Op-Ed
Shattering the Southern Stereotype
Southern Style
Southern Style
Welcome to South Carolina. As you cross the border, pull off I-95 to pick up your Bible, Budweiser and Confederate flag. Shed your Lacoste, educated vocabulary and BMW for a wife beater, southern drawl and pick-up truck. And forget about tinted windows and nice rims because all your new truck needs are over-sized tires and a shotgun rack.
After all, these are your specious stereotypes for the southern United States. While Yankees are the first to chide and ridicule southern gentlemen, they are simultaneously the frontrunners to sell their homes in the Hamptons for trendier, more climatically benevolent locations in Florida.
Though it is true that the North and South have storied and drastically different histories, to claim that the South is echelons below is not only erroneous but ignorant as well. The past decade alone has seen the growth of metropolises such as Charlotte and Atlanta, the latter being the latest American city to land the summer Olympics, a feat that New York has failed to accomplish after multiple subsequent attempts. Education-wise, while the South may not have the Ivy League, it has many prominent and prodigious universities such as Emory, Duke and Vanderbilt. Finally, regarding national economic contribution, the influx of migratory residents from Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania have sent real estate rates soaring and state economies have never been better.
Whether you northern elitists want to believe it or not, the South’s importance and influence on national and global events has never been larger. Since being the deciding factor in the past two presidential elections, politicians have molded their platforms to placate and include southern views. Many policies derived from these agendas highlight the dichotomous relationship between the North and South. A closer examination of these relationships reveals an accurate analysis of southern life. A few examples:
Religion. The South doesn’t earn the nickname “Bible Belt” arbitrarily. The Solid South has been a stronghold for the Republican Party as they value the inclusion of God in their literature, philosophies and lifestyles. Abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research are just a few of the debates in which religious values play an intricate role to mold southern viewpoints. And, not to mention, the South is one of the few areas where individuals can recite the Pledge of Allegiance without fearing censorship.
Respect. The southern gentleman is an extinct concept in many localities. In a hectic, materialistic and competitive world, the man who stops to hold the door only falls further behind in the line for admittance. Furthermore, chivalric qualities are commonly ridiculed and looked upon as condescending by implying that females are inferior or incapable. Therefore, the individual ironically earns the title of sexist rather than gentleman. This is a concept created by liberal feminists who have overstepped their bounds in search of equality and, instead, have achieved absurdity and rudeness.
Integration. One of the most insulting and infuriating misconceptions is that Southerners are inherently racist. Since the Civil Rights Movement, the South has advanced to become one of the most tolerant and integrated sectors of America. Contrarily, I have met many elitist Ivy Leaguers who not only discriminate on color of skin but also color and style of clothes, cars, wealth, etc. Cornell is the most polarized and segregated place I have ever inhabited. Case in point is our beloved North Campus, where Native-American and African-American students have the choice to segregate themselves. In addition, the much-heralded Greek system exists in some cases to serve as ethnic enclaves for religious and cultural sects. Rather than incorporating students from all walks of life, these organizations exist to provide security and comfort for the many who have never stepped inside a southern or inner-city public school.
Lifestyles. Nothing compares to the electric, busy and at times suffocating atmosphere and attitude of New York City — where seconds are priceless and an extra half hour on lunch break could mean a loss of thousands of dollars. Polar opposite is the laid-back, open atmosphere of Hilton Head Island — where ya’ll get the same work done, sans the heart attack. Down South, the competitive, dog-eat-dog demeanor is replaced with a benevolent, familial and more helpful cooperation of southern citizens. This is not to be mistaken for a lack of productivity by Southerners. The more placid atmosphere is achievable through utilizing archaic concepts such as teamwork and cooperation as opposed to the single-minded, individualistic culture the north has adopted.
The above is solely a cursory assessment in attempt to inform you of the real southern ideals. Many sectarians, however, resolve Southerners to be as, Jeff Foxworthy describes, a race of Redneck, trailer trash and inferior people. This conception is an egregious error. The relationship between the two cultures combines to create an amalgam of intellectuals and good-hearted human beings that comprise the United States of America. Especially at a university such as Cornell, where we are constantly reminded of its message of inclusiveness and respect for diversity, one would imagine the intellectual community would welcome a southern perspective and culture which only augments the learning experience.
So hop back in your car and merge onto I-95. Remove your Chanel shades and pejorative stereotypes to observe a lifestyle that the rest of America is still discovering and grappling to understand. As you accelerate into traffic, take a deep breath and embrace an experience outside your suburban mansion. Just don’t forget to apply sunscreen to the back of your neck.
hahaha is this a joke?
Having grown up in the south, I can safely say you are really overstating your case. I literally can't tell for sure whether this article is a joke or not. The south is full of rednecks who do tend to be more racist, do drive around with confederate flags on their trucks, and are intensely religious. While it isn't as extreme as stereotypes might indicate, the patterns are definitely there. Anyway this article is very odd.
I have spent minimal time in
I have spent minimal time in the south but I am not going to make claims about an entire region as you are. You are simply promoting the positive stereotypes of the south while brushing aside the negative ones. The south is full of alot of different people with alot of different lifestyles. I would argue that people who live in places like Marietta GA are more like northereners (or the way that northerners are perceived) than they are like people in rural south carolina.
Additionally, you are referencing negative stereotypes about Northerners. Not everyone is from the North Shore of Long Island, and not everyone went to Exeter. The North is a diverse place full of many different ways of life, and for you to pigeonhole the north while lambasting us (northerners) for stereotyping the south is not only ignorant, but undermines your point.
Reply
Seybert:
"The South is full of rednecks (And? They are some of the best people you will ever be fortunate enough to meet) who do tend to be more racist, (Really? Than who/whom?) do drive around with Confederate flags (And? Does that make them all bigoted or ?) on their trucks, and are intensely religious." (Sounds as though you believe there is something wrong with this.)
Ben:
"You are simply promoting the positive stereotypes of the South while brushing aside the negative ones."
How would you know if you have spent minimal time in the South?
"The North is a diverse place full of many different ways of life......"
Yes, very diverse as MLK found out.
“I’ve been in many demonstrations all across the South, but I can say that I have never seen---even in Mississippi and Alabama---mobs as hostile and hate-filled as I’ve seen in Chicago,” a shaken King said later. “I think the people from Mississippi ought to come to Chicago to learn how to hate.”
When This Native Southerner Heads North
Carl Menzel's column was on the money about the incorrect stereotypes about The South. When I visit New York state I marvel at the audacity of the state's politicians (particularly reverse carpetbagger Senator Hillary Clinton) who condemn our flying the Confederate battle flag down South while proudly displaying the New York state flag. Do you New Yorkers not realize your state flag features two slave ships? The state flag, based on the state seal, has been glorifying slavery since 1798, when imported slaves were the most important commodity brought into the port of New York City. Until the New York State flag comes down, we will fly our Confederate flags. Study your own history, New Yorkers, before condeming The South's.
Carl Menzel Should Be Fired
This article was terrible. I find it amusing how this columnist entitles his article “Shattering the Southern Stereotype” but then seeks to propagate stereotypes about others. For example, let us examine this passage: “Contrarily, I have met many elitist Ivy Leaguers who not only discriminate on color of skin but also color and style of clothes, cars, wealth, etc. Cornell is the most polarized and segregated place I have ever inhabited. Case in point is our beloved North Campus, where Native-American and African-American students have the choice to segregate themselves. In addition, the much-heralded Greek system exists in some cases to serve as ethnic enclaves for religious and cultural sects.” Have you applied to these program houses or “ethnic enclaves” masquerading as fraternities? I doubt it. Stop rehashing an opinion that other conservative publications like the Cornell Review have frequently made already. It should be noted that while the columnist bemoans discrimination in the North, he says nothing about how his home state of South Carolina had a long-serving senator named Strom Thurmond, who was a segregationist and opposed civil rights legislation.
This article is useless. Anyone with some sense of decency knows that bigotry exists everywhere, North and South, urban and rural, etc. For instance, Mississippi was propelled into the national spotlight during the civil rights movement, but to suggest that Mississippi made no contributions to America [William Faulkner, BB King] or to condemn it to be constrained to the historical straitjacket of racism is insane.
Carl Menzel should be ousted from the Daily Sun’s staff because his presence represents a mockery to our university.
Agree.. as though my opinion might be limited to where i live
I agree completely with your statements. As a person who lives in downtown Beaufort, South Carolina all of these stereotypes are present. Us "Beaufortonian's" are known for our simple minded conservative views. I live in a 200 year old historic home as well as my grandmother who lives right beside my house. Beaufort is paradice for all those who live hear to the most extent, we have beaches, marsh, sandbars to party at, and since there is nothing to do at night as a High Schooler we get togeather by the hundreds and party untill we passout from too much alcohol or the sun comes up. We all have totalled a car atleast once, we like shrimp and grits. As children we all crabbed, shrimped, fished, and know how to cast the cast-net perfectly. For the most party during the summer every one knows the place to be in out on the boat "booze-cruizin" with a couple of your best friends. Wearing "Costa's" (Costa del mar sunglasses), sperries, and all are tan. My family originated from Charleston, and my whole family has the same accent as do the people in "The Prince of Tides" as it was filled her in beaufort, as well as Forrest Gump and many other movies including "Forces of Nature" of which i was an actor in :).. notice the little kid under the table in the wedding scene. That house is in my neighborhood.
Give him a break
Dear lord, you people act as if this article is a personal insult!
I've lived in many different places around the United States, both North and South, and I can easily agree with Mr. Menzel. Are there racists in the South? Yes, but there are racists everywhere in this country! There are rednecks in the North, just as there are in the South. I've seen more "rednecks" in central Indiana than I ever did in Texas! Mr. Menzel is, as I see it, only trying to show people that the South is not just full of Larry the Cable Guy wannabes, but also full of kind, hospitable, and intelligent people.
... You've Got to Be Kidding Me
I live in New Jersey, and I can tell you that I don't judge people from the South based on stupid, inaccurate, ignorant stereotypes like the ones listed above. Personally, I think whoever wrote this article is too sensitive to stereotypes. Everyone gets judged based on something. If it's not where you come from, it's what you wear or how you look or how much money your family has. I get labeled as an overachiever just because I'm Asian. It's also very hypocritical of the writer to be saying how rude and unwanted a sterotype is, while stereotyping people from the North at the same time. Not everything up here is as tightly wound as people think it is.