[loydm]

Originally Posted by DvlsAdvc8

This is an exceptionally good post.

I second that recommendation...as someone who has lived in many parts of the US, I've generally found that, when you remember that you, the non-native, are responsible for adapting to the local culture and mores, things usually work out well. It's when "outsiders" (defined above) insist on expecting the locals to adapt to them that unhappiness ensues. Maybe the unhappy "Southsider-outsider" (BTW: I grew up on 28th Street off Highland -- it's a great place!) should accept the responsibility for her own discontent and find some place where she will be happier. There are thousands of cities in this country where she can find work, schools, living arrangements, and communities of like-minded people. I don't say this with anger, prejudice, or ill-will; I say it from a sense of practicality. Why stay where you are not happy and not welcome? It doesn't make sense to spend any part of our short lives battling internal or external demons unnecessarily.

[ljse]

Well what im about to say may anger some of yall people, but it is what i find to be the truth in alabama. So i am origanally from south alabama and moved to north alabama(cullman county) 10 years ago. Now when i moved i had no problems because my dads side of the family lives up here so i have lots of family round here. Now with that being said I could see how an outsider could have problems fitting in north alabama, expecially if there not willing to adapt. Also note that i am not talking about madison or huntsville or birmingham, i have never lived in any of those areas and dont no what there like. Now as far as racism goes I would say that there is definintly racism in alabama, expecially in the counties south of huntsville and north of birmingham(cullman,marshall,dekalb,and winston are counties im familliar with). Now i dont want to sound like im bashing alabama, im born and raised and love it here just my opinion. Now as far as sexuallity round here people are very cristian as am i and homosexuallity is fround apon and being gay probably wont make you many friends. Now as far as not being an outsider if you have no familly ties or any thing of that nature you may want to choose another part of the state to relocate because people tend to klannish in rural north alabama. If you have to move here for a job or something try to adapt for intance dont always talk about where your origonally from try getting involved with the local church or learn the game of college football(heck if i here you say ROLL TIDE your alright in my book. Ha Ha). In closing rural north alabama is not for everyone, which is o.k. because i think most people round here including my self like things the way they are, but if you do find yourself moving here just be respectful of the local folks and try to adapt and you should be fine.

[winter]

You are definitely right about Alabama. I was military in Montgomery. I did enjoy being there since I had military friends. Alabama is a state that I believe you have to be born there to find your comfort zone. Some people I knew stayed there and were happy. But life is far too short to be in a beautiful state without friends.

[Reactionary]

ljse - if Cullman is such a racist place, why did they elect a black man as their State Legislator (Fields)?

Some of you people need to live in the present...

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

ljse - if Cullman is such a racist place, why did they elect a black man as their State Legislator (Fields)?

Some of you people need to live in the present...

That means nothing except that they like that one black man, there are still racist people that exist. Nobody ever said everybody in Cullman was racist, but racism does still exist. Some of you people need to quit denying racism and think everyone is going to stop magically being racist just because its not politically correct anymore to be that way. If you think racism doesn't exist look at this website below, its just a general topic forum but some of these peoples comments are horrific. Perhaps Cullman does get more of a bad rep than it deserves though. Ljse do you have any examples of why you feel their is racism in Cullman? I don't know anybody personally in Cullman nor do I have any desire to go there so I can't give any examples but someone I know has a son who has a kid by a girl in Cullman that is currently dating a skinhead. I'm sure most of the people in Cullman are not like that though but its just funny to me hearing that with Cullmans reputation. It may not be widespread but racism still exists today. But living in denial helps most people get through life easier so continue doing so.


why are white people smarter than blacks? - Topix

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

That means nothing except that they like that one black man, there are still racist people that exist. Nobody ever said everybody in Cullman was racist, but racism does still exist. Some of you people need to quit denying racism and think everyone is going to stop magically being racist just because its not politically correct anymore to be that way. If you think racism doesn't exist look at this website below, its just a general topic forum but some of these peoples comments are horrific. Perhaps Cullman does get more of a bad rep than it deserves though. Ljse do you have any examples of why you feel their is racism in Cullman? I don't know anybody personally in Cullman nor do I have any desire to go there so I can't give any examples but someone I know has a son who has a kid by a girl in Cullman that is currently dating a skinhead. I'm sure most of the people in Cullman are not like that though but its just funny to me hearing that with Cullmans reputation. It may not be widespread but racism still exists today. But living in denial helps most people get through life easier so continue doing so.


why are white people smarter than blacks? - Topix

Yep, there is plenty of racism in Alabama, but it works both ways. As a white man I get bad looks and attitude from black people very often.

[Reactionary]

Huntsville_secede - so the voters in Cullman elect a black man, and it means nothing except he's a likable guy?

Perhaps Cullman does get more of a bad rep than it deserves though.

Sometimes the cup is half-full...

[trishr]

I am from Alabama and I've lived here all my life. I've never lived anywhere else. The thing is, I've never been to a lot of places in Alabama. I've been through some of them going some where else. But there are a lot of places I haven't been to in my own state. So when I say I am from Alabama, I have to narrow it down to the north area of Alabama.

I'm from Florence. But when we hear of places like Birmingham, we think of the hospitals there. We think of all the good work and how many lives have been saved because of the UAB hospital and the clinics there. We all travel from our small towns to Birmingham when we are in our desperate needs to get better or to live. That is what Birmingham is known for and I think if you live there, you should know we are all proud of that part of our state. When we do go there, it's because we have to. We visit the malls. We visit the resturants and I have never been mistreated. We are so scared we will get lost and we hear stories of "be careful" about being out past dark or don't go on a certain side of Birmingham. There was a time that I did have to go all by myself. It's scary to a woman to go to a bigger town. And I did get lost and I did go to a neighborhood that I was afraid of. But I'm not sure if I was lucky or if I was in a good neighborhood, but a nice older man helped me find my way back to where I needed to be. I still go because I see doctors there. I still get scared of getting lost and I stay only on roads that are close to my destination. But I'm not afraid of the people there. I'm just afraid of being lost.
There are a lot of blacks there but that's not a big deal to me because we have a lot at home.

As for as gays here, I don't know any one close but I do know there are here and they are coming out in the open. They aren't treated terrible. The ones I know or see are always happy. My daughter lives across from two gay men in the country and they think they are really nice. There is a gay person who does design here. He has his own business. And he is highly respected. Actually, there's more than one that does design work and own their own business. They work in the upper class homes and businesses. They live in very good neighborhoods. I've learned one thing about gays that seem to stand out and that is, they are very kind. I have met a few and they are always so soft and kind. That's in my own home town of Florence, Alabama. I guess the past few years here have been good to them. I don't know their personal stories so I can't say what gays have gone through here. I also have an in-law that is gay, and has an adopted child. I have only seen and heard good things of her and her family is wonderfu.

My biggest point I want to make is, all this talk is about the "State of Alabama". I am from Alabama and I don't even know how the "whole" of Alabama is.

I have felt the roughest of rudeness in my own home town and it didn't come from whites, blacks, or gays. It came from an indian woman from India. I have never felt so persecuted as I did that day. But the very same day, 30 minutes later, I was treated just the opposite by another indian lady. The first impression of the first lady will never leave me.

Huntsville, Alabama is known to us because of the airport. We do travel and sometimes we have layovers there. Everyone is always very nice to us. And I have to go all the way to Athens to get a Starbucks so I love Athens for that.

One of my enjoyments of life is to travel, even if its in a car and going through the state of Alabama. I love going through the cities and stopping along the way.

I'm not saying we don't have any bad things going on here in Florence, Muscle Shoals or Russellville, or the smaller towns around us.

So for me, I am an Alabamian. But I have to admit, I don't really know everything about the whole state. I am just learning about the "Black Belt of Alabama". And I have more to learn.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Huntsville_secede - so the voters in Cullman elect a black man, and it means nothing except he's a likable guy?



Sometimes the cup is half-full...

It doesn't prove racism doesn't exist in Cullman like you were suggesting. Like I said I never really been to Cullman so its not fair for me to stay how racist it is or not. But I have experienced a racism in many other places, and know of others who have even here in Huntsville. Yeah racism can go both ways but what exactly is bad looks and attitude, how is that racism? You feel they are giving you these bad looks cause you are white?

[Reactionary]

Huntsville_secede - I'm not so naive to think that racism doesn't exist in Cullman (or anywhere else). I'm just saying that things are getting better. IMO the election results are an indication of progress.

But for all I know the Cullman representative was elected by "yellow dog" Democrats who proved that they really would vote for anyone but a Republican

Reading your link - not a very polite exchange, IMO instigated just for that level of discourse.