Questions for our American friends

[scoundrel]

Here's a question.

She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Taylor Swift.

I also heard the reference to the bleachers by Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker in the film Laura (1944) so its not a new word: the bleachers are the cheaper seats high in the stadium where average Joe watches the game with his wife/girlfriend and their children if any. But why bleachers?

[Rangertom1357]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Here's a question.



I also heard the reference to the bleachers by Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker in the film Laura (1944) so its not a new word: the bleachers are the cheaper seats high in the stadium where average Joe watches the game with his wife/girlfriend and their children if any. But why bleachers?

Because they're out in the sun, as apposed to the covered "good" seats and you get bleached white in the sun...

At least that's what my dad told me a long time ago.

[Mal Hombre]

Originally Posted by aphex1973

This is the Stars and Bars also known as the Rebel Flag and was the banner used by the Confederate States (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, etc.) which seceded from the US during the Civil War in 1860's. The flag is an iconic and somewhat contentious symbol of the southern states and their continued feeling of separation and independence from the rest of the country. It is often displayed by people as a sign of their independence from society and as an announcement of their 'rebel spirit'. It is also used by many separatist, militia and hate groups. Most notably, it is displayed prominently during Ku Klux Klan rallies.

This reply is more long winded than I had planned. My apologies.

That's the Southern Cross,the battle flag of the Confederacy,it was introduced because the "Stars and Bars" looked too much like The Stars and stripes,

[DTravel]

Originally Posted by brianwp

A couple of years ago our governor, Sonny Perdue did away with the stars and bars as the state flag, and a lot of people got mad about it. (I have to be careful not to insult any other southerners on this forum here).

Sorry, you took a breath of air that was once Confederate air at some point in your life, so someone will be insulted by that.

[brianwp]

Originally Posted by st4bilo

Allow me one comprehension question.
You pointed out that there is a certain attitude of the people who still use the flag, which is deeply-rooted in the minds of the Southerners.
Is it always or mostly accompanied by racism ?
Widower54 suggested that in his post and
aphex1973 mentioned the flag is being used by the KKK.
(btw. is the KKK still existent and active in the South ?)

Well, the short answer is ...yes. I was trying to be kind in my post, but yes, racism is still deeply rooted in these people's attitudes. Unfortunately. Of course the rebel flag is still used by the KKK, it's their main backdrop. My mother was from West Virginia, and she used to tell me about how she saw the crosses burning. My grandfather used to carry a shotgun broke over his arm in the street, and if a black man didn't say, "Good morning, Mr. Baker, sir", he might catch something he wasn't chasing. My Uncle Bernard went to prison for shooting a black man in the head outside of town, then he beat another one to death in the prison there. He died in prison, I was the one who took the call when it happened. They weren't playing, this was their reality and belief. Unfortunately, it still is today for some people I know down here. I myself voted for Barack Obama in the last election, and I have to say, that don't make me the most popular person in town. The streets were covered in McCain signs. A lot of the rant and raves in the local paper still refer to Obama as a Muslim, and all that nonsense. No, racism is still alive and well down yonder.

[brianwp]

Originally Posted by Rangertom1357

It's a matter of local terms and local slang. In Philadelphia, where I was born and spent most of my younger years, a "Coke" was any kind of carbonated beverage regardless of the type. Go to another place in the States it's a "Soda" or most previlent in the mid-west it's a "pop".

Well, it was a little different in Jersey. A "Coke" was a brand name, if you said give me a coke", you'd get a Coca Cola. A soda could mean coke, or root beer, ot Dr. Pepper, or whatever..they were all sodas. But I don't hold it against you, after all, you were just from Pennsylvania.

[DTravel]

Hoping to avoid flames here, but if you read the motions for secession and the speeches made to pass them, they all almost universally say that the issue of slavery is the reason. Any mention of "States Rights" was in the form of "the State's Right to keep slaves".

(My apologies to the staff if that was too political.)

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by DTravel

Hoping to avoid flames here, but if you read the motions for secession and the speeches made to pass them, they all almost universally say that the issue of slavery is the reason. Any mention of "States Rights" was in the form of "the State's Right to keep slaves".

(My apologies to the staff if that was too political.)

It's consistent with what little I know (mainly from a biography of President Lincoln called Lincoln The Unknown). The history of the CSA obviously has a bearing on the discussion. Originalsman's point is addressed, and with reasonable politeness as is only right. But let's be mindful of the emotiveness of this subject.

[suds777]

Ah, the great "Soda-Pop-Coke" debate! From what I've always been told, it's a regionality issue. What you call it more or less depends on where you're from. Here's a terrific map that was done a couple years ago:

http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.c...pvssodamap.gif

Sorry I couldn't post it here, it needs to be viewed full-screen to read the details.

Great thread, Gentleman. Thanks for allowing me in!

[bushgator]

Originally Posted by koo

Though I'm not from the States, I have spent some time there, and in the southern states, so I know the confederate flag also quite well.
From Wikipedia:
I hope this helps...

Thanks koo for your truthful information. As a southerner (not a racist as is too commonly perceived ) I both love that flag and acknowledge its bad side as far as being used by anti-black groups. There are two sides to this story that maybe only southerners and well traveled people get. For me, the freedom of speech issue weighs in heavily.