I'm tired.
I'm tired of having to defend my state.
I'm tired of having to defend my region.
I'm tired of having to defend my ancestors.
I'm tired of the hate and the anger and the sheer, stupid, pigheaded, narrow-mindedness of so called 'progressives' when it comes to the South.
Y'know what? I'm a Texan. I'm a Southerner. I'm a descendant of men who fought and died for the Confederacy. I'm a descendant of the first Baptist preacher in the Cross Timbers area of Texas. I'm a descendant of people killed in Indian raids. I'm a descendant of people who killed Indians. I'm a descendant of people who once held slaves.
I don't fly the Confederate battle flag. Whatever it might once of meant, now it is a symbol of hate and intolerance. I acknowledge its place in the history of the South, but it is not a symbol I look fondly upon. Remember, though, the Stars and Stripes has just as much blood on it as the Stars and Bars and the battle flag.
(Did you know they were two different things? History lesson for the day. What is commonly called the 'confederate flag' is the battle flag, much like 'don't tread on me' or regimental banners.)
I do not defend the Confederacy or the reasons they seceded from the Union, neither do I defend the actions of the Union. Whatever the reasons, it was a needless war that killed millions and sewed the seeds of hate and anger that are still poisoning our public discourse 143 years after Grant and Lee met at Appomattox Courthouse. If you think I am kidding, review the thread about the cadets of VMI marching in the parade on Inaugaration Day.
(Yes, I call it needless. All wars are needless. War is failure and there is no justification for the bullheaded pride that leads to such failure.)
I am not ashamed of being a Southerner or a Texan. I'm tired of being made to feel like less of an American because of either of those facts. My family has been in the country since the 1670s and in Texas since the 1830s. My ancestors have fought in every single damn war this country has ever entered into, including Iraq and both sides of the Civil War. When they died, they did it for both me - the queer, atheist liberal - and my uncle, the conservative archdeacon of his church.
We have a lot of assholes in the South. Just like there are a lot of jerks in the North and the Midwest and the West. Despite what some of you people think, the South does not have a monopoly on racist, homophobic, conservative, hatemongers.
Quite a few 'blue' states have laws against gay marriage. Quite a few 'blue' states make it difficult for women to exercise their rights to their own bodies. Quite a few 'blue' states have corrupt politicians.
Say what you will about red states and the people who live in them, but remember this very important fact. SOME OF US VOTED FOR OBAMA AND OUR VOTES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOURS.
For every hateful neo-nazi, there is a progressive in Austin working to turn Texas blue.
For every Christianista who uses their so-called faith to deny queers their rights, there are people of all faiths working to counter the message with one of love.
For every poster here who says all red states should be expelled from the union, I say fuck you and the horse you rode in on. We're in this together, whether you like it or not.
I'm adult enough to get over my pride and anger. Are you? Or will the hate win?