Is Mississippi really that bad? (Jackson, Gulfport: 2009, condo, private school)

[Laiinie]

Originally Posted by veganwriter

All this talk about that Confederate Flag ... justifying it by saying, "It's our heritage."

I'm black and it's my "heritage" too ... a despicable part of my "heritage" and if you don't know that it's a blood-dripping insult by now, then water from the river "Denial" flows thick through your blood.

My mother was born and raised in Hazlehurst, Miss. She got out when she was in her late teens, but she had good and bad to say about it. They took me down there on a trip when I was 12. All the Jim Crow signs were up:

• WHITES ONLY
• WHITE WATER
• Colored Water

heck ... I thought the signs meant that the water was different flavors!

This is 2008. We're living in a threshold of change. Yet some people haven't had an original thought since their grandparents sat them on their knee and taught them "the way things R".

Germans have a heritage that includes the Nazi Flag. You don't see them flying that blood dripped flag of theirs in front of so many houses, do you? And only 6 -to- 11 million people were murdered and tortured to death under that flag ... whereas millions ... at least three times that many were killed coming during the 400 years of the Middle Passage alone! (That's not counting all the lynchings, beatings, murders, and drownings.)

See ... the sad thing is that this is a spiritual issue. If God is a Spirit of Love, then that bloody flag of the confederacy is a symbol of hate. All the theologians I know agree that hatred is a "Satan" ... a corrosive spirit that ushers one or more of the 7 Deadly Sins into each life that attaches to it.

Back there in '65, they took me out to a field and showed me this huge fire place. That was all that was left of Grand Pa Tillman's huge home. Story goes that he was the only man black or white in that area that owned a sawmill and a cotton gin. Had a little town called, "Tillman Town." Night riders got jealous and burned him up.

Stories in truck stops all over the country speak that if a black person moves into "the wrong area" today, he'll still get his house burned down.

Satan in the stubborn, "stiff necks" of people who REFUSE to look at themselves, yet Oxycotin, Crack, Heroin, Alcoholism, child abuse, sexual abuse, strip bars, pornography, and gambling are more respected than something like, "Buddhism." ((chuckle))

You know why they keep talking about obesity? There's an old saying I heard in the Military: "A lazy gut is a sign of a lazy mind."

I personally don't see WHY white people want to continue doing all this to themselves.

Now, on the other hand, things have changed. Race relations have improved in some parts better than they are in California or ... Minnesota.

But the problems in Mississippi are no different than the problems in New York. Darkness and evil have run amuck everywhere. It's just plain sad to see human beings still trying to justify it. And there's MORE than enough to go around.

All that beautiful land ... and people won't move in to help improve conditions because some lazy minded bubba, with flag waving, is going into the pulpit this Sunday, too afraid to live the life of Jesus rather than to preach some "safe" portion of it. Sad.

And you know who will fly it highest? The more miserable a person is, the higher he'll fly his ignorant flag of hate. Sad thing to see. CRAZY thing to witness.

Suggested Reading: "People of The Lie" by M. Scott Peck.

Well, how do I start? Racism is a problem everywhere not only with skin color but with religion. Yes, there are older people who are still set in their ways and how they treat others but you are doing the same by stereotyping the whole state.

There is a problem with your logic. You can't compare Nazi Germany to Slavery in the US. There is absolutely no comparison. Nazi's did not want Jews as their slaves they were exterminating them as if they were cockroaches.

Slavery in and of itself is one of the most cruel and disgusting things. If you knew your history at one point in time most every race and religion has been subjected to some sort of slavery and racism. Besides unless you have lived in Germany and have seen what they do then how would you know if they don't still have the Nazi flag in certain places? Why does the flag bother you so much? Were you a slave? How can you hold hatred for something you were not?

One of the things that I don't understand is the South is always to blame for the slavery but the north had slaves themselves. A lot of the Union soldiers themselves did not want to fight the war. They still wanted slaves just as some in the south did not want slaves. You can't judge the entire south by the loudest voices. There were many who were against it just the same as many for.

Racism may always be a problem. Hopefully it won't be but only time will tell. Also, by you writing such hateful remarks towards people won't help it.
I get the feeling myself that you are racist towards whites. You need to learn that people can't change the past and by blaming a race for the entire past is not right. It's just like you can't change the past actions of your ancestors neither can they.

This question may disturb some but I have always wondered. I'm sorry if I offend anyone. Why do other black people call each other the "N" word? I mean for such a hated word why continue using it? Yes, I'm white but did you know that until I just stated it? I know that I would never walk around calling my friends Cracker it makes absolutely no sense to me.

[southernfried]

Ive got to say I was talking to a friend&he said it if you wantto talk about slavery, ya need to back way back and ask who sold who into slavery back in Africa the cheifs of the tribes!!
YEAH the white man went there bought the most of the slaves! And there were the one that just tookem!!

But I was not there back
then and don't think you were either!?

I just got say I wish ya folks could just drop the predigest crap .This is what Igetsickof!!I grew up here in Ms,and tried up the folks that want to shove O greater than you ,attitude. And that comes from both side,Black&White. I guess we'll just have to say love the state,but have come tired of the attude!!

Sorry!!! let me get off here!!

[jsherman9901]

Originally Posted by Laiinie

It's also so much easier to get your tags and license for you car not to mention cheaper.

You are kidding, right? Car tags in MS are fairly expensive, especially when compared with surrounding states. If you have a car with a blue book value of $25,000, expect to pay $400-500 a year, depending on which county you live in. The older the car gets, the cheaper it gets, but it is still outrageous.

Property taxes are definitely cheaper than in TX, though.

[HarlequhnBoy]

Ah this debate will never end...

Mississippi is a state I don't plan on returning to after college, but it's a state I am very proud to have grown up in. Growing up in a tiny Delta town gave me such a unique upbringing. That's pretty much what Mississippi is to me - unique.

As for Mississippi obesity statistics... I just don't get it! I went to a small, private high school and all of us were in great shape. There were maybe two "fat" people in my entire high school. All my peers looked a lot healthier than people I see elsewhere in the United States.

Oh, and I hate having slavery and racism thrown in my face because I grew up in Mississippi. Whatever! I wasn't around in the 19th century or the 1960s. I had nothing to do with the past, and don't want to. Germans don't have to atone for what Nazi Germany did less than 70 years ago, why should I have to for something I had absolutely nothing to do with?

[khakibecca]

Did you know that even though the state is the poorest (economically) in the union it ranks HIGHEST in charitable giving. Conversely, Connecticut is either the wealthiest or one of the wealthiest and ranks dead last in charitable giving. Another interesting fact; in the same report Mississippi was considered to be the most conservative state (politically) and Connecticut is tied for most liberal. Draw your own conclusions.

[khakibecca]

Originally Posted by veganwriter

All this talk about that Confederate Flag ... justifying it by saying, "It's our heritage."

I'm black and it's my "heritage" too ... a despicable part of my "heritage" and if you don't know that it's a blood-dripping insult by now, then water from the river "Denial" flows thick through your blood.

My mother was born and raised in Hazlehurst, Miss. She got out when she was in her late teens, but she had good and bad to say about it. They took me down there on a trip when I was 12. All the Jim Crow signs were up:

• WHITES ONLY
• WHITE WATER
• Colored Water

heck ... I thought the signs meant that the water was different flavors!

This is 2008. We're living in a threshold of change. Yet some people haven't had an original thought since their grandparents sat them on their knee and taught them "the way things R".

Germans have a heritage that includes the Nazi Flag. You don't see them flying that blood dripped flag of theirs in front of so many houses, do you? And only 6 -to- 11 million people were murdered and tortured to death under that flag ... whereas millions ... at least three times that many were killed coming during the 400 years of the Middle Passage alone! (That's not counting all the lynchings, beatings, murders, and drownings.)

See ... the sad thing is that this is a spiritual issue. If God is a Spirit of Love, then that bloody flag of the confederacy is a symbol of hate. All the theologians I know agree that hatred is a "Satan" ... a corrosive spirit that ushers one or more of the 7 Deadly Sins into each life that attaches to it.

Back there in '65, they took me out to a field and showed me this huge fire place. That was all that was left of Grand Pa Tillman's huge home. Story goes that he was the only man black or white in that area that owned a sawmill and a cotton gin. Had a little town called, "Tillman Town." Night riders got jealous and burned him up.

Stories in truck stops all over the country speak that if a black person moves into "the wrong area" today, he'll still get his house burned down.

Satan in the stubborn, "stiff necks" of people who REFUSE to look at themselves, yet Oxycotin, Crack, Heroin, Alcoholism, child abuse, sexual abuse, strip bars, pornography, and gambling are more respected than something like, "Buddhism." ((chuckle))

You know why they keep talking about obesity? There's an old saying I heard in the Military: "A lazy gut is a sign of a lazy mind."

I personally don't see WHY white people want to continue doing all this to themselves.

Now, on the other hand, things have changed. Race relations have improved in some parts better than they are in California or ... Minnesota.

But the problems in Mississippi are no different than the problems in New York. Darkness and evil have run amuck everywhere. It's just plain sad to see human beings still trying to justify it. And there's MORE than enough to go around.

All that beautiful land ... and people won't move in to help improve conditions because some lazy minded bubba, with flag waving, is going into the pulpit this Sunday, too afraid to live the life of Jesus rather than to preach some "safe" portion of it. Sad.

And you know who will fly it highest? The more miserable a person is, the higher he'll fly his ignorant flag of hate. Sad thing to see. CRAZY thing to witness.

Suggested Reading: "People of The Lie" by M. Scott Peck.

I voted "no" to keeping the confederate flag even though I am a white Mississippian because I thought it would be hurtful to some people and think Mississippi has been tainted by a racist reputation too long. But I found out that in areas which are mostly black they overwhelmingly voted to keep the flag. Go figure. By the way, what's the difference in you calling someone a "bubba" and someone calling a black person a n-word? (Notice my respect for you by not even writing it?) If you talk the way you do and use our nation's past as your excuse and justification for doing so, how are you any better than the "bubbas"? And more importantly, how are you enriching and helping the world?

[CouleeGuy]

Mississippi is a great state. I lived there in the early 90’s. Coming from Chicago, People would tell me how poor it was, their all racist, and their education system were terrible. They said I would be considered an outsider and not be accepted.

I found Mississippi to be the complete opposite of what others were saying.
There is a lot of “Old Money “ there. I did not meet one racist individual there and I got the perfect foundation in my education. The community accepted me for who I was and I made some of the best friends I still keep in contact with.

I love cat fishing on the Pearl River. I love the smell of pine first thing in the morning. Every time I go back I always make it a point to get up early just to smell the pine.

I love going to the Ross Barnet Reservoir to water ski and fish. There is so much of the state to love and Madison/ Ridgeland has grown into a great community.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by jsherman9901

You are kidding, right? Car tags in MS are fairly expensive, especially when compared with surrounding states. If you have a car with a blue book value of $25,000, expect to pay $400-500 a year, depending on which county you live in. The older the car gets, the cheaper it gets, but it is still outrageous.

Property taxes are definitely cheaper than in TX, though.

I found it to be the same deal.. it was cheaper and easier to get my plates and register my car in Mississippi than it was in Texas. I have a 92 chevy 1500 truck, and it cost me 35 bucks total.. I was in and out in less than 15 min.. and I got Specialized plates with my Forum name on them. Want to see a picture?

[oldenfatt]

Nice pic- does that plastic cover really help with the traffic cameras?

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by Muhnay

I found it to be the same deal.. it was cheaper and easier to get my plates and register my car in Mississippi than it was in Texas. I have a 92 chevy 1500 truck, and it cost me 35 bucks total.. I was in and out in less than 15 min.. and I got Specialized plates with my Forum name on them. Want to see a picture?

Nice plate, im curious can you put custom non state tags on the front like in SC?

Thanks