"Sure I am--you're just not making a lick of sense, dear. "They undermine their intelligence by drawling"--can you even begin to comprehend how arrogant yet self-loathing that sounds?
I understand all about trying to distance oneself from a history of ignorance and stupidity. Living in Connecticut and being from Mississippi, I have to convince people daily that I can actually read and process information. But I do it through my actions and the views I express, NOT through trying to vanilla-ize my speech. All of that has to do with THEIR prejudices. I'm sure that Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Jimmy Carter, and any number of articulate and otherwise admirable people had their own drawls. If people want to categorize me as a racist, an idiot, or a buffoon because of whatever drawl I may have, then they can fucking well do it--they're just bigots of another sense, and I know better. But if you're trying to erase the Southern part of your identity, go right ahead. That has to do with your own sense of inadequacy, not mine.
Oh, and if you're trying to come to terms with your own heritage through a reading of Gone With the Wind, God help you, child."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-08-17 03:31 am (UTC)completely off topic
Date: 2005-08-17 04:53 am (UTC)"Sure I am--you're just not making a lick of sense, dear. "They undermine their intelligence by drawling"--can you even begin to comprehend how arrogant yet self-loathing that sounds?
I understand all about trying to distance oneself from a history of ignorance and stupidity. Living in Connecticut and being from Mississippi, I have to convince people daily that I can actually read and process information. But I do it through my actions and the views I express, NOT through trying to vanilla-ize my speech. All of that has to do with THEIR prejudices. I'm sure that Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Jimmy Carter, and any number of articulate and otherwise admirable people had their own drawls. If people want to categorize me as a racist, an idiot, or a buffoon because of whatever drawl I may have, then they can fucking well do it--they're just bigots of another sense, and I know better. But if you're trying to erase the Southern part of your identity, go right ahead. That has to do with your own sense of inadequacy, not mine.
Oh, and if you're trying to come to terms with your own heritage through a reading of Gone With the Wind, God help you, child."
http://www.livejournal.com/community/alphabet_soup/223063.html?thread=689495
...and now i want to have your drawlin' babies.
Re: completely off topic
Date: 2005-08-17 01:31 pm (UTC)there's a line for that you know, better get in it before it gets any longer.
Re: completely off topic
Date: 2005-08-17 04:30 pm (UTC)a'ight heller-- you best be gettin' busy!!
no subject
Date: 2005-08-17 06:01 am (UTC)Mmmmmm!