Priceless Letter

[Indigo Jill]

mangy dahling, I believe yippie was posting an interesting letter. not meant to offend anyone on either side of the issue. its a letter about having so many people from different parts of the world move into our territory and trying to change it, as if it was not perfect to start with! well, I for one can relate. But, change is inevitable as we've all learned. especially when you live in a paradise on the emerald coast that attracts so many. the folks from all over coming into our little piece of the world bring amazing diversity - and that makes it all worthwhile, imo. (but, I can relate to the letter in my own little southern rednecky way).

I thought the issue pertained to all Southern States, not South Walton exclusively?

I can sense your resentment for tourists and transplants that have moved into your territory. I myself am a transplant - God-forbid ... a Yankee transplant .... and I think it's too bad that some locals feel this way. But c'est la vie! I won't worry about it.

Interesting letter? It was blatantly prejudice IMO, written by a sadly ignorant man.

Just to quote a few passages "Yankee-American interlopers migrate down to my beloved Southland, visit (or, God forbid, stay) and get sand in their shoes and wrongfully assume they?re now ?native? and free to poke their arrogant snoots into affairs that don?t concern them."

or

"and I strongly implore anyone ? Yankee-American or otherwise ? who feels uncomfortable in my beloved Florida to haul their discontented carcasses back north to whatever odious stretch of overtaxed, polluted real estate they hail from. God bless America." WTF??

Yankee vs. Southerners, African Americans vs. White Americans, native locals vs. transplants ... these divisions when used negatively, as the author of that letter as well as the letters he quoted from both do, serve to do nothing more than pit human against human. It's so stupid - I just can't understand that mentality.

 

[beachmouse]

I've got no ancestors involved in the Civil War on either side. They were too busy being horribly oppressed in Poland at the time.

But, say whatever you want about heritage not hate and such, the Confederate Battle Flag is always going to remind a large ethnic minority group in this country of a time of horrible opression and I don't feel it's appropraite for the state to imply an endorsement of such symbolism.

Why not the Stars and Bars instead?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Most people have no clue about the Stars and Bars. If they did, the GA Flag would not look so similar to it.

 

[sandybanks]

 

[Teresa]

I thought the issue pertained to all Southern States, not South Walton exclusively?

I can sense your resentment for tourists and transplants that have moved into your territory. I myself am a transplant - God-forbid ... a Yankee transplant .... and I think it's too bad that some locals feel this way. But c'est la vie! I won't worry about it.

you missed my point entirely, IJ. and I don't appreciate your attitude or interpretation of my intention.

most of us are transplants. please don't be a bully on the board. thank you.

 

[Mango]

mangy dahling, I believe yippie was posting an interesting letter. not meant to offend anyone on either side of the issue. its a letter about having so many people from different parts of the world move into our territory and trying to change it, as if it was not perfect to start with! well, I for one can relate. But, change is inevitable as we've all learned. especially when you live in a paradise on the emerald coast that attracts so many. the folks from all over coming into our little piece of the world bring amazing diversity - and that makes it all worthwhile, imo. (but, I can relate to the letter in my own little southern rednecky way).

Toots sweetie, I know what you are trying to convey about the article being posted, it is afterall our rights as Americans to print these types of opinions, so I think that's what you meant by interesting. Indeed it is interesting to see these views. But, for the initiator of the thread to say " I couldn't have said it better myself", IMHO is offensive because of the brash tone used in that article/oped. There's simply a better way to get one's point across.

And if this oped relates to Northerners infiltrating the area and imposing their views (as I have been told. In addition I am not involved in any way in disputing the plate), in my own little Yankee way I can relate to the opposing view since owning property, having to deal with contractors and the politics of doing business in the South and the "discrimination" I experienced initially and still do.

There is no doubt about it. There are differences in how things are done in the North and South. If Donald Trump was Southern, he'd say,
"YOU'RE FIRED,..... Now Bless Your Heart and can I take you to lunch?

Northerners in business are fast paced, Southerners more laid back.
I could go on with the differences, but that is not what matters.
What matters is opening your mind to a different ideologies and methods. Serving on a Board of Directors for my properties and encountering numerous problems to solve, I know that I have learned a great deal from the locals and Southerners that I have had dealings with and hopefully vice versa.

But there are those that will always feel that their spawing grounds seemingly give them entitlements. God forbid they ever have to leave it.
I shiver at the thought.

 

[yippie]

Boy, I opened Pandora's Box.

First, I would like to apologize to anyone who I offended. When I read the letter this morning, I was amused that 1. Someone sent it to the paper and 2. The paper printed it.

It did not even enter my mind to think about the license tag. Since Florida has a tag for every cause known to man, that just went right over my head. I am, however, curious of what cause you are contributing to, (most the tags, there is a contribution to some society whether it be the arts or the manatees).

Tootsie hit the nail on the head. Every day in business, someone always says, "We do it THIS way where we are from" It is tiring to hear that and my first thought when I hear this is, well you are HERE for a reason and if you liked the way everything is done at home, then you probably wouldn't have left.

Again, I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended. The letter was NOT posted in regards to the license tag at all. Tootsie, we all have a little red neck in us don't we!

 

[Teresa]

all very well stated Mango. I think Yippie would retract her letter right this minute if possible, and didn't mean to be offensive in any way. sometimes our meaning comes out all bass ackwards.

I love all rednecks and yankees equally! and all the cultures between here and there are rich with tradition and beauty. as well as quirkiness.

we are all transplants here bringing a lot of excellent experience, education and culture to shape a unique SoWal community.

we all need to try to be respectful of the many cultures, imo. and mainly we need to always revere the unique character and beauty of SoWal without the need to make it into suburbia anyplace USA. I think anyone who lives here, or visits frequently, will know what I mean, and probably agree.

as far as the confederate flag issue. well, its been well discussed and hashed over and over on another thread. everyone has contributed. its pretty well covered. I certainly learned a great deal. as a flag of the south, it is one of those things that some of us take for granted and have never really thought about all of its origins, symbolic meaning, controversey, etc. plus, we all learned about the decorative possibilities as in flag bed sheets, towels, etc. when we cover a subject on Sowal we do it with great detail and flair, even if controversial.

btw mangy - if anyone bothers me here, it ain't northerners. I love when northerners come in and bring their liberal views and learn to eat cheese grits. nothing makes me happier. its certain southerners from the big cities who want to have here everything they had there. and many of them do not stay here once they realize that this town isn't all they "need". goody.

 

[JustaLocal]

I am, however, curious of what cause you are contributing to, (most the tags, there is a contribution to some society whether it be the arts or the manatees).

I found the following in an AP article about the tags:

"The extra $25 motorists would pay for the tag would go to educational programs run by Sons of Confederate Veterans, graveyard maintenance and museum exhibits."

 

[Teresa]

I found the following in an AP article about the tags:

"The extra $25 motorists would pay for the tag would go to educational programs run by Sons of Confederate Veterans, graveyard maintenance and museum exhibits."

thanks jal. . this and more covered in the old thread if anyone feels the need to read and/or revive... I did learn much from it and it did help me to formulate my own opinions on the subject.

Honk for Confederate Pride - SoWal Beaches Forum