There seems to be a stereotype out there that southerner's aren't as bright as the rest. I guess their aren't as many great Universities and the such, but I know some genius had to come out of our great south, I mean common sense seems to run rampant, shouldn't other types of intelligence as well?

Mainly my question would be why do you think there is this stereotype and who are some famous intellects of our time that I could use as examples to the other idiots who think we're all hillbilly rednecks?

 

William Faulkner

 

Pat Conroy is my favorite, and by the way, we DO have world class universities. Georgia Tech is annually amongst the best in the country, rivaling Cal Tech, and MIT. Clemson also has an outstanding engineering program. For non-science studies, how could one overlook Duke University, or Wake Forest, or Vanderbilt, or Furman? Sure, there are stupid people that live here, but stupid people live everywhere, ours just follow a pretty standard stereotype. Of couse, if you wanna talk military colleges, let's just say that the service academies fear the things we go through here at The Citadel. Hardest military system on earth, bar none. Stupid people exist in all walks of life and in every geographic region, so to say that the south is extraordinarily uneducated, then that statement is particularly uneducated and hardly worth listening to. TK

please direct all hatemail to dalyj@citadel.edu

'77 F100, 302 (the aftermarket Prodigy), C4
Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

I was not aware that Georgia Tech faired so high, perhaps I will apply there because I'd much rather be there, than say Mass.

 

......and let's not let it be said that you need a degree to be intelligent.

 

>......and let's not let it be said that you need a degree to
>be intelligent.
I hear that. My sister has 2 different degrees from 2 different universities and she is known (in our familly) as "a college educated idiot". Unfortunately none of them teach common sense.

 

George Washington Carver -- Missouri
Harry S Truman -- Missouri
Homer Hickam West Virginia

 

I'm the biggest fan of the fact that you have a degree automatically makes you intellegent, because that will never be true. No university on earth can teach common sense, practical knowledge, and professionalism.

And I don't know about Missouri being considered part of the South, I'm pretty sure they're disqualified. Not a bad place, but very different from the south as we know it.

'77 F100, 302 (the aftermarket Prodigy), C4
Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

I'm not from the south, but I meet plenty of stupid people everywhere I go, hmm birds of a feather flock together, nah. I'm from SoCal and I am not sure they are part of the US.

The south has many great institutions and has given us many intelligent people and politicians. Won't mention the last president from that area, embarassing, but intelligent. The south has many fine military traditions, and as I was mentioning to the wife just the other day, They almost won the civil war but couldn't match the north's ability to throw men and resources at the limited supplies of the south.

I think southerners are viewed as more relaxed and working at a less frantic pace. Some northerners view this as meaning southerners are stupid. Dumber northerners soon learn the mistake they make when they assume that.

Most of my family is from Tennessee and Texas so I guess my roots are southern, and there are some smart people in the family. Maybe I was in teh shallow end of the pool.

Jim Henderson

 

There is no area of our great nation that has a lock on stupidity. I can show you idiots from Maine to Alaska, Florida to California and Hawaii. There is no area that has a lock on great seats of learning.
The eastern half of the nation sometimes gets the most attention because of the time proven insitutions of higher learning. The University of Virginia is as credible as the University of Maine. The Citadel is just as time honored as is West Point. The Citadel in fact actually fought the first engagement of the Civil War. The cadets fired upon a United States vessel seeking to sail past the school. You have to admire that kind of loyalty, patriotism and guts.

The society today is so mobile it is ridiculous to attempt to stereotype sections of the country according to the inhabitants. Natives to any area are usually out populated by those who have moved into that area over a period of years. It may be safe to say that the only true natives of our country are the Indians.

In summary, intelligence and education, which are mutually exclusive of each other, are certainly not a property of any particular area of our great nation. Louisiana or Mississippi is just a capable of producing great individuals as is Massachusetts and California. Individualism is what makes our nation great, not soil.

 

Brien, you are very correct about Citadel Cadets firing the first shots of the Civil War, when a company fired on the Union Freighter, "The Star of the West". We carry 8 grey battle streamers on our Regimental colours in parade every Friday afternoon, the Star of The West being the first. What's even better is that Citadel Cadets also fired the last shots of the Civil War, at the battle of Williamston, Virginia, which took place in May of 1865. We started it, and we finished it. What's pathetic is that the Department of Justice won't let the Regimental band play "Dixie" in parade. I'm not one to ever defend the stupidity of those who feel like they have to show their southern pride every day, but even my yankee classmates think that it would be more than appropriate for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets to march to Dixie in parade. It's not about heritage or lineage, but rather a cultured tradition that keeps every corner of America unique. I respect the cultures of God's people, and I will not disrespect or show ignorance and intolerance by claiming that any one part of this great country is "better", or say that the people are not as smart as another place. We're all different, and that's what makes us so great. I don't want anybody else to think like me and the people around me, but don't call anybody stupid because they're different. TK

Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

John: Well said. I think I would start a movement to at least hum dixie!

 

...look away,look away,look away Dixie land...

 

I don't know whether is means anything to the resident's of the south,but I do one heck of a job singing Elvis'
"American Trilogy".

I really enjoy singing that song.


[font color=red]Dennis

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You wouldn't judge a mechanic's ability to repair your car by the size of his tool chest.

But you would probably question his ability if he attempted all his repairs with a pair of pliers
and a pocket knife.

Likewise you shouldn't judge a person's intelligence by how much and what kind of education he has.

To me the evidence of intelligence is how well what a person knows is applied to the situation at hand.
At the same time, an intelligent person will recognize when he is over his head in the knowledge required
to handle the situation. If the issue is important enough, he will increase his education/knowledge of the subject,
or defer to someone who has the necessary "stuff".

As far as differentiating between Southerners and non_Southerners, manners and politeness are the best clues, not education and wealth. But the line here is getting grayer and grayer as society and hollywood keep festering the "it's all about me"
attitude.


"Things that go South wind up in a better place".

(No offense intended to you Canadians, or Northern US people..just my observation)








Winford:-) :-)