declaring my independence (or why north and south are americas apart)

North
I’ve been fortunate to explore the Northeast in my time in the States; it’s a totally different world. It’s a gruff-fast-savvy-modern-classic-massive. People say what they mean and mean what they say, and if you’re in the way…you cop a spray. People move quickly, talk quickly, work quickly, live quickly, everything seems to happen in double time. It’s also a hub for savvy types to show off their land, wheels, shades or loft. The new is constantly turning up, new buildings, new companies, new toys, new people; fighting for space alongside the old, the local, the resident. Everything here is slightly massive; from egos to food prices, to skyscrapers and corporations, this is the land of big and bigger.

The seasons visit here, every single year; wind & snow in the winter, sweat & thunder in the summer. This culture is more liberated than the other aspects of the country which still cling to puritan rites of passage; yet it’s not totally liberal either, with capitalist giants basing themselves here and politiking from across the globe happening in this backyard. It’s heavily influenced by Euro culture, and is the home of the traditional euro emigrant trying to make a new life in the land of opportunity. It’s a multicultural melting pot, with communities of people from across the world all converging in the one region, looking for their own slice of the dream, and unlike the west coast, most visitors end up planning to stay.

South
An experience in total contrast would be a trip from the northeast to the South.Home of all the great American traditions; nascar, coke, shrimp gumbo, the klu klux klan, oil, chik-fil-a, pick up trucks, NRA, hooters, the Malboro Man, the religious right, Sonic Burger, chicken fried steak, and lets not forget my old mate, President Bush. This is classic America; wide open spaces, slow moving lives, puritan traditions, high school pep rallies. Conservatism at it’s best is on display here. Church and religiosity are as much aligned with the civic culture as they are about the movement of Jesus. There is an underlying suspicion of the outside world, especially those liberals who inhabit the two coasts, or anyone who is not a patriot, or won’t support the troops. The military is probably the biggest single employer of high school graduates, so it makes sense that most people here are going to support the troops, regardless of the cause, because Uncle Sam is paying the bills.

For me the south was a total paradox; you have this culture of moral values; God, family and country. Hospitality, generosity & even sacrifice for the greater good abound here. You can’t fault that, no matter cynical you’ve become, and in the south you can’t miss these values, they meet you in every door way, every interaction with people. Yet running parallel is the conservative political climate, focused on propping up big money in healthcare, war materials and oil, maintaining control through conservatism. It’s undergirded by the subtle but obvious sense of suspicion about African-Americans left over from the civil war/civil rights saga, and an overt, imperialist mindset about the role of America as a light to the nations. It’s strange to me that so many of the good old boys who sacrificed to protect the freedom of the south end up begging for money on highway exits on the west coast. I’ve always been baffled by the south; some of the nicest, most sincere and humble people I’ve ever met hail from there. Yet it’s paradox is that it seems a breeding ground for some of the most insular thinking I’ve seen.
Nice to visit.
Not sure how long I could stay.
As they say in a land more familiar, may God bless America.
God help the rest…