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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDear DU: I apologize for Alabama.
I was born in Montgomery (The Cradle of the Confederacy!) Alabama just a few months before PEARL HARBOR. Which, as we all know (or should) is/was "a day that will live in infamy" - FDR
I actually had nothing to do with it and really don't remember a damn thing about it. Just what I read (past tense, and it really pisses me off that both present and past tenses are spelled the same way) in the newspapers and history books years ago.
About twenty-five years later my home state (and town, Birmingham) became famous for Freedom Riders, bus station beatings, Bull Connor, police dogs, fire hoses turned on innocent civilians, and just general douchebaggery.
And THEN, our beloved governor, George Corley Wallace, made his (in)famous STAND IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR so that them damn shiftless, uppity n^^^^^s (is THAT allowed?) could not attend my eventual alma mater, the University of Alabama.
I bailed for several years, earning a living and such, ya' know.
Now I'm back and here I am faced with Roy Moore.
Dear DUers, I just have no excuse.
Yes, I DO think the majority of the populace here are just...unhinged?
Thay love tRump.
Moore could have a string of 15 year old hookers and THEY WOULD NOT GIVE A DAMN.
The only reason I can figure why 'we' behave the way we do is that we're STILL pissed off about losing the 'War of Northern Aggression'.
So any time we get to say "fuck you" to the yankees in D.C. we just have at it.
I apologize.
I wish I could changes it.
trof
irisblue
(33,041 posts)Ohio often makes me grit my teeth.
hlthe2b
(102,457 posts)there are RW loonies, bigots, and xian fundies everywhere, though. I need only look to the south towards Colorado Springs where, despite its beauty, the deep military presence (Fort Carson Army Base, Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base) merges with the Focus on the Family and associated fundies to create a similar dynamic.
I sure wish you could change it, too. May every single sane woman and person of color come out to vote and send a major message to these Moore a'holes.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)Alabama does what Alabama does.
Any idea what 80,000 Democrats were doing November 8th, 2016 in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania?
Heard any apologies?
kentuck
(111,110 posts)If Alabama was the only place like this, it would be much less troublesome.
Bradshaw3
(7,538 posts)It's not your fault. All you can do is keep fighting the good fight and hope one day things change.
DangerousUrNot
(431 posts)people like you in Al. I currently live in GA and know exactly what you mean.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)As I've said many times, unfortunately the "insane" outnumber the sane both in your state, mine (FL), Texas and pretty much all other southern states except maybe Virginia.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)And the Mobile Bay jubilee is something that fascinates me
But I heard the campaign manager for Moore on the radio today and he sounded like the biggest dumb redneck hick on earth
leftinalabama
(30 posts)I live on Mobile Bay and the jubilees are amazing. I have been in several.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)I understand it's quite the phenomenon
trof
(54,256 posts)We organized Democrats in the AL 1st congressional district to vote in the repug primary for Bradley "The Weather-vane" Byrne just to keep him out of the office.
Rhiannon12866
(206,420 posts)And we love him, too...
BootinUp
(47,207 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)I love where I live (Giffords old district), The mountains, the climate,
but the politics suck.
maranadem
(54 posts)I am the president of the Marana Dems Democratic club. One of nine, count em nine democratic clubs in LD11. I am also a precinct comittie member in LD11.
Quick story. A few years ago we were trying to figure ways to grow our club. The Pima county Democratic party offered to help us with postage to mail postcards to local Dems. I asked them for a list of registered Dems in about a five mile radius from our meeting room. About 10 days later, they got back to me. There are way too many! We cant possibly afford that much postage. O.K. Lets tighten up the paameters. The pima Dems have a category they call hard Dems. Im not sure how these people are catagorized but aparently they vote in every election and always vote Dem. I said fine, give me their contact info. About a week later they replied, There are way too many, we cant possibly spend that much on postage!.
We gave up on that stratigy. With the help of Ralph Atcho who is running for Senate in Az. And Eelyn lathram, the hardest working women in Dem Az. Politics, we now get neighborhood map of registered Dems about a week before our club meetings. We set up teams to knock on their doors and let them know about our club, who will be speaking, etc.
If I had a dollar for every Dem that told me they thought they were the only one in the neighborhood I could buy trump tower. When that happens, we just show them the map of the 50 + immediate neighbors who are registered Dems. It blows their minds.
If you need help hooking up, let me know. I know Tucson has clubs. I know LD9 has clubs and I have enough connections to prety much hook you up wherever you live in Az..
still_one
(92,481 posts)be feeling a lot of pain unless their attitudes change
Skittles
(153,243 posts)why did you return? I know it's your home but still.....I know you traveled far and wide. Why go back?
BigmanPigman
(51,646 posts)Skittles
(153,243 posts)I grew up as a GI brat and have a hard time relating to what it is like to actually "grow up" without constantly moving
I have never in my life lived anywhere where relatives could just stop by.
BigmanPigman
(51,646 posts)moved from PA to CA to get away from one side of my family (the crazy ones) and go to help the ones who were still sane and normal. I am glad it is BLUE and sane here.
trof
(54,256 posts)I considered myself to be an independent although I had never voted for a republican.
What happened in Florida back then and since changed all that forever.
No close family here except Miz t.
We have a modest but comfortable house on the nay, been here since '93.
The view is fantastic.
Don Siegelman was governor when we arrived.
Actually, he's a fraternity brother (and Roll Tide), although several years younger than I am.
The political atmosphere used to be much friendlier.
It's warm.
We have some good friends, some we can even talk politics with.
Plus the tax breaks the state gives to us geezers (I retired in '99), and the low cost of living, pretty much has us locked in here financially.
C'est la vie.
pnwmom
(109,020 posts)than all the rest of us are for DT.
But I know the feeling -- I DO feel like apologizing the the WORLD for DT.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)would probably lose. I say probably because racism and bigotry still attracts votes here. Its tough sometimes putting up with white wing crud.
forgotmylogin
(7,539 posts)and we'll call it even!
shadowmayor
(1,325 posts)Hear you loud and clear in Texas. You have nothing to apologize for - it's your neighbors who do. We gotta whole lot of stupid in the great state of Texas - Bush to Perry to Abbott for starters and some mouth breathers in the House that are dumber than dumb. Never miss a chance to rub salt into those who vote for these idiots - it's so much fun!
leftinalabama
(30 posts)I live in South Alabama. Mobile. It really is as bad as you say. There are some great people, friendly, educated, some even progressive. The majority are just the opposite. I cant understand it, other than what trof said. I really think between the loyalty to the confederacy, and the religious extremists here, that Alabama is stuck in the past probably forever. It is kind of strange though their love for Alabama football being the majority of players are black. Roll Tide.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Lived and worked in Mobile for a few years before moving about 90 miles north of you.
Welcome to DU.
LeftInTX
(25,667 posts)I'm from Texas.
The state that gave you Bushes, Cruz, Cornyn, Gomert, Perry, Barton, Lamar Smith and a host of other conservative losers.
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)Ended up in South Florida.
I remember Anne Richards, Jim Hightower, et al.
All went to hell in 1994.
Dick Armey, Tom DeLay, Bush and now Cornyn, Abbot, Cruz...
The state is a cesspool
It's not the people...it's the corruption.
But Texas will recover....as will Alabama, Mississippi,Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina
Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)Love, the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio.
George II
(67,782 posts)....was apologize for trump.
TNNurse
(6,931 posts)than I am for Newt Gingrich and other horrible GA people. I was born there but choose to celebrate Jimmy Carter, Julian Bond, John Lewis, Max Cleland and Sally Yates.
You can focus on the good people...including Doug Moore.
BamaRefugee
(3,488 posts)I wrote a long reply, then erased it. I'll just say this: I lived there many years, I have so many great memories of it, the place is just steeped into my soul, I moved to NYC when I was 21 and never looked back....and now, as much as I think about it, and want to do it...I just can't go back.
I just can't abide the ignorance, hate, and stupidity in the air. Having said that, I know the secret to Southern living is finding the cool people, and then treasuring them and protecting those friendships as hard as you can, because you and them are part of a secret society that just does it's best to ignore the dumb stuff around them.
And I will have to admit, that if you're a white guy, at a certain socio/economic level, and you aren't someone burdened by a lot of concern for others, you can really live like a King there.
I wish I could apologize, but I did everything I could while I lived there to heighten consciousness, and can see now that that's just not gonna happen there.
"If it was good enuff fer ma Diddy and GrandDiddy, it's good enough for me". That's the Alabama state motto.
But damn, I miss so much of it's beauty and it's special folks. I can feel it in my bones.
BamaRefugee
(3,488 posts)Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)And yes, Roll Tide!
(and, On Wisconsin too!)
BamaRefugee
(3,488 posts),,,wanting them to win, cuz I have a bunch of friends there, but knowing if they did. Alabama might be out of the playoffs....
Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)Oh, well... if I'm being honest about it, Bama is better, probably by a significant margin, than either UW or Ohio State.
Still, Badgers and their fans would have LOVED to have a shot, play the game and see what happens. But I like the Tide. I like their style of play- old school, like Wisconsin.
rainin
(3,011 posts)I think they are brainwashed by right wing radio and cable news, plain and simple. We are losing the propaganda war.
Duppers
(28,127 posts)rainin
(3,011 posts)Still In Wisconsin
(4,450 posts)Hell, I live in Wisconsin- you know, Cheese and frozen lakes, playing football in -15-degree weather in January, home of the famous Iron Brigade of Civil War fame- in other words, about as far from the "Cradle of the Confederacy" as you can get. AND YET- we have given this country the likes of "Tailgunner Joe McCarthy, Scott "all teachers are evil" Walker, Paul "Lyin'" Ryan, Ron "Senator Dumbass" Johnson, and the list goes on. We also voted for Trump, as did Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Ohio- so Bama, you need not apologize.
If memory serves Jimmy Carter won Alabama, yes? Didn't you (er is it y'all down there) have a Dem Governor not long ago? It can be done. You keep swingin' friend, and we will too.
On Wisconsin! Roll Tide! (or, War Eagle if you're one of them Auburn types)
rrrru4ril28
(5 posts)I lived in Arkansas. Yes, I know, some southerners think Arkansas isn't the deep south. Yes, they think it is the war of Northern Aggression even though the South started the aggression. I also know there are a lot of progressives. They are just in the minority. Although if they showed up at the polls at close to 100% they might win more reliably. But I also know that the politicians in the south put roadblocks to keep progressives from the poll.
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)bdamomma
(63,941 posts)just vote for the scandal free person.
People are losing their moral compasses, tRump has brought the swamp creatures to the surface.
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)dangerously bad, evil, demented and stupid most Alabamans really are.
I know that state well.
I know a lot of places including the Midwest where I was born, several European countries and the Southwest where I have lived for a long time. No place that I have ever seen matches Alabama (where I also lived for a number of years) in terms of abominable, noxious traits, all the traits listed above and then some that I do not mention.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)And no one can make me apologize for Steve King or Charles Grassley.
demopilot
(50 posts)I know because I have been there and I met them both.
Response to demopilot (Reply #40)
marble falls This message was self-deleted by its author.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)And of course, what's happening has nothing to do with you.
struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)csziggy
(34,139 posts)I know, because many were my ancestors.
My earliest Alabama settler was Charles Crow, Jr who moved to Perry County in 1819. He had been ordained as a minister at the Bush River Baptist Church in South Carolina. When they decided that church officials should not own slaves, Crow left and took his family and all his slaves to Alabama where he estsblished the Ockmulgee Baptist Church.
Crow was not even generous to the slaves who wanted to be Christians - he had left Ockmulgee for some years but returned and resumed control in his old age. During his absence the minister had allowed a slave to go to plantations to preach to other slaves who could not attend church. Charles Crow would not allow this and stopped the practice even though it meant that the plantation bound slaves did not get to "hear the word of the lord."
In his old age he taught a number of young ministers. They began the Alabama Baptist Conference much to Crow's pleasure. After his death this lead to the formation of the Southern Baptist Conference - the same bigoted organization that influences so many Southern Christians today.
While Crow was the biggest asshole in my family tree, most of the others were also slave owners who left the Carolinas as many of the churches reduced their support for the institution of slavery. Most of the families I descend from on my mother's side had members who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War.
I wish I were descended from th Quakers on my husband's side who were activists in the anti-slavery side, but I can't control my ancestors. The best thing that every happened in my ancestry was when Mom left Alabama and never returned as a resident.
Demsrule86
(68,735 posts)still think Jones may win.
PJMcK
(22,060 posts)I live in Manhattan, NY and I know many people who support Trump and Moore. Thankfully NY is mostly a solid blue.