The rantings and ravings of a Southern Girl! I may offend you so beware!

[KajunMom]

So I hear that here in the South we think differently.  That may very well be true.  I may be one of those "Southern Folks" that you see as backwood rednecks...well so be it.  This is me:  I am a Coonass, and proud of it!  Don't know what a coonass is, I'll tell you.  It's a person who was raised in the bayou's of Southern Louisiana, whose ancestors were exiled by France from Canada to the states more than a century ago.  Do I have an accent???  Yes!  A very pronounced one that I learned to mask years ago when people assumed I was unintelligent!  But it's there!  It comes out when I am mad or visiting home.  I guess I may think a little differently than others, but I am not ashamed.  Life moves a little slower here and, yes, we may be a little behind, but being slow just gives us more time to enjoy life.  We love to eat...and I mean eat!  Good, Cajun, fattening, delicious foods.  Am I racist? NO!  My ancestors were too poor to own slaves.  I believe we are all equal in God's eyes.  I do not, however, agree with anything that shows preference to any one race.  Should there be  special treatment for one race over another? No.  If there are Miss Black America Pageants, then there should be Miss Asian, Indian, Caucasian, Hispanic pageant, etc.  I do not believe that any jobs should be given to any person because of age, race, sex, or religion.  If you qualify, the job is yours.  If I don't qualify, but they hire me just because they need a specific quota of women, then sorry, but I got a job I didn't deserve.  As far as Katrina...just so you know, it affected every income, sex, race, religion, and background.  We all suffered.  The storm picked no one.  The poorest and richest both had homes filled with the same water!  Do I believe that we deserve it because we choose to live here???  Are you kidding me?  Does anyone deserve it?  Show me a place where there are no natural or man made disasters.  Earthquakes, wild fires, tornadoes, tsunamis, and terrorist attacks ravage every part of our world.  No one deserves any of the above.  Do I choose to live here?  Of course!  Did I know that a hurricane would strike here?  Yes, they do happen along here every now and then, and everyone from here knew it was only a matter of time until the big one hit.  Could you leave your family, culture, and way of life behind because you know that at some point in history a disaster may happen.  Likely not.  There are a lot of things I do not like about Louisiana.  I am not crazy about all the rain.  I am not crazy about the countless refineries that pollute our air to provide oil to the rest of the country.  I hate cockroaches. I would rather this not be just a "chocolate city," but a neapolitan community. But I love a lot  here too.  The beautiful oak trees that line the Mississippi river. The gorgeous houses that line St. Charles Ave.  The beautiful St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.  The music, the food, the people, the way we love our iced tea and our beignets. The festivals, the moss, the bayous, the streetcars.   The slow draw we use when talking, and the unusual names that this state is famous for...that's for you Boudreaux! lol  That's only a small taste of our Louisiana life.   So "hate me if you want to, but love me if you can."

 

                                                                                    

[CrystalRenee34]

Jun. 17, 2008 at 1:08 AM Rock on Kajun. I don't hate - i appreciate.

[Dani32]

Jun. 17, 2008 at 1:09 AM

I am a coonass too. I don't think that I am "behind".  Actually, I feel that east texas is behind LOL.  I haven't been to NO since Katrina but have seen pictures from relatives.  My Aunt is a Nun at Holy Cross. I agree with your post.  Gosh, I miss the food there.  I cook it here but seems as though the meat tastes different here.  As far as sausage, I go home to get it.  The crap here tastes like weiners on steroids. LOL.

Love the post.

[tonikaye]

Jun. 17, 2008 at 8:57 AM poo-yie.....you said that all just right.  i, too, am from south louisiana.  lafayette to be exact.  we have the best food in the world and the friendliest people.  where else can you go where everybody says hello to you whether they know you or not!  everyone should visit, and i mean really visit, south louisiana at least once in their life.  allons!

[Della529]

Jun. 17, 2008 at 9:34 AM I've never been to Louisiana, but my momma and daddy lived there when he was a Merchant Seaman and they LOVED it.  I sounds wonderful and I'd love to try a real Po'Boy sandwich!

[pepper504]

Jun. 17, 2008 at 10:21 AM

Mey yeah!!!  You said it all.  I couldn't agree with you anymore and you have said what I have been saying for YEARS!!!!  Especially AFTER Katrina hit.  I belong to the RCA too ; )

Kajunmom, you said it all hun.  

[gelliebelle]

Jun. 18, 2008 at 3:57 PM Amen Girl!!!!  Love being a Southern girl!