Dear Roxy,

I would never have made my comment if I wasn't
unequivically Southern.

I am not ashamed of being Southern. I am ashamed
of what haunts our pasts. I, too, wanted to
quash the anti-Southern culture comments but not
by letting ourselves be too comfortable.

I think we have made tremendous strides and can
teach the world something about LEARNING from
our mistakes. But, we cannot improve the
future by forgetting the past, no matter how
much I wish we could. If only we hadn't fought
the reconstructionists with such fury after
the war. If only we could have welcomed everyone
into our society. We all know we would be much
further along. Not to say I am any less immune to
the nastiness of human nature (without a true
appreciation of our creator).

Sorry, to not make it clear. I was born in
Atlanta, Georgia from parents born in North
Carolina and Missouri. And Atlanta is still my
home.

Also, to those parents who do everything in their
power to raise children that are a pleasure to
be around, I have the utmost respect that you
will yourself, everyday, through must can seem and
what may be an impossible task due to the
influences beyond your control.

Unless you live in the backwoods of Montana...

Cordially,

Rick McInnis
(the friendly polemicist)