MY PARENTS, my siblings and I were all born and raised below the Mason-Dixie. We have a tendency to say "y'all," never celebrate a holiday without fried chicken and according to my California roommate, cannot pronounce "nuclear." Obviously, we are a southern family. So accordingly, we are a bunch of slack-jawed yokels, who sit on the porch of our house all day spitting tobacco juice and watermelon seeds while shining our guns, sipping moonshine, listening to the banjoes and planning the next KKK meeting. And of course my sister and I don't date. She's got a shotgun wedding next week with Cousin LeRoy, and me and my brother are fixin' to get hitched once I graduate.
Sound a little extreme? It probably wouldn't if you were a Democratic presidential nominee. In the past week, the candidates have made fools of themselves through arrogant, stereotypical comments regarding the Southern voting constituency and further proven why the South is, and will remain for a long while, a Republican stronghold.
Recently, Democratic frontrunner Howard Dean stated to an Iowa reporter that he "still want[s] to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks ("Dems battle over Confederate flag," CNN.com, Nov. 2). Inserting his foot even further into his mouth, Dean defended his comments last Tuesday at a Massachusetts Democratic debate by saying, "I make no apologies for reaching out to poor whites" ("Rivals demand a Dean apology," Washington Post, Nov. 6).
Um, excuse me? Suddenly, according to Dean, all "poor whites" in the South are card-carrying Sons of the Confederacy cruising town in their pick ups, fighting the ever escalating battle of whether the Calvin sticker should be peeing on Chevy or Ford.
That generalization of millions of people is beyond offensive. Yes, there are those in the South who still sport Confederate flags, and yes, there are Southerners who drive trucks, but in no way is that indicative of an entire population of people.
If Mr. Dean really wants to reach out to the "poor whites," maybe he should become a little less ignorant about the state of the American South.
The lower class of the South has the same concerns every other economically hindered American does. They worry about health care, how to fund their children's education, how to prepare for retirement. Even beyond that, an Atlanta native is just as worried about the war in Iraq and domestic safety as a New Yorker or a man from L.A.
You want to appeal to the South, Dr. Dean? Tell the Southern families how to get out of debt, promise them you are going to fight for the values they believe in and hold dear, present a plan on defending the safety and liberties of this great country.
But don't insult them. As Jake says in "Sweet Home Alabama," "Just 'cause I talk slow doesn't mean I am stupid."
Even more nerve-wracking, Al Sharpton, that master of manipulation, compared the Confederate flag to a swastika during the debate. Later during an online debate, he went furthermore argued "that you cannot reach out to people waving a racist flag and say that you want to be their candidate. Imagine if I said that I wanted to be the candidate of people with helmets and swastikas" ("Conversations with the candidates: Al Sharpton," washingtonpost.com, Nov. 5)
Helmets and swastikas? It's understandable that many, especially African-Americans, see the Confederate flag as racist and offensive. It's also true, though, that many Southerners see it as not a declaration of a racist war but rather as a matter of history of their state, and yes, even states rights.
While the slavery and later years of oppression against American blacks is a horrible, tragic legacy, it is in no way comparable to the Nazi regime that mechanically executed millions upon millions. And to even suggest that by courting Southern voters, Dean was trying to represent the reincarnate of the Third Reich is beyond appalling. Sharpton, who so strongly prides himself as an advocate against stereotypes and racial prejudices, needs to begin practicing what he preaches.
In no way is the South an ideal land of moonlight and magnolias. There are racial problems, and there are racial inequalities. But that is true across America; every racial group -- including the so-called good ole boys club of white rich males -- has faced hatred and discrimination based on the color of their skin. Racism is not a Southern quality.
It may come as a surprise to both Sharpton and Dean to know that nobody in my family owns a pick up truck, my dad is not a member of the NRA and I do in fact have all my teeth, sans any noticeable gaps. Until the Democratic party begins to recognize these few truths, they will never have a hold in the American South. But with their current ideological viewpoints, frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
(Maggie Bowden is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at mbowden@cavalierdaily.com.)
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