An anguished Democrat in Mississippi

[ROakes1019]

May I join the conversation here? For the past couple of years I've hung around DU, only posting occasionally, and I didn't realize there was a Mississippi forum. It seems that everyone I know is such a Republican--my husband and my friends--so I've had to grieve this terrible loss to our country alone. I'd like to get involved locally but so far I haven't known how. I don't know what the chances are of our taking back any of the government in the state or nationally but I know we must try.

[eataTREE]

1. My sister lives in Mississippi.

Lafayette County, near Oxford. My stepmother is a prof at the University of Mississippi. (I refuse to call it 'Ole Miss', it's loaded with racist and pro-slavery connotations.) Which part of the state are you from?

[Tamyrlin79]

3. I went to U of Miss...

What does your stepmom teach?

[eataTREE]

7. Mostly she doesn't.

She does a lot of research... she's also in charge of the biological field research station outside Oxford. I think she teaches one graduate botany class, or used to.

I went to school there for one semester, years ago. Ack!

[shctennis]

24. Ole Miss?

Yes, the Rebel flag and "Colonel Reb" are both racist symbols, but we have done away with both. I've never heard the name "Ole Miss" said to be racist. I'm not saying it's not, but where are you getting that from?

[ollie79]

26. Ole Miss rascist

I graduated from Ole Miss. Ole Miss is what the blacks called the wife of the plantation owner. Racial overtones there. Plus "Ole Miss," ya know like the way it was back in the good ole days of Missippi.

[UndergroundRadical]

27. I hope they change their name and symbol

I'm white but I know that the symbol is very offensive to a lot of people. That's like having a large Jewish population in your state and having the Nazis as your mascot, so I can sympathize with blacks on this issue.

[newyawker99]

33. Hi shctennis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Romigi]

34. I really wish they would change the name

"Rebels" is so demeaning and degrading towards African-Americans. I don't understand why they can't move on.

[newyawker99]

43. Hi shctennis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Tamyrlin79]

2. In Gulfport here!

I know what you mean. The election really was tough to take. I just moved here to the coast, so I don't really have anybody to grieve with either, though for different reasons.

Anyway, about getting involved, I am joining Democracy for America and working on building the meetups. It's local, it's grassroots, and it builds the base of people devoted to progressive reform and restoration of American values.

[merh]

9. Hi Tamyrlin79 - I'm in Biloxi, email some info on the meetups!

Thanks. merh :hi:

[Phil214]

16. Question about The Coast

Are there any neighborhoods in your area that are havens for not-so-conservatives? I think if Jackson has Fondren and Belhaven, the Coast must have at least one or two as well.

[UndergroundRadical]

28. Not really

The coast is more spread out than Jackson. There is no real central core. It's very de-centralized and people don't really know each other too well in terms of neighborhoods. Joining and being active in the local party is a much better thing to do when hooking up with other progressives. On a side note, the Coast has a lot more progressives any how. There just isn't any real organization to it.

[UndergroundRadical]

30. The Coast isn't really Mississippi

It never was. It's always been more like Florida and New Orleans. I know it's much more liberal than the rest of the state. There are lots of Republicans here but even those are somewhat liberal in regard to drinking and their personal lives. The rest of the state is more like the rest of the south.

BTW, I just moved to California and I'm so happy to have. That state will implode in on itself. There's nothing there to stay for. I flew there a few months ago to the Jackson airport and I looked and saw all of Jackson lit up at night(it was a night flight) from my plane window and it is so small!! I felt sorry for it because that's really all there is regarding the state except for the Coast and a little area up near Memphis.

Besides, the Coast(and Southern Alabama below the 31st parallel) are really part of Florida. The land was taken around 1810 and given to the state so they would have access to the sea. Anybody who's lived on the Coast will quickly notice the French/Spanish Catholic influence over the more Anglo/Scot Baptist influence that so dominates the rest of the state.

[MISSDem]

44. You so obviously are not from Mississippi.

Don't talk about things you don't know anything about.

[pacalo]

4. Hi, ROakes1019!

:hi:

My born-again cousin lives in Vicksburg, so I have some idea what you're up against in Mississippi.

It must have been awful for you to grieve alone after the election, but I'm glad you're on board here.

Welcome! :)

[Rowdyboy]

5. Canton Mississippi here!

You're not alone....There are at least a dozen active on DU alone.

[Shell Beau]

35. We may have already discussed this, but I live in Brandon!!

:) We are just right down the road from one another!!

[ROakes1019]

6. Thanks

Thanks for all the welcomes. I live in the country near Raymond, grew up here on the campus of HCC, where my mother was a teacher. For about twenty years I lived in Florida and came back to Mississippi in '81, knowing full well some of the drawbacks. Anyway, I taught in Greenville and at Murrah in Jackson and finally at HCC in Rankin County. I've been a fish out of water all this time and was always being told at Hinds to tone it down because this was very conservative country. But I knew that. I've been retired for several years and so haven't gotten out much in the community. I took my black neighbor--90 years old--with me to vote and they said she wasn't registered, although I personally helped her register. Right then, I felt pretty sure things were rigged. Anyway, thanks for the welcome, the best I've had since coming here.

[merh]

8. How I can relate to your situation. I am fortunate that my boss

is not only my friend, he is a dem, so I have someone to share my frustrations with.

We must continue to tack back our state and our nation.

If you need encouagement from a fellow Mississippian on the Coast, feel free to Pmail me or post here.

Welcome to DU, it will help you maintain your sanity, knowing that you are not alone. It has been my solace and refuge and addiction! Enjoy the discourse. :hi:

[ROakes1019]

10. Democracy for America

Is anyone going to the Democracy for America meeting in Jackson on Wednesday, Dec. 1?

[merh]

11. Can you post information about this or give me a link

on the meeting info? Thanks

[ROakes1019]

12. Democracy for America

http://dfa.meetup.com/353/events/3619897/
I got an email with this link in it. Apparently I signed up a long time ago and forgot. Anyway, I just tried this link and was told it is temporarily unavailable. Try it later and if it doesn't work, send me an email [e-mail] and I'll forward the email to you.

[merh]

13. Okay, thanks!

[SSX]

14. I'll be there

This will be my first meeting w/ them. Checked out their site, seem to be strong Dean supporters early on. Anyone know what they've done locally?

[Phil214]

15. A Haven for Non-Neocons in the Magnolia State.

If the Marriage Amendment is anything to go by, then the Coast and (believe it or not) Lafayette (Oxford/Ole Miss) and Tunica are the most gay-marriage friendly counties in the state (not that that's saying much).

Still, even Jackson is not to be entirely dismissed, thanks to the Fondren and Belhaven neighborhoods (home of the somewhat liberal Millsaps College). Trust me when I say this area is truly a jewel in a coal mine!!

Located just west of I-55 between High St. and Northside Drive, this section of town is where the few liberal Central Mississippians who exist can say what they really feel and not have to be victimized by a neocon feeding frenzy. In fact, during a September visit back to the area, I saw 6 Kerry yard signs in the neighborhood and ONE Bush bumper sticker!! This ain't your typical middle class Mississippi neighborhood, that's for sure!!

By my count, these two neighborhoods voted as follows (not that it really matters, but keep in mind Fondren and Belhaven is at least 95% White):

AGAINST the Marriage Amendment: 38%, versus 14% statewide.

FOR John Kerry: 39%, versus however North Rankin and South Madison voted (If Kerry's share got into the upper-teens in the 'burbs, I'd be amazed!).

So even though you can't call Fondren and Belhaven truly Bohemian (yet!), it's certainly not anti-bohemian - in fact it's becoming more bohemian as time passes. The nightlife here is definitely picking up, thanks to a latent, but increasingly organized liberal (or at least non-neocon) community there. Millsaps College also boosts these neighborhood's diversity, especially ideological.

Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not saying this section of Jackson is a Magnolia version of Greenwich Village or So-Ho. All I'm saying is if you need some relief from the conformist conservatives in this state, then check out Jackson's Fondren and Belhaven neighborhoods. With the possible exception of parts of the coast, they're the least Mississippi of any neighborhoods in Mississippi.

[ROakes1019]

19. Liberals in Mississippi?

I went to Millsaps back in the sixties. It not only is a liberal college; it has a great academic rating. Now I live in Hinds County near Byram and anyone who knows the area knows a lot of rednecks live here. I have noticed that Hinds County overall often goes Democratic but there's a large African-American vote in Jackson. The Delta is more AA than redneck white in some places but I don't know how much the vote gets out. My husband's nephew just was elected state senator from the Delta and Lord knows he's Republican. I would say one reason the Belhaven area is fairly liberal is that many of the white inhabitans are pretty educated. It's gotten to the place where educated people have to feel ashamed for not being just "common men." I think it also suggests that people who can and do, or have learned how to, think can see the wisdom of the Democrat pary, which is truly the party of compassion.

[CarbonDate]

17. If it's any consolation....

...the Mississippi board is more active than the South Dakota board.

But not as active as the North Dakota board....

I've been to Mississippi a few times for as many as six months at a time, but I've never really been able to figure out that state.

[BamaLefty]

18. Same feelings here...

Alabama is Republican red America... the heart of it I should say. :cry:

[UndergroundRadical]

31. It's very difficult to figure out

That's why I left. The people still aren't over the racial issues. It's amazing. I'm glad I've moved on. I hope the good people there can work their issues out but I'm not optimistic. The democrats there are actually conservatives in dem clothing and they ask for so much money and pork spending that it's fucking ridiculous. The areas of the state that carry the economy, Memphis, Jackson, and the Coast, all are seriously under-represented when it comes to good roads and education money. A cabal of NE Mississippi legislators control the legislature and send most of the state's tax money in that direction where it's really not needed. You don't believe me drive up US 45 at night in between Meridian and the Golden Triangle Area, there's nothing and nobody's out. Compare that to I-10 on the Coast and you'll know what I mean.

[Selatius]

20. Keep up the good fight

If anything, losing just makes Democrats stick up even more for each other around here. We have to. At least, that's been my experience.

I'm not sure if anyone else here read about it, but the College Dems on my campus were subject to arson last Homecoming. They torched the parade float right outside my friend's house. The police weren't much help. It was political violence in my book and my first real taste of it as well.

Regardless, all I can do is move on and keep the struggle up. Win or lose, if we're gonna go down in proverbial flames, at least I know I went down fighting. At the end of the day, that counts: That I even bothered to try.

[MISSDem]

21. Don't put all of Mississippi down so bad. Remember 40% of

those who voted, voted for Kerry!

[Selatius]

22. If only the Electoral College was abolished

Then it would be our votes, not the Electoral College's vote that would be counted. It's what is making it easy to divide whole sections of the country up into red vs. blue states, and it's what makes many people, especially advisors and consultants, write off the south completely as a loss. It's shades of purple, not red and blue.

[m.standridge]

23. Just wishing we could get the truth

about AR and MS. I nearly know our vote tabs are off a lot of the time.
happy holidays from L.R. We often need a decent recount, maybe not this time, but I'm not sure. Clinton being for Kerry and all.
There is MS, and in SC, you have those sizable minority pops.
They have in Tx, for that matter.
So many people are wondering about these computers and whether they're getting it right. We already had problems with the old voting machines.
Now they want to eliminate the paper trail.

[TNC4DNC]

39. I agree with you totally.

Electoral College should be abolished, but I don't think we will see that anytime soon. The Repubs, are benefiting from this system, and they do everything they can to keep it in place. Democratic voters in Mississippi, Texas, Kansas, and red states like that don't have chance, becuase of the Red Republican dominance. If prospective candidates know that the state is going to go red no matter what then why bother campaigning there? So, states DO get written off despite the lip service they given to the contrary during an election year. We shouldn't have things decided in just two or three battleground states. EVERY STATE SHOULD BE A BATTLEGROUND! The only way to ensure that is to count up the votes by popular vote tally, regardless of where you live. Of course, Democrats would give up have the sure fire states of California and New York, but I would be willing to give that up to have a more fair system where everyone could feel that their vote truly counted for their candidate.

[hollowdweller]

25. I know someone from MS that voted for Bush, hated Kerry is underemployed

And who moved out of state in part because the state they were moving to had better social benefits. Go figure! MS is on the bottom of almost every statistic regarding wages and life, but yet they vote against the party that would help them most. Puzzling.

[UndergroundRadical]

29. It has to do with social values

Economic values don't really matter here in Mississippi.

[TNC4DNC]

40. puzzling yes!

I agree that it is puzzling. Probably the person you are talking about which moved to a state that had better social benefits was probably a more Democratic state overall I bet. People like that person just don't get it though. They keep voting for the same type of people that put them MORE in debt and poverty, either they just aren't intelligent, or one of the most complex right-wing deceptions in American History is just working wonders on them. Nevertheless, I could never understand this myself, although I ran across a book last year that helped me get a hold of why this keeps happening. "What's The Matter With Kansas: How Conservatives won the Heart of America," by Thomas Frank, is an excellent read, and it helps us Democrats to begin to understand why this happens to people like the one you mentioned over and over.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

32. This thread just brought a smile to this California girl's face

Lotsa new DU'ers... all wanting to make a difference in their community and if there's one thing I know about the people of Mississippi...you are tough as nails...make something good happen out of this thread.

Best wishes to each of you.

[Hippo_Tron]

36. Cheer up, you may just be getting a Democratic US Senator!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/26/novak.lott/index.html

According to this article, Trent Lott is going to announce his plans to retire within a week. If he does retire, Former Attorney General Mike Moore (D) will probably enter the race and he will do so with a lead over any Republican that challenges him.

If you are looking for your chance to turn Mississippi blue, this is it right here. Get Mike Moore elected to the US Senate in '06.

[tinfoil tiaras]

37. I'm a democrat in MS too!

I live in Jackson and I know tons of Republicans. I'm not gonna say I'm surrounded by them all the time because I go to the most (and only) liberal private school in Jackson. Still, at church (my mom makes me go) all I see are rows and rows of "W the president" and "W 04". Which makes me sad and sometimes (sadly) I feel embarrassed of my mom's "Enough is enough. Vote Democratic" bumper sticker. I lurve Fondren and Belhaven, though I don't live there. I live closer to Ridgeland, near County Line (hopefully, no internet stalkers! :o :P ). And if you read The Clarion Ledger you'll see utterly idiotic letters sometimes, which I make fun of.
I have tons of stories about election time at my "liberal" school. I can tell some if any of yall like...lol.

[intheflow]

38. Hi tinfoil tiaras.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[tinfoil tiaras]

41. Hey! Happy to be here!

<333

:D

[Harry Monroe]

42. Hi fellow progressive Mississippians

I'm from Starkville; glad to see there is intelligent life in this state.

[MISSDem]

45. It is obvious that a lot of the writers hear who have "left"

Mississippi are actually 'good riddance'. People really should not talk about things they know nothing about. Remember that about half of the voters in Mississippi voted for Kerry/Edwards.

[weeklyjourney]

46. don't worry

be happy.