Comments on: Three Approaches To Reality http://hungryblues.net/2005/06/02/three-approaches-to-reality/ Ben Greenberg's Weblog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:35:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jeff http://hungryblues.net/2005/06/02/three-approaches-to-reality/#comment-229 Jeff Fri, 10 Jun 2005 09:37:37 +0000 http://hungryblues.net/2005/06/02/three-approaches-to-reality/#comment-229 The general suspicion of any and everyone -- especially outsiders, Yankees in particular -- is a part of "Southern hospitality" that rarely gets mentioned. I've seen many people passing through get frustrated with it, but letting it show just makes people here move even slower (cashiers, gas station attendants, et al.) for sheer spite. I've gone around my neighborhood just trying to get opinions for our neighborhood association, and gotten fearful "no, thanks, sorry..." replies followed by a quick door slam. Little old white people are very uneasy about knocks on their doors. I walk most lunchtimes in downtown Montgomery, and nearly once a week I give directions to the Civil Rights monument, Dr. King's Dexter Ave. church, etc. My pleasure. The general suspicion of any and everyone — especially outsiders, Yankees in particular — is a part of “Southern hospitality” that rarely gets mentioned. I’ve seen many people passing through get frustrated with it, but letting it show just makes people here move even slower (cashiers, gas station attendants, et al.) for sheer spite.

I’ve gone around my neighborhood just trying to get opinions for our neighborhood association, and gotten fearful “no, thanks, sorry…” replies followed by a quick door slam. Little old white people are very uneasy about knocks on their doors.

I walk most lunchtimes in downtown Montgomery, and nearly once a week I give directions to the Civil Rights monument, Dr. King’s Dexter Ave. church, etc. My pleasure.

]]> By: Susan Klopfer http://hungryblues.net/2005/06/02/three-approaches-to-reality/#comment-228 Susan Klopfer Fri, 03 Jun 2005 00:28:25 +0000 http://hungryblues.net/2005/06/02/three-approaches-to-reality/#comment-228 Life is twisted.... This past weekend my husband and I drove from Natchez to Philadelphia by way of the Natchez Trace Parkway (with a few extra jogs off the main path). After asking several white residents for directions, and meeting with no success, we asked a black man how to get to "the church" and he gave us a good map. While we were talking about the upcoming trial, he grinned and said that Killen's brother was actually a "pretty nice guy" who'd introduced him to the woman who later became his wife. But before we left Natchez, after looking for any signs of civil rights markers and giving up, we purchased a local newspaper. The weekend issue (from feature stories to an editorial) focused on the importance of civility and how this was becoming a lost art these days in Natchez. (Like the place was civil in the old days?) Perhaps by coincidence, in the "Society" section appeared an announcement of "manners" classes for kindergarteners through sixth graders at $45 a pop. For learning stuff like why napkins are important, I guess. What could be more uncivil than not using one? Life is twisted…. This past weekend my husband and I drove from Natchez to Philadelphia by way of the Natchez Trace Parkway (with a few extra jogs off the main path). After asking several white residents for directions, and meeting with no success, we asked a black man how to get to “the church” and he gave us a good map. While we were talking about the upcoming trial, he grinned and said that Killen’s brother was actually a “pretty nice guy” who’d introduced him to the woman who later became his wife. But before we left Natchez, after looking for any signs of civil rights markers and giving up, we purchased a local newspaper. The weekend issue (from feature stories to an editorial) focused on the importance of civility and how this was becoming a lost art these days in Natchez. (Like the place was civil in the old days?) Perhaps by coincidence, in the “Society” section appeared an announcement of “manners” classes for kindergarteners through sixth graders at $45 a pop. For learning stuff like why napkins are important, I guess. What could be more uncivil than not using one?

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