The Truth Behind Mississippi Politics
Why It's Difficult to Be Gay and Political in the South
Down here, below the Mason-Dixon Line, that is not something that is met with open arms. Ads are blasted telling us all that marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Bumper stickers are placed on cars denoting that same ideology. Bible verses are thrown around to support this belief. Southern people are very passionate about keeping gay people in the same position they kept African Americans decades ago, under their thumb so no damage can be done.
The Bible plays a large role in Southern politics. In many ways, the separation of church and state was lost in this state. An agnostic or atheist running for office in Mississippi would be a rare find, and chances are that he or she would not get very far once the dirty secret was exposed. Because of the influence of religion, many politicians feel they must take a stand against homosexuals.
Sadly, this stand is often welcomed. Republicans and Democrats alike are expected to take the popular role and draw the line between heterosexual and homosexual people. It would appear that the majority of people in Mississippi find a certain amount of superiority inside of themselves for their heterosexuality.
It is because of this superior feeling, and because of these beliefs, that a Democrat will not carry this state in the general election for the presidency. Here, many Democrats are thought of as immoral because they allow the gay community to have a sense of belonging, and give them the feeling that someday, they might actually be considered equal. That kind of thinking will not get a politician far in the South.
I have lived in the North, and I have lived in the South. The Mason-Dixon Line, while invisible, has a very powerful presence. Here, in the land of the good old boy network and old-fashioned politics, progressive thinking is almost too much for voters to take. People here would rather leave things the way they are. Change is not seen as a positive thing.
I live in a state that begrudgingly allowed African Americans to have rights, not because they wanted to, but because they had no other choice. A war was lost, and a confederacy was torn down. Memories of that confederacy still flap in the wind via the flags that fly above all of our heads. To many, that must seem a disgrace. In a state with such a large African American population, to fly a flag that celebrates slavery seems obscene. But here, it is not viewed as an insult. Instead, it's a throwback to the way things used to be, before someone messed them up with change.
The gay issue stands in the same corner. Would the nation self destruct if gay people were allowed to marry or have any kind of domestic partner rights? Of course it would not. Would the country feel a sense of change, of progress, as a whole? Certainly, we would.
Just as that Confederate flag continues to flap in the wind, just as ads run stating that marriage is between a man and a woman, just as people speak of the fear of gays coming out of the woodwork, the South is fighting to stay just where it is. They will cast a vote for stagnant politicians with conservative views that will not sway their positions in life. Mississippi is not going to change. Once again, it is up to the states around Mississippi to change and to force this state to come along or be left behind, in ruins.
Published by Amy Cox
I am currently working on my first novel. I'm hoping this forum will give me some extra experience with writing. View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentAmy - thank you! It's SO frustrating to encounter the dolts and dumbasses who defend their biases and actually think that the Bible supports them. I'm not religious specifically because if things in the Bible that I cannot swallow because I *KNOW* them to be harmful and morally bankrupt. "Slaves obey your masters???" I through my copy of the bible across the room in high school when I first read that.
And then that stuff about women being for the will of men and all that hellfire and brimstone crap, and I realized that I had over a thousand pages of bird cage/bunny cage/guinea pig cage lining.
Sorry - I don't mean to put words in your mouth. I enjoyed your article very much for what it is. Very happy that somebody with the sense to know that decency *ALWAYS* comes before dogma, and express it SO SO well. NIcely done.
Well, here's one Mississippian who agrees with you and laments, almost on a daily basis, just how intolerant many of our citizens can be. This intolerance is so illogical. We worship Jesus, but don't follow his teachings. I don't understand it. I just try to make a difference in my tiny little sphere of influence. Good article.
The real narrow-minded people are those who proudly proclaim their faith as if the only one true belief in this world and arrogantly despise the belief of other people. Those who will outrightly strip off the right of other people to live a life with decency and rebuke others just because they are not conforming to their own belief.
Isn't it better to live in a world that promotes co-existence and harmony than breeding animosity? Aren't these so called "Christians" should be the one preaching LOVE, COMPASSION, ACCEPTANCE, FORGIVENESS? Instead of casting their stones to other people they look down upon. :>)
The real narrow-minded people are those who proudly proclaim that their faith are the only ones true in this world and arrogantly despise the belief of other people and worst deny the existence of other people because of their sexual orientation, political belief, etc.
Isn't it better to live in a world that promotes co-existence and harmony than breeding animosity? Wouldn't these so-called "Christian" people should talk about LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, COMPASSION than bringing JUDGEMENT to people they look down as "dirty" people? I wonder how they have LEVELED themselves to GOD that they have the GUT to JUDGE.
Marguis, you are showing yourself to be intolerant and narrow-minded. You appear to be Christian, yet you have the audacity to preach morals. Have you noticed the questionable morals in the bible?
SO true. . .I stay in Olive Branch, M.S. AND in Memphis, TN and it's unfortunate how far behind in Human Rights the South is! Thanks for the well wrtten article!
How true and how sad...I moved from Boston to Florida...What a change...it could be a different country.