick. ;)

Oh, and GO VOLS!

[Yupster]

10. Interesting place politically in eastern Tennessee

They are sort of the ultimate outsiders.

At the time of the Civil War, eastern Tennessee remained fiercely pro-Union, and was a gathering point for unionists from the mountain regions of the south where there were few slaves and even fewer plantations.

Here there was a Civil War within the Civil War for the entire fight with the Confederates trying to keep control of the region that was so important for its railroad that connected Virginia to Tennessee.
Fighting against the Rebels were the "Billy Yanks of the hills," or the "hillbillies" as the Confederates called them.

They voted Republican right after the war, and have been Republican ever since even while the resat of the south was solid Democratic.

[TennesseeWalker]

12. Northeast Tennessee in particular is independent.

We even tried to form our own state back when it was fashionable to form states. It was called the State of Franklin. We've got banks named after it, roads, heck, we even have PLAYS and reenactments about it.

Interestingly, the first government west of the Appalachians was formed here near Elizabethton. It was the Watauga Association. Kind of interesting, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett type stuff. We've also got a lot of buildings and such named after those two fellers as well. :)

[Alenne]

13. This isn't about the South nor is it sour grapes

She is just talking about her experience in Knoxville, Tennessee. What she thinks is great and what she thinks could improve.

[TennesseeWalker]

14. Her points are well made, mostly true, and

correlate to the national mind set. Very Republican area, very suspicious of government, and very much influenced by the Religious Right.

However, the people here SHOULD be good democrats, or a least slightly leftist. However, most are rabid right-wingers, and if you want to hold local, state or federal office in East Tennessee, you chances are a thousand fold better when you're an (R).

Now WHY do these people vote Republican? Like I said, government saved our area from very poor circumstances. Government should be our friend. The average income here is lower than average, we have a big dependence on government for day to day life.

The DNC should look at areas like this to determine how to win back the people. You can see the Rushbots in full force here.