It is my personal opinion, that here in these southern United States the end of the Civil War has, for some, yet to be recognized. I give you the big old muddy pick up trucks that zoom up and down the highway near my new home. These vehicles carry overfed 'good ol' boys' who've placed Rebel flags in their rear windows, or attached to the front of their trucks in lieu of a front license plate.
When I was in High School our mascot was Colonel Reb, and our fight song was "Dixie".
"Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten, look away, look away, look away, Dixieland. I wish I was in Dixie, away, away, in Dixieland I'll take my stand, to live and die, in Dixie. Look away, look away, look away Dixieland".
What any of that had to do with Football escapes me, but I was, then, just happy that I knew the words to 'Dixie' so I could feel I belonged.
It was a tradition at our school to celebrate our senior year with a Senior Luncheon at the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis. The Peabody has a long and rich history and I wll write about it another time. But for now, back to high school graduation traditions. Each female member of the graduating class was expected to wear a hat to this luncheon. And each year there was a program/popularity contest to select "Colonel Reb and his Lady". There were candidate couples from each class and there was a well rehearsed dance on the auditorium stage to "The Tennessee Waltz". This extravaganza was, naturally, done in replica Civil War costumes complete with hoop skirts on the girls, and sword bearing uniforms for the boys.
The year my brother was a senior he and his girlfriend actually were elected Colonel Reb and his Lady. But then, my brother is alway the most sought out man in most rooms of people who didn't grow up with him. For me he was just an annoying pill of a little brother, but as an adult, he actually turned out alright.
On a less pleasant note about southerners, I have to add that I have perfectly mannered southern female friends who, for some reason, even today do not like black people. When one of my friends told me that when her sons were young and the black children (of successful parents) in their school class would come to play with her children at her house she'd make everyone stay outside. None of these children were allowed in her home. As a matter of fact, I am the only person in our group who voted for Barak Obama for president. And guess what, they still love me! I hope that one day they will be able to see that they voted for the wrong candidate. But, until then, I will love them because Jesus told me to, and drink sweaty glasses of iced tea and share lemon bars with them, and enjoy the stories of the lastest links between their families and history, because afterall, our past has a great deal to with with our future, don't you agree?
Now, when you go home, don't forget to tell your mama I said hello, and asked about her, y'hear?
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