Southern ways are not outdated

The other day I read your column titled “The South’s going to do it again.” It is a shame that you believe that my fellow southerners and I are “douche bags.”

Since when are the wholesome values and lifestyles that we lead outdated ideas on religion and politics? Is it outdated that I am a southern gentleman? I guess chivalry really is dead north of the Mason-Dixon Line. We still practice it down south, though. Maybe we aren’t “douche bags.” You said there are an overabundance of adult bookstore billboards. Interesting you say that because I just drove here from Texas last Saturday and did not see any.

It’s sad you don’t like our accents. We love them, though. It is OK if you don’t like the sound of a beautiful southern belle’s voice because she isn’t going to want to talk to you anyway when you’re not treating her with the respect we treat our women with down south. We might not agree with you on the stances that you have toward evolution and global warming, but isn’t that what America is all about?

Aren’t we as Americans supposed to embrace the differences in beliefs? You wouldn’t know coming from Montreal. Finally, we may have social problems in the South. Our schools might be slacking, and our health might not be up to par with our neighbors to the north. However, we don’t go begging the federal government for help. We deal with our problems ourselves. I really feel sorry for you that you had to say such hateful things about us.

We live peaceful, slow-paced lives, and we really don’t mind what you say about us or how you live your life. We are going to continue to do what we’ve always done and be the southerners that we are; friendly, wholesome and down-to-earth.


Justin Goldstein
IU sophomore