The war is over

I was born and raised north of the Mason Dixon line ( http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa041999.htm ) starting in the early 70's. That's the 1970's for those who are not clear on the concept. The civil war, which was the "Yankees" versus the "Rebels" was fought from 1860 to 1865. The Mason Dixon line wasn't actually the dividing line, but it's what most people think of as the dividing line between the north and the south. Either way, many battles were fought and even more people died. They say it was about slavery but that isn't entirely true either. It doesn't matter. It's 130 years later. The war is over.

Why then, do people of southern descent insist that I am a "Yankee" and furthermore why do they believe that "Yankees" are all of one type. Apparantly we're all pompous asses who don't give a half of a shit about anyone but ourselves. There are more of this type of person in my current location than I ever met while living up north. They always justify this to me by saying they don't consider me a Yankee because "I'm not like that." The truth is I still take offense. Not that they do or don't consider me part of that group, but the fact that they harbor all the prejudice.

Speaking of prejudice, I'm soooo tired of all the racial prejudice in the south. I grew up thinking this all died in the 60's. I never saw it. I thought it was gone. Such is not the case. No, not at all. People still use the racial slurs, believe that different races are worse than others. I don't believe these things but where I am right now it is not only common to hold these twisted beliefs it is almost expected. I hate the situation far more than any of them can hate their race of choice.