Feels hopeless.....

[Smiling JOe]

ChickyPea, one of the things I liked about this area when I moved here was that it was so young. Not the people in particular, but the development. Grayton, Pt Washington, and Town of Santa Rosa being the exceptions, this place is only 30 years old. People asked me why I was moving to Florida with all of the rednecks, and condos. They had not been to South Walton. What I liked so much about the relatively brief history of this area was that I felt like I could add something to this place to help it be a cool place (the development/society, not the already beautiful environment). I still feel that way, today, and it is very obvious to me as I see the wonderful faces around here, that others, too, feel that same way. Think of it as a blank slate, and we are the paint and brush, creating our town.

 

[GoodWitch58]

ChickyPea, one of the things I liked about this area when I moved here was that it was so young. Not the people in particular, but the development. Grayton, Pt Washington, and Town of Santa Rosa being the exceptions, this place is only 30 years old. People asked me why I was moving to Florida with all of the rednecks, and condos. They had not been to South Walton. What I liked so much about the relatively brief history of this area, I felt like I could add something to this place to help it be a cool place. I still feel that way, today, and it is very obvious to me as I see the wonderful faces around here, that others, too, feel that same way. Think of it as a blank slate, and we are the paint and brush, creating our town.

Kinda like being a pioneer in the Old West.....

 

[Kurt]

I have a firm belief that one should not mix liquor and politics.

At least not until after one has been elected.

 

[NoHall]

I just think we need to open up a couple of bottles of wine and head over to the beach and make it a lib-nuts only event!!

http://www.sowal.com/bb/[url=http:/...nt/lb/smile/tongue/tongue0020.gif[/img][/url]

 

[30A Skunkape]

http://www.sowal.com/bb/[url=http:/...nt/lb/smile/tongue/tongue0020.gif[/img][/url]

Let them have it. They can sip their overpriced grape juice, nibble on goat cheese and fret about how the average citizen of Liechtenstein perceives us while we throw back cold ones and mingle with some red-blooded American bikers at Dusty's in Panama City

 

[tistheseason]

I have started to respond to this thread so many times. But have so many different thoughts, that I can't seem to organize it. So I won't try.

1. It can get frustrating when living in a global world, dealing with people a very regionalized view of the world. People can be well traveled but if you don't take the time to learn and understand the culture you are visiting, you might as well be looking at pictures.

2. Politically I think that a lot of responsibility comes from being the most powerful country. But resorting to war as the means of exercising that power, is a very unintellectual way of deal with issues. I often think of it as parenting. I fundamentally have no problem with spanking a child. But when it's your first line of discipline, it becomes a problem. Still, many smart, educated, well read parents start yelling and/or spanking the first time an issues arises.

3. There are so many people who have almost always been around people that think just like them and predominately have similar backgrounds and life experiences -- that they have never learned to keep their mouth shut.

those are my thoughts for now. . . .have to return to the Euro Cup match.

 

[rapunzel]

2. Politically I think that a lot of responsibility comes from being the most powerful country. But resorting to war as the means of exercising that power, is a very unintellectual way of deal with issues. I often think of it as parenting. I fundamentally have no problem with spanking a child. But when it's your first line of discipline, it becomes a problem. Still, many smart, educated, well read parents start yelling and/or spanking the first time an issues arises.

I just can't tell you how impressed I am with how perfectly and concisely you just made such that point.

Is there something in the Southern mindset that gravitates toward the authoritarian part of the political spectrum? Is the "Solid South" phenomenon a product of racism (the first shift occured in response to Reconstruction, the second after Johnson signed the Civil Rights Amendment of '64) as many believe or a respect for authoritarian principles -- the projection of toughness and strength?

 

[Minnie]

I am not exactly sure what Southern mindset is?

Surely one would never try to stereo type people who live in the Southern states, as being of one mind on anything.

In fact no area of the country outside of very large cities such as NY, Chicago and LA is as the diverse as the South due to the large number of people who relocate here from other states and other countries.

With them they bring a very diverse culture and mindset. I mean look at this forum in itself. It is based in a very Southern location, but surely no one would say that there is one particular way of seeing things be it politics, religion, or choice of beverage, wine or beer, or mixed drink. It is very diverse.

As to the fact that the Southern states have in the recent past voted Republican in Presidential elections simply means that the democratic convention did not produce a candidate that the majority of Southern voters would support since Al Gore. And thanks to Florida that attempt was side lined. ;-)

Hopefully this election will truly reflect the will of the people and not the politics of the few.

 

[Beach Runner]

Although I haven't traveled to virtually every continent as my husband has, I have traveled fairly extensively. One shock to me was that some of the people I met in Wisconsin are as redneck as the biggest rednecks that I've met in the South. So I don't think that redneck or being close-minded is a Southern mindset. Some Southerners have "that" mindset; some non-Southerners have "that" mindset as well.

BTW I have very good friends who are very liberal, and I have very good friends who are very conservative ... on every issue, not just politics. Unless someone is hateful or vindictive, I think I can pretty much understand everyone's point of view and am accepting of that. I have a very heterogeneous group of friends. The way I figure it is that no two people agree on everything. Part of the spice of life is getting mentally stimulated by the point of view of others which forces a thinking person to internally verbalize why s/he believes the way in which s/he does.

 

[30ashopper]

I just can't tell you how impressed I am with how perfectly and concisely you just made such that point.

Is there something in the Southern mindset that gravitates toward the authoritarian part of the political spectrum? Is the "Solid South" phenomenon a product of racism (the first shift occured in response to Reconstruction, the second after Johnson signed the Civil Rights Amendment of '64) as many believe or a respect for authoritarian principles -- the projection of toughness and strength?

I would guess one of the reasons folks in this area of Florida suscribe to the "peace through strenth" doctrine is due to the heavy military influence in the area.

I myself am a firm believer in that policy too, although I grew up on the plains of Colorado, John Wayne was my hero, and yes my father spanked me when ever I scewed up. (and I did so regularly ) I guess my dad should have used time outs instead - if he had I'd probably be a negotiating tree hugger today.

Seriously though, I don't think southerners are authoritarian, they are conservative. The roots of conservatism tend to be isolationist, with a strong bend toward the idea that a strong offense is a strong defense. I think Iraq and Afghanistan were largely due to an emotion reaction to 9/11. One thing southerners are is very patriotic, they have shown this throughout their history. (The civil war being the best example.) Hence when we were attacked on 9/11, the south wanted to react more forcefully than some parts of the nation. I really can't blame them.