A few days ago, I made the mistake of letting the misinformed opinion of others hurt my feelings. I has come to my attention that some people from above the mason Dixon line assume that people from below that line are somehow less intelligent. Now I first encountered this prejudice in the late 70’s when I was in the Navy and stationed in Connecticut. It again reared its ugly head almost five years ago when I moved to the mid-west. Well let me inform ya’ll of a few things. Just because we are from the south does not make us stupid.
Michael DeBakey was born in Lake Charles Louisiana and even worse to foreign Parents. The hospital he did his research in and the university he served at are both located in Houston Texas.
Howard Hughes, one of the wealthiest men that ever lived, was born in Houston, Texas. Did I mention he was a motion picture maker and an aviator? Oh, and the Hughes Glomar Explorer, helped the CIA recover a soviet nuclear submarine off the coast of Hawaii in 1974.
Louis Armstrong, Southern jazz, cornet, and trumpet player, singer, bandleader, and popular entertainer. Armstrong overcame poverty, a lack of formal education, and racism to become one of the most innovative and influential musicians of the 20th century, and one of the most beloved entertainers in the world. Louis was born in New Orleans Louisiana.
Omar Nelson Bradley was born - literally in a log cabin - near Clark, Missouri, on 12 February 1893, the only surviving child of schoolteacher John Smith Bradley and Sarah Elizabeth Bradley, nee Hubbard.
Patrick Henry, Southern orator and statesman, whose fiery patriotism was influential in leading the colonies toward revolution. Ya’ll remember, “Give Me liberty or give me death”? Mr. Henry was born in Virginia.
George Washington, the father of this great nation was also born in Virginia. Although worn out by years of service to his country, Washington reluctantly accepted the presidency of the United States. Washington fully understood the significance of his presidency. “I walk on untrodden ground,” he said. “There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn in precedent.” During eight years in office, Washington laid down the guidelines for future presidents.
George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, Harry Truman, Woodrow Wilson, William Faulkner, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Babe Ruth are all proud sons and daughters of the south. There is a lot more folks but there is no reason to “beat a dead horse”.
So the next time you here a bit of a twang in someone’s voice or take note of a word that you might not be familiar with, do not assume that person is not that bright. We might just look at you and say, “Bless your heart”, which is southern for several things. Look it up!
Credit for some of the facts in this blog goes to http://www.knowsouthernhistory.net/index.html
No comments:
Post a Comment