Symbols may differ, sentiment is the same. As I recall, the Cliven Bundy
dust-up was out west, and I may be making this up in memory, but I recall a
few confederate flags around. Of course those might have been support
militias dispatched from the south. <g>
Me? Fish? Yes and no. I am not the barbarian Caesar is asked to forgive. I
know the recent unpleasantness tore the nation apart, and many folks who
headed west did so to avoid being unpleasant, or having unpleasantness
visited upon them. Mark Twain comes immediately to mind.
But small-minded bigotry and racism is the same regardless of the
symbolism. A wild west bigot is just as bad as a southern bigot. Maybe
worse. He's likely to have more guns. <g>
--Bob Whitmire
Certified Neanderthal
On Sun, Jun 21, 2015 at 4:39 PM, Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On 6/21/2015 6:52 AM, Bob Whitmire wrote:
>
>> You don't have to have roots in Dixie to display the Confederate flag as a
>> symbol of your, ah, simple-minded ignorance.
>>
>
> Agreed, but it has to have meaning to you.
>
> I see them up here from time to time.
>>
>
> Yeah, but Maine is a part of the whole Slavery/Civil War milieu, North end
> of the underground railroad, very high proportion of the male population
> fought, many died, and so on. Both North and South are tied up in the
> mythos, so political and cultural differences tend to align with one side
> or other of the overarching story that lives on for so many.
>
> Might I suggest that folks like you are like the proverbial fish, who take
> the water they swim in for granted, don't even think about it, but relate
> to all things as they are in that water?
>
> The far West comes from a different place. Much of the conservatism, esp.
> away from the coast and big cities, has its roots in the mythos of the
> frontier, self reliance, fierce independence, etc. If you see that flag,
> it's most likely a later transplant from the South flying it.
>
> NE Oregon* is very conservative - and very unlike both S. Carolina and the
> parts of Maine with flags on every utility pole. They are all spread out
> (v. low pop. density) breathe dry, high plains air**, run cattle and horses
> and grow wheat. Different world, no shadow of the variously named internal
> War. (And the horses! Even a non horse person like me can see how beautiful
> and well cared for all those horses are.)
>
> Whinny Moose
>
> * Pretty much true between Cascades and Rockies, Canada border to at least
> Nevada.
>
> ** The whole area is higher than anything in the East, lower plains at
> about 4,500 ft., 9,000' mountains, snow capped even in July.
>
--
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