[gsp4ever]

This is the second post I've seen that leaves Tommy Shaw (Styx and Damn Yankees guitarist and singer) off the list.

Don't forget the band Alabama. May not be the most flattering example of musicians from Alabama but they sure are famous.

[zenjenn]

Just because you are a member of a religion or cult doesn't mean you take on every attribute of the extreme religion. You don't mount explosives on your body and run into buildings either - does that mean you aren't religious?

You stated that the only difference between religion and a cult is size. You didn't say "some religions", therefore, you implied that my religion (and everyone else's) was included in your statement. I responded to that.

Of course extreme religion is dangerous. Extremism is dangerous regardless of whether it is religious or not.

[Keeper]

Please.. let's keep this about Alabama.. We have a religion forum if you want to discuss religion

[Mawoods]

Zengenn I really agree with what you are saying about religion. Can't give you a reputation point but you deserve one.

When we moved to Wisconsin I had an eye opening experience. There is prejudice (big time) , there are rednecks up there and weird people there too. However so many did poke fun of the south and thought that our accents made us dumb. I had never met anyone who ate squirrel and road kill until I lived in Middleton, WI. It is just easier for them to point fingers than to examine themselves. I guess that is true about all of us. Many of them had never traveled out of the state and didn't want to! So really we are all more alike than different. I think prejudice in no matter what form is just ignorance. To digress and put my own spin, it is my spiritual life that pushes me to be forgiving of that ignorance and to examine myself about those things that are not pleasing to my faith such as selfishness and hate . By the way, we liked Wisconsin alot - just not the long winters.

[FodderFossil]

How about, My Cousin Vinnie, Forest Gump, Driving Miss Daisy none of which put Alabama in a positive light. And the clincher is, none of them were shot in Alabama. LOL!!

[Okiefrombama]

My Cousin Vinnie is a very funny movie, and I love telling friends that Bubba's town of Bayou La Batre is a real place! Forrest Gump takes on new meanings when you live in Mobile. The author of the book grew up here.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by FodderFossil

How about, My Cousin Vinnie, Forest Gump, Driving Miss Daisy none of which put Alabama in a positive light. And the clincher is, none of them were shot in Alabama. LOL!!

I don't think 'My Cousin Vinny' put New Jersey (or was it NY?) in a very positive light either.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by mimpdaddy

I think people outside the state want to see Alabama fail at anything.

I'm from outside the state, and not only do I not "want to see Alabama fail at anything", I see it as my ancestral home, although I've never lived there. One August back in 1968 was enough for me. You can have that humidity and those bugs I experienced in Baldwin County.

[lucmas]

The rest of the country tells us to get over the civil war, but honestly, some of our friends from up north can't let go of the past and stereotypes themselves. You just have to live with it. Afterall, they've seen that "Sweet Home Alabama" movie with Reese Witherspoon in it, that's got to be an accurate representation of the state.
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[ReluctantGardenStater]

Before I say anything, I will first say that I'm from New Jersey. If Alabama is the most hated state in the nation, we're certainly #2

From the experiences I've had, most states have a regional culture which leads to a certain attitude and mass stereotyping of other specific states and regions. Most people in New Jersey get their view of Alabama through A) My Cousin Vinny and B) Alabama jokes. You tell someone you are going on vacation to Alabama or moving to Alabama, and they will give you a bizarre look, saying "Alabama?!", literally translating to "Why the hell would you want to leave the civilized Northeast and go to the middle of hickville"

The American Civil War's been over for ages, but I believe there are still deep cultural divides and dislike of other states out of ignorance which is rooted in everything from jokes to the way children grow up hearing their parents talking in a negative manner about the South. New Jersey hates New York and Pennsylvania too, but most of that is regional rivalry and the need to be competitive. New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and probably New England in general actually seem to look down on Alabama. Not just Alabama though, but Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, even Virginia. The only Southern states which are "respected" up here are Florida and North Carolina because of the high numbers of Northern transplants.

I was sifting through Yahoo Answers the other day (one of my bizarre hobbies) and a question was posed in which people were asked what came to mind when they thought of certain states. I don't remember most of the answers, but I remember Alabama's from one young lady as I remember actually laughing out loud at the blunt absurdity of the answer. For Massachusetts she would say "History, the American Revolution", Florida "oranges, the beach", and then Alabama "Uneducated people, racism". I had to reread it a few times to make sure I wasn't missing something. I still chuckle even a few days later when I think about the random nature of that answer as it was a perfect, rude example of ignorance.

Is there a rivalry between Alabama and Mississippi?