[Tony]

Originally Posted by Katniss765

Although Tawse does have some valid points (ITP is less 'Southern' than OTP) there is still a lot of the South around, and it isn't all bad. I still very much miss the writings of Celestine Sibley and Lewis Grizzard. It isn't all small-minded prejudice and there are still people who are kind, considerate and caring that will invite you to "come sit a spell" on the porch and offer a glass of sweet tea. LoL! I remember I went to San Fran a few years back and asked the waitress if they had sweet tea and she looked at me and said, "You mean, like, tea... with sugar already in it?" I guess we still do take some getting used to. But I know if I head east an hour and a half away from downtown I can go to visit my parents and stop at Miss Lilly's (84 years old that "Miss" is) and pick up some fresh eggs...if she isn't there just leave your money in the coffee can on the stoop, pass the older ladies at the "coffee club" who meet every Weds. to work on a hand stitched quilt to raffle off for the volunteer fire dept., wave to Billy who took a run-down old gymnasium and turned it into a local skate rink on Fri. and Sat. nights to give the kids (regardless of religion/race/etc.) something to do on the weekends. If it's a holiday the local boys will have smoked a hog for 24 hours and be getting ready to put out the "comin' get it" sign. If BBQ isn't your thing then the Volunteer Fire Dept. is grilling 200 chickens on the open pit (next to that skating rink I mentioned earlier). Oh, and if a bird dog wanders by...no matter whose dog it is,,,odds are he really is named "bleu".
Prejudice...sadly it's everywhere in the world and the south is not immune. Most I think based on fear, some on just flat out not knowing any better. I brought one of my good friends home over the 4th of July. She happens to be Nigerian. The well-meaning Miss Lilly asked her "What tribe are you from?" I wanted to DIE ON THE SPOT! But it wasn't said with any nasty kind of malice. Miss Lilly is 84, has never left the state much less gotten on an airplane. Lucky me my friend just laughed and explained a little about the village where she was from. Miss Lilly was enthralled and gave her a jar of bread and butter pickles to "take home to her mamma" as we hugged goodbye. Being an out gay femme has brought on some interesting conversations to be sure. Do some people give me a tight smile and walk on? Sure. But that still happens in downtown Atlanta too. Usually it's one of the well-meaning older ladies who wants to know if I'm "sure I'm gay, because sweetie you just don't look it." LoL! but we keep talking and I answer as best I can depending on the nature and motivation behind the question.

Kindness and understanding trumping ignorance....one step closer...then another. I think that's the only way...

Katniss (it's midnight...and going for a walk to see if the lightening bugs are out after the storm)

p.s. and you and anyone else are always welcome on the Georgia thread....at least that's my two cents worth. "Peace ya'll"

And that is exactly why I love the South & am especially driven to visit Georgia; Atlanta, Savannah..beautifully written. Visual. Wishing I was there right now. You are an ambassador for your state. Thank you, Katniss.