Do Northerners and Southerners celebrate Memorial Day differently?
Historians say the South perceived the federal Memorial Day holiday as an observance primarily for Union soldiers and chose to observe their own Confederate Memorial Days. Has that carried over to today -- with more low-key Memorial Day observances in the South and bigger-deal celebrations in the North?
You tell me. I'm searching for answers in time for -- well, Memorial Day. How do you celebrate Memorial Day here or how have you celebrated the occasion in other places you've lived?
I'll raffle off two Starbucks gift cards -- one to a Northerner and one to a Southerner, of course. Just post your comment here and e-mail a copy of it to me along with your name and daytime phone number. You must include your name and phone number to be in the drawing for free coffee. Thanks!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A question of North vs. South?
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52 comments:
Yes, let's beat the dead horse one more time.
The standard Amy Baldwin 'article'...pitting 'northerners' vs. 'southerners'.
Congrats Amy on raising the standard of journalism.
wow...I guess I will see the difference later this month but Memorial Day is huge up North.
We have huge picnics and parties as it is seen as the official start to summer.
This is getting ridiculous.
Did Amy not read any of the former newcomer blogs or articles? She is repeating the same crap over and over.
Walkability scores, places to take newcomers, and now more north vs south.
Really, quit writing this crap until you come up with something new....
And the Observer wonders why they have no credibility and readership is declining.
Seriously... the amount of north/south antagonism in this blog is ridiculous. It's out of kilter with how much anyone, native OR newcomer, actually thinks about this stuff.
I hate to think how many people think that Charlotte is still in Civil War mode on the basis of this blog.
To answer your question....
Yes, traditionally Memorial day has been a "Yankee" holiday due to the fact that the federal government did not recognize our troops on that day. Confederate Memorial day was created as a result. Sometime over the years, the federal government finally gave our troops due respect. So now we celebrate both memorial days :)
OH MY GOD ENOUGH WITH THESE STUPID ARTICLES!
How can Charlotte become a world-city when it's primary news paper instigates such quarrels. This is really old and is a bad reflection on the South....it's time to move on.
As a Charlotte native, growing up I never knew there was a difference in how northerners and southerners celebrated Memorial Day. When my parents were alive, every Memorial Day we would either go to the "Indian Mound" up in the mountains or go to Reed Gold Mine and have a picnic.
Memorial day and Independence day are both Yankee holidays.
12:30 Independence day is a "Yankee" holiday. As we Americans became free of Britain. Who called us all Yankees!!! So The only way to call it a yankee holiday is to say the south never wanted independence at all?? Is this true? Oh wait its almost tea time. You are busy.
This is precisely the reason why Charlotte will never be a major city in the eyes of the country. With questions like this,
Charlotte will always be perceived as a "provincial town." Isn't it time for the journalism in this town to grow up?
A "New Rule" suggestion, a la Bill Maher:
New Rule -- Any journalist who raises the concept of North vs. South should have their computer or typewriter taken away for a month. During that time, they should be required to come up with something original to write about.
This is the dumbest "journalism" imaginable
Yes. It's bigger up North. They have picnics and parades. IN the SOuth, we crank up some Bocephus, grab a 12 pack of PBR, and go dirtin in our jacked up trucks.
All Hail Dixie!!!
All you Charlotte people that think the war is over need to venture out of the city for awhile. There are still many people in the south that still resent the northerners and fight the 'war'today. This is not over by a long shot. By the way as a yankee we did celebrate with large picnics and also as the start of the summer vacation.
Hey I'm from the North but have lived in Charlotte now 20 years and Memorial Day with my family and friends is a day we have a picnic and we remember all those who have given their lives for our country. I never knew it was a north, south thing. I am one who hates when people talk about the North and the South as if we are 2 different countries. God Bless America because this is my country. The civil war was the worst thing that ever happened to our country. It was a bad time in history. It's a crying shame that we lost so many lives because our own country was fighting itself. This Memorial Day we will have our picnic once again and say a prayer for those who gave their lives so we could have a picnic. God Bless the USA!!!
All I can say is being from a very small town in Georgia known as Madison. We always celebrated the ONE Memorial day in respects to all troops through out history. there was always several big picnics in differet area of town. At the town square there was a parade. All the bikers(motorcyclists) in the area would do this big 50 mile ride that ended in the square in celebration and in remembrance of our troops . It was never a North vs. South thing.
"I am one who hates when people talk about the North and the South as if we are 2 different countries."
You just don't get it and, as a Yankee, you never will. Yes, Southerners are proud of the United States but our loyalties move in ascending order; family, community, state, and country rather than the other way around.
I am proud to say that I am from the the town that established Memorial Day - Waterloo, New York.
There, as you can imagine, it is a huge deal. The town annually sets a new World Record - of the Guinness variety - for having the most American flags displayed around town. We celebrate with a huge Memorial Day parade on the actual day it was founded, May 30th, rather than the observed last Monday in May.
I've lived in the South for the past 10 years. Memorial Day here is as much a time to commerate and celebrate as it is up North. Everyone has the right to celebrate those who lost their lives and helped us get to where we are today.
Worst blog ever. How much North V South junk can be spewed here. Give up already.
As a born and bred Southern all Memorial Day has even been to me is the start of summer. But other bloggers are correct as far as (1) enough with the North/South crap already -- we all know the South would have won the war if Jackson's men hadn't shot him and
(2) the Observer staff needs to come up with new topics.
i may be wrong, but i have taken the same approach towards memorial day as my uncle, a retired colonel in the US Army. Memorial day is a day to honor the men and women who have fought and died for our country. if you think im wrong try swinging by the rangers barracks in ft. brag next weekend!
in my opinion Amy, you are a moron
tommy c said it perfectly. We are one nation and all men and women that gave their lives should be remembered and thanked for their sacrifice without regard for geography.
This is just stupid. We need a version of Godwin's Law for this North vs. South garbage. Believe it or not we southern folk do this odd thing where we all get together with our families, go outside, and cook some sort of red meat. I think the biggest difference is that down here you can actually swim in the ocean this time of year without a wetsuit.
American by birth, Southern by the grace of God.
All of the internets can be good, norht and south. We to Memorial Day long time. Hot dogs do best! Much to memery!
...And don't forget! Only 20 more shoplifting days until Jeff Davis'seses Birthday!
I've lived in Charlotte for almost 6 years now and the only way I've celebrated Memorial Day down here is if I attend the Coca-Cola 600. Humpy and crew really know how to put on a patriotic show and tailgating and picnics go hand in hand.
But race weekend festivities don't compare to my hometown traditions. I grew up in Ironton, Ohio, home of the longest running Memorial Day parade in the nation. As a child we would drive into town to watch the veterans, beauty queens, Shriners and local high school bands march the long parade route. As I reached middle school age I was always a part of the parade, whether through my little league softball team or my high school marching band. Following the parade my family and usually some friends would go back to my parents house to swim and have a cook-out.
I'm excited that this year I will be home to see the parade, I've not traveled home on Memorial Day for years.
--April
Your column is entitled "New around Town", not "just moved down from up north" . How about the differences between how it is done here and where you are from, instead of North v. South again and again.
Hey!!! Take it easy guys! At least have the b--ls to sign your aggressive posts to Amy with your names and NOT anonymously!!!!
What on earth??
I respectfully request that the Observer quit producing these types of blogs, which open us Southerners up to feeling like we are exhibits in some sort of societal zoo.
Why not produce topics that will bring us together, instead of furthering the chasm?
For those who do not like Amy's blog....why do you continue to read it??????
Seriously - this tripe AGAIN?!!!
Get some imagination!!
Amy, I'm sure you probably meant well when posing your question. However, it appears that most of us are tiring of the compare/contrast of north and south. There will always be those who stand by their perceived "home team" who proclaim "our side is better than yours". So let's acknowlege that these people exist and go on to more interesting matters.
What's wrong with asking how we celebrate Memorial Day - regardless of where we're from?
I don't live near family, so I see it as a free day off from work. I usually gather with friends for a cookout at someone's house and alcohol is consumed and conversation is enjoyed. There's also the possibility of some volleyball or kickball, or maybe kayaking.
Start some blogs about some real issues facing Charlotte - crime, growth, transportation, not this North vs. South junk.
Enough with the North-South topic. If this is the best you can come up with, maybe you should return to writing about savings accounts. Good grief.
And I thought we had idiots at the News and Observer here in Raleigh.! I came across Amy's blog while looking for a news story. NC Native, proud Southerner but do not have a "forget, Hell" bumper sticker, nor do I have a gun rack in my truck. She's been here almost 5 years and she writes this North vs. South crap??? Who cares that she does not like sweet tea. Quite a few "real" southerners don't either. Who cares that she has not picked a favorite basketball team. It would not matter since she would have not attended one of the Big 4 schools or grown up watching the games on TV. I know there are more things important to new Charlotteans than this north v. south stuff. Guess the Pulitzer prize will have to go to someone else this year!
Any debate that pits the North vs the South will never be over.
The biggest problem is that the history between the North and South has become sanitized and polarized. No one wants to face the truth about history; good or bad. No one wants to believe the vast majority of whites in the South never owned slaves and that most of the ones that did were Southern DEMOCRATS.
I was born and raised in South Carolina. I can't stand grits or NASCAR and I abhor the fact some whites use the Confederate Battle Flag as a hate symbol and I also abhor black bigots who cannot rise above their distain of the flag as used by hate groups and see the flag for what it is - a battle flag that men fought and died under for their own reasons. Yes some were against the abolition of slavery but it was not the only reason.
It's people like myself that read blogs by idiots like Amy who keep trying to perpetuate North vs South discussions that make me want to scream "I AM A WHITE SOUTHERN MALE, DAMN PROUD OF IT, TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT SLAVERY, MY ANCESTORS CAME HERE IN 1762 AND DIDN'T OWN ANY SLAVES, TIRED OF HEARING NORTH VS SOUTH THIS AND THAT, AND WILL DEBATE AND FIGHT TO THE BITTER END ANY NEGATIVITY OF MY HERITAGE".
Memorial Day was originally started as a way to honor UNION soldiers in 1866. Today it has come to include ALL soldiers who have served, fought or died in all wars since inception. It doesn't make a damn bit of difference if a soldier took a bullet in 1865 or 2008, we should honor them on this day for the freedoms we currently enjoy. Yes, even the freedom to write a stupid blog for like this for the Charlotte Disturber.
This north south stuff is total crap. It's 2008, lets move on.
Keep the Starbucks cards for yourself, Amy, and drink up a bunch of caffeine so you can get really alert and maybe some much better ideas will spew forth. Stop the madness, for God's sake!
Oh no, not THIS again!
Memorial Day in the North is not as much affliated with the confederate and union armies. Symbolically, it has transformed that one war and is affliated with all that have died for the soverignity of this country. It's almost like armed forces day for those that died for the cause.
In other northern communities it is celebrated a reflection of the died regardless of whether they served in the military.
The day ends with a family gathering with barbeque ribs Not Pulled Pork and vinegar.
By the way everyone that lives or lived "Up North" is not a yankee!!
I agree. I moved here from the North in 96 and was appalled that some years CMS had Memorial Day as a teacher work day!!! In the North it was in memory of all soldiers not just those from the Union. It seems that the wound from the war has yet to heal. Most Northerners that I know don't give the Civil War a thought but here the battles are still fought daily!!!!
"This north south stuff is total crap. It's 2008, lets move on."
Moving on is easy for Yankees. The War of Northern Agression, including Sherman's purge, wasn't fought on your soil and you all didn't suffer through Reconstruction. We're still living with the aftermath and now you all are invading our territory again! You come here because you screwed up your northern cities but you're putting additional strain on our schools and roads but you don't bring tax dollars commensurate with the benefits you receive. To top it all off you have the gall to complain about the South non-stop during your visit!
"By the way everyone that lives or lived "Up North" is not a yankee!!"
Yes, you are.
Perhaps the Observer should have cut the budget for THIS blog and let us keep Emily Benton's 'Girl About Town' blog. At least it offered useful content on a regular basis.
@8:44 a.m.
couldn't have said it better myself.
one good that came from this crap post: great to see so many people tired of this nonsense.
amy, i guess you have it. great article!!!
ps, we dont care how you yankees do it up north!!
Im from Point Pleasant, Ohio and I stopped by to pay my respects to my relatives of Ulysses H. Grant ; Amy , Look your going to get me killed down here starting the South vs North thing again . I even had my Doctor at Presbyterian draw blood to give it to the Government and this State. Now they know who Im related to . Amy you should have been a blonde just kidding . Please , folks my Great Grandfather let everybody free after the war . He was a great' servant of the Government' and not a great hero.
Look at a representative of the Union North the UNION soldiers suffered twice the deaths so the SOUTH really won the war.
Signed James L. Grant
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