Monday, August 07, 2006

Southern Does NOT Equal Stupid

I have never understood what geography has to do with mental aptitude, but for some unknown and obviously far-fetched reason, people from the South - Alabama in particular - are considered to be made up of nothing but ignorant, uneducated, inbred hillbillies and Daisy May types. Now, being from Alabama, born, raised and happy to be so, I am not only thoroughly fed up but getting more and more aggravated by this blatant misconception. I consider my brain to be of normal size and skill, capable of logic and learning with equal competence as any person who wasn’t blessed enough the be born South of the Mason Dixon Line.

Since discovering the glories of the internet. I have encountered thousands, who, once they learn where I live, automatically assume that I am incapable of typing, much less carrying on a conversation with any rational level of intelligence. When one such person asked where I learned to type, I said I was self-taught and that just last week - I even amazed myself ……….. I taught myself to pull that little silver handle on the new outhouse they had just installed in my house! Next week, I will learn how to stop up that big old white washtub they brought the same day so the water won't run out so fast when I pour coffee cans of water over my head during my weekly bath. He left the conversation in a hurry after that ……….

I am proud to be Southern; thankful for the privilege of growing up in the Southern tradition of my ancestors; and grateful to be able to pass the morals and values I learned as a child on to my children and grandchildren. Every child in this country should have been so blessed. We, as a whole, are all offered the opportunity to learn, be it from the public school system or though the lessons life teaches us along the way. It is up to the individual what they make of themselves and the choices they make that decide who and what they will become.

In essence, intellect is a simple matter of the willingness to learn and absorb data, not a matter of geography. People should realize that and not have preconceived notions of someone they don’t know. Rant over.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Hell Yeah and Amen little Sister! You tell 'em and if they don't like it I'll hold 'em and let Jackie Sue (Yellowdog Granny) bip 'em up side the head.

yellowdoggranny said...

i have always believe and known for a fact that southern women are the smartest, funniest and most together women i have ever met..im proud to call ya'll sisters....and i would take great pride in bipping them that don't get it ...into another cosmos...
at least you dont have the stupidest man in the country that just happens to be 'in charge of the country' living down the road..and making texan and cowboy bad words..almost enough to make you want to be a yankee.....almost

Rantin' Ron said...

Damn right...I concur Donna.

What REALLY chaps my ass is when Southerners do their damndest to pertuate this myth.

My brother in law Toby (yep...Toby) takes PRIDE in acting like he just "clumb" down from his one forked tree.

I gave him a freezer one time because it was cluttering up our basement. The moron came to pick it up, opened the lid and said, "Whar you'ns put the ice?"

What could I say except,

"Shut the hell up Idiot Boy."

Anonymous said...

There is indeed some statistical evidence that rural communities have a lower average IQ than large city communities (at least in the UK). The cause of this is speculative and was not investigated in the paper concerned.

Donna said...

I KNOW the myth but it is highly overstated and rarely correct. Rural communities, such as Sis and I live in, have poorer school systems due to a lower tax base and thinner population. BUT, education, therefore general knowledge is a priviledge that is equally available to all, not just the kids from the richer neighborhoods in any industial city. Using the opportunity to learn when offered is a choice, not a given. I finished the 10th grade.........I didn't graduate high school But my brain is as useful and active as any college graduate's. I continue to learn everyday by reading, researching and listening. One's ability to learn and thereforte use their brains isn't a matter of where you are born. Rather, it is a choice we conciously make to broaden our internal database of knowledge by seeking the answers to questions which make one curious. It is also not a matter of which race or ethanicity is more intelligent, although that has been bandied about for years as well. I am sick of being labled by the so called "professionals" when it is a proven fact that some of those same poeple who judge and point fingers do not exhibit the common sense to get in out of the rain. I

Unknown said...

Sis, you know that sterotypes are always going to be around, like the one: "Yankees are cold and unfriendly". The fact that we know different about ourselves is what counts. Besides, if people think we're dumb means that we've got one over on them!

Anonymous said...

I dare any one out there to challenge Donna to a game of online scrabble. My money will be on Donna.

Love you.

Aunt Pat

Anonymous said...

If you voted for GW Bush, and still suport the idiot, only then do you qualify as an inbread southern hillbilly.

El Cid said...

Good rant

Anonymous said...

Hell yeah! I'm pretty much sick of it too. Since I live in Tennessee I know what you mean.

Unknown said...

ummm the south/middle america elected our president. So you can draw your own conclusion with that one. As for on the books... i.e. facts, stats, data... yes the southern states officially are less intelligent. To make sure I'm getting this right your talking about the same states that believe in intelligent design right?.. Ok then.. until you stop believing people where once riding dinosaurs like broncos I will not even waste my breath. Why you ask are these states below the national average when it comes to I.Q.'s... That would be due to the fact of lack of education. Why would somebody be driven to learn and challenge ideas and ways of living when they already have the answer... baby jesus!!!...duhhh!!! thanks religion... and please when sheep speak out, it only amuses others who can actually think for themselves at times.... Just do america a favor and please stop voting... take a deep breath, go to walmart, and get a haircut/buy a gun/eat pizza/get your meds/and a new pair of glasses... thank baby jesus they put it all in one place for your dumb asses... Whens walmart gonna open a church... once you people stop your hypocrisy flock like ways then maybe we can talk intellect.... Your kids emulate hip-hop.. but are racist... You "protect" family values yet lead the nation in divorce/domestic abuse/ and recieve the greatest amount of federally funded tax support (Wellfare/Agriculture/Education)...I can only hope with the global warming the red turns blue... just the blue being water... But dont worry I'm sure jesus will part that sea for you too.... ridem tex... or should I say t rex.... yes you people are fools...

SB Freedom said...

Well, we know where people like erik 1976 stand. It is because of his ignorant and misinformed views,that us southerners are branded as ignorant rednecks. I would have to ask how many southern locales he has lived in and the duration of his stay. I am not a member of the KKK, I am not a racist, I am not inbred, And I am defenitely no fool. I voted for Bush, I still support alot of his policies, He is the President of our country and therefore deserves our respect. To wish a flood on all southern territories, really shows who the fool is in this particular discussion, so there is realy no need to retaliate to his ignorant and hateful words any further. I am also happily married,recieve no welfare, and I am christian. The christian part of me prays for your soul for wishing such a negative thing on us. The southern part of me invites you down here for an education on southern culture and firsthand expierience on how pasionate we are about our heritage.

Anonymous said...

I travel all over the entire country several times a year. When I get into the southern states, I can feel myself getting dumber. People are (for the most part) lazy, slow, uneducated, and stupid. I am not from the south, not a christian, not inbred, and I actually graduated high school. Yes there are people from the south that aren't idiots, there are some that are very smart. Since any intelligent response will just be disregarded as "ignorant" let me just say this.

I hope your sweet little baby jesus gets fucked in the ass by a 300lb black man. Put his bleeding ass on a cross, let the KKK set it on fire, and let him die again for your sins.
Fuck the south, stop defending yourselves, go die.