Rebel With A Clue -- Southern Heritage, No Hate, No Apologies

I had an interesting exchange of opinions regarding one of my articles posted here in the past. I now have it on a MySpace page that I have started, The Confederate Battle Flag you all have read and this interesting exchange has led to yet another "Just My Opinion"

"Those People" say that The War For Southern Independence was an act of Treason when we took up arms and fired unprovoked shots against our own people underneath a cowardly banner for the sake of preserving slavery.

First off let me say that a Civil War is an uprising of people within their own Country, The Confederate States of America is a Country formed by the secession of states that had the right to do so as provided under the Constitution. The CSA was invaded by the Union because Lincoln did not want to lose the raw products provided by Southern States, The secession of these states forming the CSA was a money issue and Lincoln did not want to lose power over the South. The firing of unprovoked shots that started the Civil war as they claim began when The Confederate government attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of a small federal garrison that occupied Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on December 26, 1860. Lincoln decided not to withdraw the garrison. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Lincoln issued a call-up of 75,000 troops to put down what he claimed was a "Rebellion" in the South. So if the tables were turned and the CSA was on union territory and refused to leave would this still be treason? This was a war between two countries so we were not fighting against our own people we were defending ourselves against invasion from another country. Treason I think not.

Slavery was not the issue in The War of Northern Aggression (aka Civil War); Lincoln himself stated "The war is being fought for the Union, not slavery". A quote by Ulysses S. Grant states "If I thought this war was to abolish slavery, I would resign my commission, and offer my sword to the other side." Lincoln even stated in his First Inaugural Speech on 3-14-1861 "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Who actually had Slavery on their agenda? The Emancipation Proclamation did no more that take able bodied black men who it claimed to free and enlist them in the union army; this document freed no one it was a ploy to build the union army.

This war was not due to an act of treason or to preserve a system that enslaved human beings, it was fought because Lincoln refused to allow the South to go in peace. This proud Banner that "those people" claim to be cowardly is a symbol of the sacrifices that our Noble Forefathers stood for to protect our homeland and to preserve the proud heritage of their ancestors, they passed those traits down to us and it is now up to us now to stand for the cause they deemed worth fighting for. Our ancestors were not wrong and the lessons being taught to our children at school now have to be challenged with the true facts. Teach your children the truth so they can continue the traits of our Great Southern Heritage. Our Confederate Battle Flag is not a flag of treason or a cowardly symbol of racism. This Confederate Flag and the Cause of the Confederacy are reminders of a Great Nation of people who were brave enough to stand for what is right.

I'm proud to be a descendant of these people and I will continue to teach and learn the truth they so proudly stood for, I will not bow to the PC teachings that is an attempt to erase our Heritage and I will never be ashamed of where I am from or of my ancestors who stood up to give me what I have today.

"Too many of our Noble Forefathers stood for the Cause of The Confederacy for it to have been unjust"

11-09-06

My Response to this article: History of symbol was built after Confederacy

Mr. Morris,

I see your point of view but suggest you should check your "Facts" and study a little History before stating your opinions as Fact.

After spending four years in South Carolina you state "a segment of the population treats the January white sales as an opportunity to replenish their wardrobes" and go on to say "There no longer is any doubt in my mind that what is commonly known as the Confederate flag can be, in its current usage, a divisive, racist symbol."

I was born and raised in South Carolina and I am a descendant of numerous Confederates who stood up and defended our homeland against "Terrorists" of the time, these Confederate Ancestors of mine were not slave owners so why would they be fighting to "to preserve a system that enslaved other human beings" They stood up because the South was being invaded just as America stood up when the Terrorists struck on 9-11.

The Civil War was a war of aggression against the South. The Northern states had the majority of the industrial capabilities and depended on raw products from the South to survive. The Southern states grew tired of high tariffs and over taxation without sharing in the revenue received by the Northern states from Southern products. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the beginning of the secession of seven states in the South. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the union and formed The Confederate States of America. The Confederate states were able to trade directly with other nations with a much lower Confederate tariff. Rather than fairly compete with the low Confederate tariff by lowering the federal tariff, The Lincoln Republicans and their Northern financial backers chose instead to destroy the Confederacy by force.

One of the first things Jefferson Davis did after assuming office as president of the Confederate States of America was to send a peace delegation to Washington, D.C., in an effort to establish friendly ties with the federal government. The Confederacy offered to pay the South’s share of the national debt and to pay for all federal installations in the Southern states. Lincoln rejected all Confederate peace offers and insisted that federal armies would invade the Southern states if they didn’t renounce their independence and recognize federal authority.

The Confederate government attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of a small federal garrison that occupied Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on December 26, 1860. Lincoln decided not to withdraw the garrison. Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Lincoln issued a call-up of 75,000 troops to put down what he claimed was a "Rebellion" in the South. Four more Southern states joined the Confederacy Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Lincoln sent federal armies into the South. Kentucky and Missouri joined the Confederacy even though their efforts to secede had failed.

Slavery was not the issue in The War of Northern Aggression (aka Civil War), Lincoln himself stated "The war is being fought for the Union, not slavery". A quote by Ulysses S. Grant states "If I thought this war was to abolish slavery, I would resign my commission, and offer my sword to the other side." Lincoln even stated in his First Inaugural Speech on 3-14-1861 "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Who actually had Slavery on their agenda?

I agree that our Confederate Flag has been used by the KKK and other White Supremacist groups in their hate filled degrading agenda but you fail to point out the Stars and Stripes is flown at their meetings more than any flag of the Confederacy, you also fail to mention that the flag that was flown on the slave ships was none other than the Stars and Stripes, you also fail to mention that Confederate General Robert E Lee and President Jefferson Davis were not slave owners. But what you do promote is judging people from that era on today's values. I challenge you to study all sides of History before judging a whole group of people on the actions of a few uneducated hate groups and make the assumption that all people from the South are racist.

Deo Vindice

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The Cause of the Confederacy and our Southern Heritage has been clouded for many years by hate groups and people who use our Confederate symbols to spread their hate. Some use the slogan Heritage not Hate to gain the trust of the crowd and spread their message, others who are true defenders of Southern Heritage and the honor of our Confederate ancestors are there for just that reason, to teach the truth as we have been taught and not allow the lies that are being taught to our children when it comes to our school systems version of the Confederacy.

I use the statement Southern Heritage not Hate on my site not to apologize for my Heritage, but to show where I am going with it, my goal is to promote our Great Confederate Heritage, to teach and learn the truth behind the Cause of the Confederacy, and do this with respect and pride without the hate aspect thrown in. If we try to preserve our Southern Heritage and ignore the hate issue we always have thrown in our face, in my mind we will never know where we are going much less where we came from. In my opinion we can use Southern Heritage not Hate with no apologies because we are not "those people" who portray our Heritage in a negative manner.

I don't think we need to step back to the time frame or mindset of the era by living in the past but we do need to take the traits passed down to us and use what we have learned to move forward into the future. We can't stand by and allow anyone to degrade or try to erase our Confederate Heritage including the ones flying our Great Battle Flag in dishonor and hate because they do us more harm than good no matter what they say, and we can't allow our Confederate ancestors to be judged on today’s values as they are not living in our time frame. Too many of our Noble Forefathers stood up for the Cause of the Confederacy for it to have been unjust.

Being a Southerner and raised with teachings of God, Family, and the Truth of the Confederacy we tend to Offend quite a few of “those people” daily. Do we go out and try to offend anyone? No but it seems to happen. Sometimes just the sound of that good old Southern accent gets them going or the site of the Confederate Battle Flag on our shirts or hats brings out the race card in their hand and simply just ruins their whole day. Now have we really offended them or did we run into someone looking to be offended?

Sometimes all we have to do is show up, sometimes all our kids have to do is go to school and be proud of who they are by wearing the “wrong” clothes. Now do we need to change what we are doing? I don’t think so. We need to continue teaching our kids and anyone who will listen to the Truth as we have been taught. We have to stay the course as we have with the truth. Continue discussing our Southern Heritage and never back down by changing what you are wearing or saying, we have to keep our manners in check but that is simply what we have learned. Ticking off one of “those people” daily, as PoP does or writing excellent articles on forums like Bill is the way we need to continue.

Our recent vacation trip back home to South Carolina went real well; I made a lot of visits to the hometowns and cemeteries where a lot of my Noble Forefathers are at. I caught up with a lot of stories and memories that assure me that the upbringing I have and the Cause that my Forefathers stood up for is just.

We stopped at the welcome center in Memphis and I could not pass up the chance of taking time to visit the three parks Confederate Park, Jefferson Davis Park, and Nathan Bedford Forrest Park. All three were in good shape with a lot of good people sitting around enjoying the day and just a peaceful feeling all around. After leaving Confederate Park I had a man by the name of Reggie approach me just after parking at Jefferson Davis Park begin a discussion about the Battle Flag on my hat and shirt, he began with “How can you wear that flag knowing that it offends a whole group of people from the South” he went on to say that “How can we allow the parks in this city to be named after symbols of the Confederacy when it does nothing but degrade a whole race of Southerners? And how can we celebrate a man like Nathan Bedford Forrest when his only claim to fame was starting the KKK”.

I did have a long civil discussion with Reggie on my viewpoints of our Great Southern Heritage. I explained how our Great Battle Flag was a symbol to most Southerners black and white of the sacrifices our ancestors had made to preserve our way of life and the States Rights we needed to protect to allow us to continue to live in the Godly manner in which they were being raised. I explained to Reggie that history would tell him the truth if he would take the time to go back to study it, the truth of Nathan Bedford Forrest and the fact that he was not a Klansman was in the actual history if he chose to read it. I was cut off at that point with the statement “It’s beside the point if Forrest was a Klansman or not, the fact is we don’t need a man of his stature having a park named after him” This discussion continued for quite a while without ever getting exactly heated, but a lot of points did get made and I feel that this man although I didn’t change his mind but I do feel that he at least took time to look at our side for a change. Cindy took a picture of Reggie and I together with the statement from Reggie “This’ll go over good at the rally huh”, I said to him “You aint been listening, we don’t do rallies” he laughed and gave me directions to other points of interest in Memphis and left me with the warning to “Be careful where you walk in this city with That Flag on your shirt” I thanked him for his discussion and visited Jefferson Davis Park and on to Nathan Bedford Forrest Park.

I met another young black man sitting beside Nathan Bedford Forrest’s statue and grave. He initiated a discussion on the type of man Forrest was, to make a long story short this man told me the “Nathan Bedford Forrest was a man that lived for a cause” and that “to be as good a man that Forrest was you had to have a cause in your life”. I was comfortable in Memphis and had no fear wearing my Rebel With A Clue shirt and hat and will never fear discussing the Cause our Noble Forefathers stood up for.

I also met a man that has a store on hwy 25 in Travelers Rest, SC, Scott has a nice shop with a lot of merchandise and a true belief in his heart of God, Family, and that the Southern way of life is right. Dixie Outpost,Inc is well worth a visit.

I had a real good time going home if only for a little while, I got in touch with my roots and know in my heart that all is not lost, we are going to be OK as long as we don’t back down from our Southern upbringing and continue to fight the lies that “those people” and the PC crowd are spreading.

The terrorism that is trying to erase our Heritage started in 1861 and that Battle was lost but the War is only over when we give up and allow those politicians, PC'rs, and hate groups to erase our Southern Heritage and History. The cause our Confederate Ancestors stood up for will only seem unjust when we allow “those people” to overtake our thoughts and fall into the lies they are spreading to make the terror thrown onto our people look like it was the right thing to do. We have to stay the course in spite of what they throw at us. A good friend said “The amount of hate toward anyone and anything Confederate is often discouraging. It's like trying to hold back the tide with a bucket, and there are so few of us out there with buckets.” I know the ones of us with buckets will never give up and the terror I expect to see will be in the eyes of “those people” when they see what can be done with a few buckets of truth.

Those People keep throwing Racism and Slavery in our faces when we dare to display a Confederate Battle Flag in honor our forefathers and Southern Heritage. We display the Battle Flag or any of the other Confederate Flags with pride and teach our children the Truth as we have been taught regardless of what the “Good Ole Government Schools” choose to teach, and then we are suddenly labeled Racist.

The biggest problem we have here is “those people” are judging our Confederate ancestors on today's values. Slavery was a common practice in their time and they should be judged on how they treated each other and their slaves, for the ones that actually owned slaves, instead of condemning them as if they were living in today’s time. I also believe that God is the only one that should be judging anyone.

In my family the majority never owned slaves, the majority were just poor dirt farmers in the foothills of upstate South Carolina. The few that did own slaves from what I have learned took good care of them, a lot of these slaves took the family name and were buried in the family cemetery when they passed. These slaves did work hard as did most people in that time, when the War broke out a lot of these men chose to go fight for the Confederacy. Black, White, Hispanic, Indian, or whatever race, the Confederacy was made up of all, without being forced these people came together to fight for their rights and way of life against the outsiders who were denying them the right to secede from a Government they could not agree with.

Slavery was not an issue to the South, it seems to me it was made an issue by Lincoln when he realized that the South could actually win the War for Southern Independence. Lincoln and Grant were more interested in keeping slavery than anyone in the entire South.

If our Southern ancestors are going to be judged they should be judged on the time frame in which they lived. Our ancestors are getting a bad rap when they are judged on present day values. I do not agree with slavery or racism and from what I have learned I am proud of the way my family treated each other and also the way the few slaves were brought in and given a chance to raise their families in a situation where they didn't have to wonder where their next meal was coming from. These men did have to work hard for ends to meet, and that situation is not limited to only one race, all of us have had to struggle and over the years we seem to make it easier for the next generation no matter what color we are.

Most of us could not survive if we were put back into that time frame. The ones condemning the actions of our noble forefathers whether true or not on present day values, I know would have a whole new outlook on life if they were faced with the hardships of that time. Don’t get me wrong I do not agree with Racism, Hate, or Slavery, and I also do not agree on condemning someone for how they handled life 150 years ago against today’s standards. The ones who did choose to take advantage of and mistreat others have already been judged by The Good Lord and that is not up to us.

Schools all over America are again falling apart because of the Confederate Flag. A lot of time and resources are being spent fighting to remove all symbols of our Southern Heritage because evidently we are offending so many people. Symbols of our Southern Heritage being displayed at school “Gasp” is making it hard for our kids to learn anything due to all the hatred being thrown in their faces.

I do agree that this is a problem that needs to be addressed. I think our educators need to do a little studying and learn the True History about the War for Southern Independence before teaching the subject. Before jumping on the “Bash the South” bandwagon they need to get all their facts together. This leads us back to my first suggestion. Evidentially they have learned from our Great Government schools, they have read the history written by the victors and have never seen or know that there is another side to the story, a side that speaks the Truth without covering facts. The hatred being thrown in our kids faces is actually coming from the ones being trusted to teach our kids.

As soon as our teachers learn that racism was not an issue of this war, but was a common practice of the times that was on its way out the door already. The North did not step in to save the Slaves from wicked Southerners, the North in a sense actually fought to keep their slaves, contrary to what they want to teach us about the emancipation proclamation.

I would like to see all this energy that is being wasted in an attempt to be politically correct, be used to teach our kids the truth. As soon as they stop wasting time bashing our kid’s heritage in the name of not offending anyone, then all our kids will learn a lesson that should have been taught a long time ago, they will learn the Truth. Our kids will get along just fine with one another when Hate is no longer made to be an issue. The ones that are accused of being offensive by displaying symbols of their Southern Heritage are actually the ones being offended in my book. But you don’t see our kids yelling racism, that’s because they know the truth.

Another Christmas has come and gone and I just want to thank the Good Lord for all the blessings he has given us. We were blessed with a visit from our Daughter from California, and also blessed with a visit from my Son, I hope they know how much these visits mean to us. Kids seem to grow up fast and get their own lives going and we feel left behind at times. These visits just go to show us that they still Love us and do care, but they do grow up on us. I Thank the Good Lord for that.

A lot of people are trying to stick to the resolutions they have made for the New Year. My idea on this is not to make any that you can’t stick to. Just resolve to be the best person that you can by being yourself. I’m going to continue being Thankful for and researching my ancestors, without them passing down their traits to me I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I will continue to defend and teach the Truth of my Southern Heritage, I had too many forefathers fight for the cause for it to have been wrong, My Confederate Flag will continue to fly and I will do my best to keep Rebel With A Clue updated.

Oh yea and one more thing, Lets all try to drop in on our Parents, Grandparents, Children, or whoever you feel needs a visit from you, if it is only by phone that’ll count for a visit too. These visits are a blessing and you can’t make them up after it’s too late. So before it gets too late, catch up with the ones you Love. The Good Lord will Bless you all.

In these "Politically Correct" times I choose to come from the heart instead of attempting to be politically correct. Jesus is the reason for the season and I will not spoil our Christmas by leaving Christ out. May God bless you all and fill your lives with health and happiness.

A lot of people look at the Confederate Battle Flag flying and a sense of Pride overcomes them, Memories of being raised in a safe place with the knowledge that our forefathers died under this flag to give us this safe place and sense of pride we carry inside us. Others look at this same flag and anger overtakes them, they see images in their heads of the KKK burning crosses and unjust treatment of people based solely on their skin color, so the assumption comes up that everyone from the South is this way and the North had to step in to right this wrong.

OK we now have my side and your side, now let’s meet in the middle and get to the Truth. The men that fought and died in the War for Southern Independence (aka Civil War?-wasn’t nothing civil about it) were not fighting for or against slavery, most Southerners did not own slaves, although some did. Slavery did exist in the North also, General Grant owned slaves up until the 13th amendment was passed in 1865, General Robert E. Lee did not own slaves, although his wife did inherit slaves and they were immediately freed. Look back at the KKK marches and pay attention to the flags they are displaying, more Stars and Stripes than The Southern Cross huh. So why is the Confederate Flag the only one being condemned? OK you have the right to believe in what you were taught, and I also have that same right. I believe in my Southern Heritage, I see The Confederate Flag as a reminder of where I came from and appreciate the meaning behind it as I have been taught and seen.

Don't label the whole South on the actions of Hate groups that chose to fly our flag in their cause, their cause is not the Cause of the South, it's a Hate group take them for what they are worth, Southern Heritage has nothing to do with them. And if condemning a flag is what we need to do because of groups like this, Lets throw some of that blame on the Stars and Stripes too. I am proud of our flag and will continue to stand for what is right and I will continue with my opinion on Southern Heritage and the Confederate Flag, Because it is not about Hate, it's all about Pride in who you are and where you come from.

We all have our opinions and beliefs on issues. Love of God, My wife and kids, Southern Heritage, The Confederate Flag, Teaching the truth, and treating people in the way you want to be treated, are things I strongly believe in. I believe that I am no better than you, and that you are just as good as me.

     The Good Lord never closes one door without opening another for you, this statement is one I truly believe and we all need to believe this to see that it is true. Look for the positives that come into your life instead of looking for and concentrating on the negatives. As most of you know I have a medical condition that has me on forearm crutches most days and using a wheelchair on others. Now is this really a negative? Let’s see if there is a positive here. I now have time to actually talk with my wife and kids without being rushed to get off to work or putting them off because I need to finish up something I didn't have time to do during the day. The Good Lord closed the door on my career as a working man, and opened a door back to an appreciation for my family and friends.

     I now work on this site several times a week, My purpose is to promote my Southern Heritage, Defend and tell the Truth about the Confederate Flag, And help teach that you have to be proud of who you are to live a happy life. American by birth Southern by the Grace of God. See there he is again, By the Grace of God I am proud of who I am, I am thankful for my family and friends, and I am happy with my life and the direction the Good Lord has sent me.

     If you can’t find a positive in your life you need to look a little closer because I promise there is one there. I had someone say to me "Don't talk to me about God! no offense" well at first I was offended and took it as a negative but the positive here is, I started thinking about my relationship with God, And the good things he has done for me. He allowed that statement to be thrown into my face for a purpose, The purpose may be as small as subject matter for this paragraph or as large as contemplating my life and it's purpose, Either way I Thank the Good Lord for allowing me to be able to still think and enjoy life as I do, And By the Grace of God I will continue to do so.

It all puts me in mind of the textbook version of the reason for the War for Southern Independence. Textbooks teach that the War was fought to free slaves who were beaten and mistreated by Confederate landowners and how their lives were so much better in the Northern states where "slavery did not exist". Truth here is slavery was a part of life in that era, Southern slaves for the most part were treated well and a lot of these slaves fought for the Confederacy of their own free will. The South did not fight to preserve slavery. Southerners of all race and color fought together to preserve their way of life and to protect their families from the devastation of the Northern storm wiping out everything they had except for their memories.

This Hurricane is going to go down in history as the worst ever, it will read how the people turned on each other and robbed, raped, and pillaged their way into the history books. The good people who helped them out, gave food and shelter, reunited families, or gave them a shoulder to cry on over their losses will be only briefly mentioned if they are mentioned at all.

Good media coverage or History written by the victors, Kind of all sounds the same.

     I remember while growing up in South Carolina spending a lot of quality time with my Great Grandmother(Granny)Cooper. She had a way when the time was right of popping off with a statement that really didnt make sense to you but either told a story later or taught you a lesson when you least expected it. I remember a statement she made over and over while I was with her and it never came together till after she died (wish now I had asked more questions then). For just about any reason she would come up with "It's a shame those Lusk boys had to go off and fight together" then she would say no more of it. If me and my brother were getting crossways about something "It's a shame those Lusk boys had to go off and fight together". I never knew who the Lusk boys were and she would tear up after the statement so I never asked.

     Granny died in 1998 and while talking to family members about the Lusk Boys I found out Grannys Mom was a Lusk. Now after doing some research I have found that her Grand dad, my 3rd Great granddad Leroy W. Lusk was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F 1st Regiment South Carolina Calvery. His brother Nathan B Lusk was a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G 12th Regiment South Carolina Infantry, Brother Erastus C Lusk joined 1st Regiment South Carolina Calvery, Company F, Hamptons Brigade, as a private, and little brother Rufus B Lusk at age 16 joined as a Private in 12th Regiment South Carolina Infantry, Company G and died of Pneumonia and Typhoid Fever in December 1861. so Here are my Lusk Boys. Or is this the Lusk boys she was speaking of?

     There were 4 brothers James Leroy, William, David, and John they all were in different Reginments and some for a different state than the others. these 4 brothers were Killed at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) in Maryland. all 4 are listed as buried at the Battlegrounds among Confederate Unknown at Sharpsburg, Md. As you have guessed these 4 Brothers were Lusks, these 4 brothers were the sons of the brother of the Dad of the first Lusk Boys I mentioned. 1st cousins I believe. If only Granny were here I'd be sure to ask more questions. Which Lusk Boys was she speaking of? Knowing her it was either or both depending on when she spoke of them.

     Anyways remember to listen to these stories and statements that are given to you when you least expect it, if you are wondering about it just ask, worse that can happen is a statement turns into a story you dont have to wonder about after its too late to ask.

     I have been especially busy these past couple of weeks going to Dr. appointments, Physical therapy, X-rays, MRI's and so on and so on. It's not like these are new to me but it just feels like they are all coming together lately. I went to see a new Dr. this week for my shoulder, been having some problems there I guess since starting to use the wheelchair more often now (but that’s another story).

     While sitting there filling out the forms I noticed a young man across from me also filling out forms as it appeared to be his first visit also. He had what looked like a back support around his waist and his right wrist was secured to it in the front, He was really struggling to fill out the forms with one hand and really had a hard time getting up and walking when his name was called to go back and see the Doctor, But the nurse was patient and assisted him through the door and down the hall. I thought to myself there is always someone in worse shape than you and was glad to see the nurse being so patient with him, as he had no crutches to help him walk and with his wrist secured to the support he couldn’t use them if he had them anyways.

     I was called back shortly after him and after a short visit with the Doctor I was sent for more X-Rays in the same building. While sitting there waiting to be called back for the X-Rays I was thinking Man haven’t they done enough X-rays and tests, I understood going to a new Doctor and not really knowing him I was going to have to re tell my whole medical history to a guy I wasn’t really sure of and was going to be there a while and was not looking forward to it. Then from out of no where I saw a site that really got me to thinking.

     This young man that was having so many problems in the waiting room was walking out of the Doctors office with his back support rolled up under his arm, He had a spring in his step, No more indication of pain in his eyes, and as he swiftly strutted by me I came to realize "Man This Is The Doctor I Been Needing To See All Along!!!!" He cured this young man in one visit.

     As I said earlier, there is always someone in worse shape than you. I will accept my pain and use my crutches and wheelchair to get along and feel secure knowing I am telling the truth. I would never want to gain back the spring in my step in exchange for the knowledge that I had lied to beat the system to gain whatever this young man thinks he gained by not being truthful about his condition. There are people who really need these Doctors and people "Beating the System" just add to these honest peoples pain when they have to prove that they are really telling the truth. If you have to Lie or Hide to do something then you are Wrong. I appreciate honesty and feel sorry for the ones that feel they have to lie to get by in our world. I feel blessed to know I aint that bad off.

Cooking a big meal for you is a task made to look easy by most Southerners. Southern Fried Chicken and Gravy, Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Okra, Pinto Beans and Cornbread, Collard Greens, or even some Poke Salad, and a big ole glass of Sweet Tea is a good start to a wonderful meal you will never forget. And if it happens to be Breakfast you want Grits is a staple you just can't pass up. The way I enjoy Grits is mixed all up in my Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, and you just have to mix in a little Red Eye Gravy or Coffee Gravy and be sure to add the Salt and Pepper. Any Southerner knows that it just ain't right to add sugar into your grits, You don't want to mess up the flavor by mixing in something that just don't belong.

Things to do in the South is an easy thing to figure out. Just do what makes you happy, Simple as sitting back under the Magnolia tree, listening to the whippoorwills, the mourning doves, the tree frogs, and watching the Kudzu grow and trying to figure out a way you haven't already tried to stop it. Going out for a ride in the mountains for the simple reason that you want to pick some Muscadines cause it's been a while since you had some.or setting up a Coon Hunt, not cause you really want to bring home a Raccoon but because you just want to get together with a few friends and let the dogs run for a while.

As I said earlier The South brings me a true feeling of comfort. We believe in God, Family and Friends, Being polite to others whether you know them or not, Working hard to get the things you need or want, and Praying hard that your decisions are the right ones to help your kids grow up and live as they should. Gimme a RC Cola and a Moon Pie, A Shady spot under the Magnolias on a hot humid southern summer day, Give my kids the wisdom to appreciate what The Good Lord has given them, and help them to grow up happy. Gimme a chance to teach them the truth about their heritage and help them be proud of who they are and who they are gonna become. Oh yea and one more thing!