Somewhat personal

[Chop Smith]

It takes a low-life sob to call one a racist. Especially, when they do not know what is in one’s heart. Recently, that happened here in this community. It pissed me off and I reacted. Thus this post is made as an explanation.

I am member #50 on this board. This means that I was here from day one and from the very first day I have not hidden my location. It is Mississippi and I am proud of it. I love my heritage and my culture but for most of my adult life I have been negatively stereotyped.

I recall 1967. Two years out of college I had gain recognition in a specialized field of taxation. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants requested that I do a seminar. The seminar was held at the University of Virginia and it's targeted audience were citizens of northern states. For some reason, as I am fully aware of, the AICPA failed to publish that I was from Mississippi. The first day I was introduced to the participants and their mouths flew open because the closest one to my age was twenty years older than me. When I spoke, they about fell out of their chairs. Those of you that have met me know that when I open my mouth there is very little doubt where I am from. Truthfully, the age and the fact I was from Mississippi made me think we were going to have a mass walk out. However, all stayed for the entire two weeks.

Most of you know my beloved state from the movies - Mississippi Burning or Ghosts of Mississippi. I personally know the bad about Mississippi. I was there in 1962 for the riots at the University of Mississippi. In 1963, I was drinking beer in the Redwood Inn on Terry Road in Jackson, Mississippi less than one mile from where Medgar Evers was murdered. In 1964, I recall hundreds of college-age volunteers coming to "the most totalitarian state in the country" and the death of Schwerner, Goodman, and Chaney. In 1970, I was in a client's office less than 100 yards from Jackson State University when the riots broke out. By the way that was the year that I was Bobby DeLaughter's scoutmaster in his Boy Scout Troop. You that saw Ghosts of Mississippi might remember that Alec Baldwin played Bobby DeLaughter in the movie.

So much for the negatives - Here are the positives - Mississippi Believe It.

1. Yes, we can read. A few of us can even write.
2. Yes, we wear shoes. A few of us even wear cleats.
3. Monster Trucks? No. Hog Callin'? No. Tractor Pulls? No. World-Class Entertainers? Yes!
4. Mississippi. The First to Have a Change of Heart ... and Lungs ... and Kidneys ...
5. No Black. No White. Just The Blues. (this one could be my favorite)
6. The Unmatched Courage of a Soldier. The Ultimate Sacrifice of a Town. The Unparalleled Vision of a Workforce. Mississippi. A Legendary Force for Freedom. (D'lo is the closest post office to Chop's on The Lake)
7. Freedom Unsinkable.
8. Moscow, Russia. Varna, Bulgaria. Helsinki, Finland. Jackson, Mississippi, USA Mississippi? You Better Believe It!
9. Houston? No. Kennedy Space Center? No. Mississippi? You Better Believe It!
10. Where Is The World’s Largest Auto Plant That Was Built From Scratch? Japan? No. Germany? No. Detroit? No. Mississippi? You Better Believe It!
11. In Mississippi, We Always Have Our Hand Out. But It’s Usually To Give, Not Receive.

Don't call me a racist. Instead, ask me about my Mississippi. I will admit the bad of a few and praise the accomplishments of the en masses.