So, by now you and most of the sports internet world has seen this: Now, I know why it's funny (UC-I coaches comments) and you know why it's funny. But the rest of the country doesn't know about the comments and paints the typical "Southerners are racists" comments (Deadspin) that we've all heard before in similar discussions (I tread lightly as I mention the LSU-style confederate flag issue from a few years back). I see comments like those and it pains me to think that that is how the world sees us. I know that we aren't racist and I know I shouldn't care what everyone else thinks of us, but it just makes me feel terrible. It's like that drunk idiot on youtube back during the championship week, or this one guy who lives my neighborhood who told me he's gonna vote for McCain only because he'll "be damned if I see a n----- in the White House." You just shake youre head and think to yourself, "are there really people who still think like that in this world?" So what do you think of the banner? P.S. I was going to put this in the den, but thought better of it. This is a topic that needs mature commentary that i can usually find here in the alley.
Lame or not, it doesn't make a whole fanbase a bunch of racists. Nobody these days takes the time to look into the whole story.
I thought the banner was a witty repartee in response to Gillespie's inappropriate, insulting Civil War comment. However, I've seen numerous other boards taking it WAY out of context, and painting LSU fans (and the entire state AND South) in a bad light. The comments I've read on other sites make all of the usual, worn-out Southern generalizations that I'm, frankly, tired of seeing. I'm confident in my education and my intellect, but it is an insult to me when people beat up on the South because I'm proud of being a Southerner. I can see where people can take that banner out of context and think horrible things--things that they want to believe are true of Louisiana, anyway. But at the time, I thought it was funny, and I know that it had nothing to do with racism or slavery, just a witty reply to an off-color remark made by Gillespie. That being said, there are many Southerners that do carry somewhat of a chip on their shoulders about the loss of the Civil War, mainly because folks from other states (even states that were not even part of the Union in the 1860's) like to lord their "victory" over us. Seriously, with the loss of life and destruction of the bloodiest, deadiest American war, was there truly a winner--or was the whole country a loser? Lincoln felt the latter.
Honestly, I thought it was very witty and funny, I wasnt offended by it. Probably because I knew what it meant. But for outsiders just another reason to cast an opinion of people from LSU and Louisiana. Thats how shyt happens, you only get one side of the story which is the picture and ignorance spreads.
Ignorant people think the Civil War was about slavery so any reference to the Civil War today is construed as racism or at least racial.
Umm slavery was definitely apart of it. It will be ignorant to say it wasnt. I know economics play a major role as well.
I don't care for the term Civil War in reference to the past unpleasentness between the north of the south. More propper terms would be the War for Southern Independence, or the War of Northern Agression.
Yankees had slaves too. If slavery was the sole issue, there wouldn't have been any war. It's not my intent to downplay the significance of slavery as a blot on the conscience of humankind. But that's not why they fought the war. People equate a confederate flag with a noose and it's just not the same thing. But, as long as it's viewed in that context the the stars and bars should be relegated to the dumpster. I'm not a big southern pride guy. I just think the civil war should not be an icon for slavery.
My first reaction when seeing it was to spit up laughing and think "turn about is fair play coach." It hit me that way because I had the context of the Irvine Coaches statements ringing in my head about how ignorant our fans were. My father was a Yankee and like it or not, even today there is a massive cultural difference between "Yankees" and Southerners, and it does not involve racism. Southerners are proud(evidenced by our own fan base) and suggesting that we are stuck wishing for the idealized pre-civil war life is insulting and offbase. I think every Southerner got the joke about the banner, but in today's politically correct world, we set ourselves up to be slammed. Added to that, "Yankees" still look down their noses at Southerners while engaging in the very hypocritical activities they accuse us of maintaining. Unfortunately I fear that people will be given a pass to make these sort of accusations about us for many years to come.
