# To all the ignorant people out there - stop making the South out to be some unique villain. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 2, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024 "2015-07-02T04:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/121 "2015-07-02T19:04:54Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Just an little PSA, the Dukes were from Hazzard County (two z’s). On the TV show. In Kentucky, there is a Hazard County, one Z ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/122 "2015-07-02T19:08:27Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > The state governments in the southern states seem to have no interest in removing a racist symbol from public buildings. They’re pretty unique in doing that. I strongly disaprove of them for this. Clinging to racist symbols and insisting they are innocuous is hardly unique. Perhaps we can discuss it this weekend at a Braves game? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/123 "2015-07-02T19:14:09Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > On the TV show. In Kentucky, there is a Hazard County, one Z Yeah, but in Kentucky they’re \*really \*racist, they don’t just have no black people in sight because they’d be inconvenient. (Sorry, too cheap to pass up) ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/124 "2015-07-02T19:40:43Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > I strongly disaprove of them for this. > > Clinging to racist symbols and insisting they are innocuous is hardly unique. Perhaps we can discuss it this weekend at a Braves game? The Braves are not a public entity. The state of South Carolina is. The fact that a bigoted symbol is flying over public lands is what makes the case unique. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/125 "2015-07-02T19:50:42Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Like I said, I think that the only legitimate reason to fly the confederate flag is to let the world know that you are racist. If that is not your intent you should not fly it. Right - and the point of this thread is that someone is complaining because the rest of us are looking at the Confederate flag being flown by Southern State Governments and concluding that the Southern State Governments are racist, as are the people who voted for them and approve flying the flag. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/126 "2015-07-02T19:59:31Z")
So y’all want to keep the flag cause it gives you the warm fuzzies of younger days, LS concerts and summer nights, when it all felt innocuous? Is that about it? I can’t believe it needs to be pointed out to you that it didn’t feel innocuous to everyone. No indeed. That it didn’t to you only demonstrates you didn’t care, really, what it meant to anybody else. You want to keep it because of warm fuzzy feelings and can’t understand the loathing in those whose feelings run much, much deeper and are anything but warm and fuzzy. That’s a pretty big disconnect right there, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/127 "2015-07-02T20:50:50Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > The Braves are not a public entity. The state of South Carolina is. The fact that a bigoted symbol is flying over public lands is what makes the case unique. Really? Where do the Braves play? Turner Field. Who owns that? The Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority. The stadium is a public building… We could go Chief wahoo on public stadiums in Cleveland, the Redskins in Dc. In fact, I bet in most public buildings over 30 years old we will find displayed something pretty damn offensive. Again, I don’t think any of this is ok, I just think little naive to think that the Southern States government’s behavior is somehow unique. If anything, it’s depressingly common. At any rate seem to determined to disagree with me about something, so there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/128 "2015-07-02T20:53:17Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Right - and the point of this thread is that someone is complaining because the rest of us are looking at the Confederate flag being flown by Southern State Governments and concluding that the Southern State Governments are racist, as are the people who voted for them and approve flying the flag. It’s probably a bit more complex than that, but basically, yes. The flag needs to come down ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/129 "2015-07-02T20:55:27Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Witnessing a slave auction in New Orleans was reportedly what turned a certain Illinois lawyer dead set against slavery: > > > [@](#): > > > > Experiences with Slavery > > > > “One morning in their rambles over the city the trio passed a slave auction. A vigorous and comely mulatto girl was being sold. She underwent a through examination at the hands of the bidders; they pinched her flesh and made her trot up and down the room like a horse, to show how she moved, and in order, as the auctioneer said, that ‘bidders might satisfy themselves’ whether the article they were offering to buy was sound or not. The whole thing was so revolting that Lincoln moved away from the scene with a deep feeling of ‘unconquerable hate.’ Bidding his companions follow him he said, 'By God, boys, let’s get away from this. If ever I get a chance to hit that thing [meaning slavery], I’ll hit it hard.” Hoo boy. Thank God for square brackets… ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/130 "2015-07-02T20:55:55Z")
Alright. So now that we’ve established that the South flying the Confederate battle flag is a unique case of a public entity associating itself with a symbol of bigotry, can you tell us how “the ignorant people out there” have incorrectly “(made) the South out to be some sort of unique villain”? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/131 "2015-07-02T21:02:14Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > In fact, I bet in most public buildings over 30 years old we will find displayed something pretty damn offensive. But some states are smart enough to recognize that and [did something about it](https://boa.sd.gov/divisions/capitol/CapitolTour/blashfield.htm). ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/132 "2015-07-02T21:03:22Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > We could go Chief wahoo on public stadiums in Cleveland, the Redskins in Dc. You know that’s a pretty common issue people bring up, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/133 "2015-07-02T21:03:28Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > No way, dude that’s stupid. I agree that the Confederate flag needs to come down, but c’mon, show DOH like it was originally, or don’t show it at all. Your idea just sounds completely retarded. Okay, how about we show DOH completely un-CGI’d, but change its name to [Annoyed Grunt]? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/134 "2015-07-02T21:03:52Z")
**Shagnasty** , I highly recommend you read Isabel Wilkerson’s _The Warmth of Other Suns_. I think you’d learn a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/135 "2015-07-02T21:14:25Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > Alright. So now that we’ve established that the South flying the Confederate battle flag is a unique case of a public entity associating itself with a symbol of bigotry, can you tell us how “the ignorant people out there” have incorrectly “(made) the South out to be some sort of unique villain”? Believe it or not, the battle flag was just an example that only took up two sentences in my OP yet that is the only thing everyone is focusing on. The thread isn’t about the flag specifically and I don’t own one. It is about generalized stereotyping and bigotry against what is now[the most populous region of the U.S.](http://www.census.gov/popclock/print.php?component=growth&image=http://www.census.gov/popclock/share/images/growth_1404172800.png) I can promise you that Southerners could burn every single battle flag in existence and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference a year from now because anti-Southern prejudices are buried so deep in too many people. They will just find yet another reason to justify their preconceived notions. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/136 "2015-07-02T21:20:52Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I can promise you that Southerners could burn every single battle flag in existence and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference a year from now because anti-Southern prejudices are buried so deep in too many people. They will just find yet another reason to justify their preconceived notions. I’m sorry that you feel like a victim of prejudice. How about we take the flag out of the public square, then we’ll deal with other issues as they come up? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/137 "2015-07-02T21:30:32Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I can promise you that Southerners could burn every single battle flag in existence and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference a year from now because anti-Southern prejudices are buried so deep in too many people. They will just find yet another reason to justify their preconceived notions. And for lots of good reasons. The South elects most of the worst public officials in the nation. The South has the worst laws regarding abortion The South has the most conservative judges. The South produces people like Ted Cruz, Rick Perry, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, and on and on. Justice Roy Moore comes from the South. I like many things about our Southern states, but as a region (and speaking in broad terms) there is a lot to find fault with. The South doesn’t have a monopoly on stupid (I’m looking at you, Alaska and Wyoming) but it does seem to be concentrated there. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/138 "2015-07-02T21:46:00Z")
NM. North & South is not fixable, any more than the Middle East is. The relationship is fucked up and it always will be. ---
**Author:** ![busmol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@busmol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busmol)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/139 "2015-07-02T21:50:34Z")
\*\*Or it could have been “Let’s just make our flag a big ole picture of somebody pouring sugar into a glass of iced tea.” \*\*:smack: NO. Just no. You put the sugar in, let it dissolve, THEN the ice. If you do it your way it is just tea with sugar at the bottom, not sweet tea!😃 I just don’t understand why people from other areas don’t get this:o BTW, **Scylla** you are now my favorite poster ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024/140 "2015-07-02T21:56:21Z")
Your flag really ought to feature the good stuff from the south – shrimp and grits, she crab soup, fried okra, fried chicken and a nice slice of sweet potato pie. Maybe throw in a pic of North Carolina beaches and downtown Savannah. That sounds much better to this northerner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-ignorant-people-out-there-stop-making-the-south-out-to-be-some-unique-villain/724024.md?page=8)