I spent 7 wks in Alabama and escaped with my sanity. Ask me anything

[MrScorpio]

Now I know why my grandparents left Alabama 80 years ago.

[Rocinante]

1. I lived in some small towns

down there years ago. It was about as scary as where I live in TN now. The larger towns are pretty nice. Were you in a small town?

[MrScorpio]

2. The Air Force sent me to school at Maxwell-Gunter in Montgomery

I thank God that I was never stationed there.

I would put paperwork in for a remote tour so fast, it'd make my head spin.

[MrScorpio]

3. The Air Force sent me to school at Maxwell-Gunter in Montgomery

I thank God that I was never stationed there.

I would put paperwork in for a remote tour so fast, it'd make my head spin.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Your'e a far better man than I.......

I drive through the southern part 4 times a year on I-10. I've never stopped in Alabama, I'm too afraid. It's only about an hours drive through it, so I keep on trucking. I tell my daughter that it's the kind of place I never would have made it out of alive in the 60's. I'm hope I'm not stereotyping here, I'm sure the vast majority of Alabamians are great people, but it seems the only ones I've ever met are the ultra redneck, white supremicist types.

[MrScorpio]

5. Not all the south is bad.

I've lived in Virginia for 12 years and I feel quite comfortable here.

I spend the first week in Alabamy and I see Confederate Flags the size of king size sheets flying ffrom car-borne flag poles and Montgomery overrun by every crazed bible-thumper who can ride on a church bus.

[Syrinx]

6. Funny. I live in Alabama, and I don't see such things.

I know Montgomery has been invaded by the thumpers, but they have come from all around the country to defend that dumbass judge.

[MrScorpio]

7. I think it was just a phase

That Ten Commandments deelio was in high gear at the time. I think it might have been a wacko eruption.

[inthecorneroverhere]

8. Mobile?

You've never been to Mobile, I guess, then. Mobile is less fundamentalist than the central and northern parts of the state. They even do Mardi Gras. So, it isn't, like, totally dry Baptist country. Mobile is also somewhat more diverse than the rest of Alabama.

It's a shame that you're 'fraid :scared: to even get off at an exit off I-10 in Mobile and have a sweet tea and meet a local or two. I mean, it isn't 1964 anymore, or even 1968....

Would love to see a more open mind...this anti-Southernism really bothers me here at DU. I mean, it's not like we all think alike down here. If you were French, would you assume that all Americans uncritically support *shrub? What would you think if a French person just assumed that you were a warmonger, simply because you are an American? And then, that French person told his daughter "Look over there! There's a warmongering American tourist!" (and you are maybe visiting France partly to make an anti-war statement). So, not all Southerners think alike, either, and it's kind of un-hip to transmit prejudices to one's children. Think about it.

On the other hand, if you're from some other state, and you show up in Bangor, Maine, they'll tell you to go home. They don't like outsiders. I'm speaking from personal experience here. The same way 'Bama was .... a couple decades ago.

[MrScorpio]

9. I should have went to Mobile, You were right

I even went to Birmingham, which is a dramatic improvement over Montgomery. It reminded me a little bit like Austin Tx, Back in the day.

As a far as being anti-south, don't count me in. When I retire I plan on settling in either Virginia or Atlanta.

The real beef I had was with Montgomery, which has to be the most depressing place I have ever seen.

[inthecorneroverhere]

10. ah yes, Montgomery

Montgomery is indeed full of fundies. It's probably worse right now. I haven't passed through there in a couple of years, and thank goodness I don't have to think about the possibility of being a biology teacher there LOL. (my degree is in a related field).

During the late 1980s, they had quite a building boom, and an art museum got put in. I don't think there's been much 'new' in the last couple of years. I could give Montgomery a miss.

Mobile's quite different. There are long-established Catholic and Jewish communities. Social interaction is more relaxed among the races than in the central part of the state.

It's gawdawful sticky in the summer, though. Actually, September-November is the best time to visit the Gulf Coast spots like Mobile, Biloxi (don't lose too much money LOL) and New Orleans. The Gulf Coast can be really cold some years at Mardi Gras time. Other years, it's great.

[Habibi]

11. Only been to Birmingham

on a couple of business trips. I didn't get to see anything of the city apart from the hospital I was working at, but I have to say I was charmed and impressed by the people I met there. Sure puts the gruff, brusque upstate NY attitude in perspective.

[trof]

14. Mobile invented Mardis Gras.

Sorta.
Their celebration predates New Orleans' anyway.
But you probably knew that.
I'm "over the bay" in Foley.
:hi:
I was gonna jump in here with my flamethrower, but I think MrScorpio is just goofing around. I don't discuss or rebut on the north-south threads any more, just lay down the napalm carpet.

[lazarus]

12. something to remember

some vote totals:

Election 2000:

Bush: 941,173
Gore: 692,611

That's right, nearly 700,000 Alabamians voted for Gore.

Election 1996:

Dole: 769,044
Clinton: 662,165

Election 1992:

Clinton: 690,080
Bush: 804,283
Perot: 183,109

Yes, it's a Republican state, but it's not overwhelmingly Republican. Tarring the entire state because of a 55-45 split is kind of unfair, I think.

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. The hazards of a non-proportional representation system

Under winner-take-all, the 45% can be forgotten. It's sad.

[trof]

15. Oh what the hell:

I just enjoy using this thing.
:evilgrin: