I will no longer be active on Xanga, and don't plan on updating with new posts. I just don't have the time. I may use this site for something else, but I'm not exactly sure, yet.
I may still send messages to share prayer requests or good news, and I hope my friends do the same. (I don't know how often I will check my messages, but I check e-mails and Facebook daily.)
I can still be reached on Facebook, if you'd like to add me, (or by e-mail). Thank you for the many friendships! I treasure them. As always, I appreciate your prayers for my family and myself! I pray for my online friends, as well.
If you have specific Prayer needs and want me to add you to my Prayer list so that I and others may help bear your burdens and agree in Prayer for you, send me a private message by clicking HERE.
Please continue to Pray for my Mom and Dad (and my other family members: Betty, Bill, Ruthie, Billy, Lynn, Gene, Scott) - (stomach cancer, blood pressure and kidney issues, chemotherapy, digestive issues) PaulD. - (Alzheimer's, heart, kidney problems, bladder cancer, swelling) Paul - (leg and foot pain) Robert - (Job searching) Elizabeth - (bone marrow issues) Hazel - (lung cancer) _____________________
When presenting your requests to The Lord, be sure to go to Him with Thanksgiving and Worship, acknowledging Who He is, His Holiness and His Ability to meet your needs. Ask for His Will to be done, and confess any sin or unbelief that may be hindering your Fellowship with Him. Thank Him and have Faith that He will meet your needs. _____________________
Verses to hold onto:
Thanksgiving:
"To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." ~Psalm 30:12
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." ~1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." ~Phl 4:6
"Be Joyful always; pray continually; giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will for you in Christ Jesus." ~I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Faith:
"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." ~James 1:6
"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." ~Matthew 18:18
"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." ~Matthew 18:19
"Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." ~Matthew 21:21
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." ~Matthew 21:22
Comfort:
"..but with God all things are possible." ~Matthew 19:26
"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." ~Isaiah 41:13
"The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." ~Psalm 34:17
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~Phl 4:7
"Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." ~Hebrews 7:25
"...The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much." ~James 5:16
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." ~Isaiah 65:24
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." ~Jeremiah 33:3
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." ~Zechariah 4:6
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." ~Psa 55:22
>>Scroll down a bit to read my continued post on Kentucky and southern stereotypes. Part 1 is the post below this one.. but first..
More Kentucky trivia:
Q: Where does the largest annual fireworks display in North America take place? A: Louisville, Kentucky. (Thunder Over Louisville is the annual kickoff event of the Kentucky Derby Festival)
Q: What city is home to the only assembly plant in the world that manufactures the Chevrolet Corvette? A: Bowling Green, Kentucky's fifth largest city
Q: Where is the largest Victorian historic preservation district in the United States? A: Old Louisville. The neighborhood is also home to the Southern Exposition (1883-1887), which featured the first public display of Thomas Edison's light bulb.
Old Louisville; click for a larger view.
Q: Where is the largest outdoor art show in the United States located? Also in Old Louisville (St. James Court Art Show)
Q: Where is the manufacturing headquarters for Toyota located? A: Erlanger, Kentucky (Source)
Q: What truck was named for Louisville, Kentucky? A: Ford L-Series truck (Source)
Q: What small town in Kentucky is home to the oldest continuously played golf course in America? A: Middlesboro, a town believed to be one of the few U.S. cities built entirely inside a meteorite crater. The Middlesborough Country Club, established in 1889 by English settlers, claims to be the oldest golf course still being used in the U.S. (Source, Source)
Q: Kentucky is home to what two Dove Award-winning Christian groups? A: Audio Adrenaline (rock) and Bride (metal)
______________________________
History:
Am I trying to say Kentucky is the superior state? No. I'm sure each state has impressive facts and unique attributes. It just seems that Kentucky often gets overlooked and misjudged.
O.k., I wanted to get back to my topic of "hillbilly" stereotypes. I was wondering about the origin of this derogatory term, "hillbilly", so I searched a bit on the net. According to Wikipedia: "The term 'Hill-Billies' is first found in documents from 17th century Ireland. King James II established a Catholic army and attempted to regain the British throne at Kinsale in Ireland in 1689. Protestant King William III, led an English counterforce into Ireland and defeated James II in 1690. A significant portion of William III's army was composed of Protestants of Scottish descent (Planters) who had settled in Ulster in northern Ireland. The southern Irish Catholic supporters of James II referred to these northern Protestant supporters of King William as 'Hill-Billies' and 'Billy Boys' — Billy being an abbreviation of William.
Some believe that the term 'hillbilly' in the United States was used during the early 18th century by the occupying British soldiers as a carry over from the Irish term, in referring to Scots-Irish immigrants of mainly Presbyterian origin, dwelling in the frontier areas of the Appalachian Mountains.
Others say the nickname was applied to European immigrants to the United States who settled in the Appalachian Mountains. Many of these immigrants were of German descent and were named Wilhelm and called Willy, a common Germanic name during that time. Those Wilhelms, who went by Bill or Billy, living in the Appalachian Mountains became known as 'hillbillies'.
Still others say the term emerged as a derogatory nickname given by the coastal Anglo-Saxon Southerners to the hill-dwelling settlers of Eastern Tennessee, West Virginia, and Eastern Kentucky."
(A few more southern states and even some parts of Arkansas, rural Wisconsin and Texas have even been included under the offensive label of hillbilly territory.)
Perhaps when the nickname was first used, it was not considered an insult, but in today's society, it has become a term synonymous with uneducated, destitute southerners..usually lacking in teeth, proper clothing, and wit.
Some southern people will tell you they're "proud to be a 'hillbilly'", but their definition of "hillbilly" is simply a person who enjoys the simple southern life in and around the mountains. Poor or not, most people born and raised in the south are proud of their heritage.
The H Word:
What comes to mind when you picture a "hillbilly"? One of these?
Or, dare I even post these next 2? I can feel my stomach cramping already, but here goes..Easy, stomach.. don't turn over, now..
(I hope you can suppress the gag reflex. Look away if necessary.)
This character is called Elwood Smooch and he performs at The Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The tourists eat this up, and the money pours in. Now, how can we overcome this stereotype, if it continues to be "milked"? (This is one of the few activities Paul and I have avoided in Pigeon Forge. I've had migraines that were more enjoyable than these attempts at southern humor.)
O.k., I guess the kids like it, and I know they're not trying to offend; they just want to make the audience laugh (at the ignorant hillbillies' expense..?). But, it still gets under my skin a bit. I hope parents tell their kids southern people aren't all like that. It's not that I'm a prude. I enjoy comedy, and can even find some humor in a few of those southern jokes, but upon discovering that many people were laughing at us, not with us, I began to frown upon these ridiculous stereotypes.
Most people don't like their culture or heritage to be ridiculed.
Responsibility:
Do I blame the people like the man from New York that I mentioned in my post the other day? NO Who is responsible for these notions that southerners are uneducated, toothless, and lazy? In my opinion, there are possibly 2 culprits: 1.) southerners, themselves (or those who milk the concept) and 2.) the media.
Let me explain.. Now, please realize that I'm aware that there are some people who seem to fit the stereotypes that we have, but we can't judge an entire community, race, culture, or state based on the actions of a handful of people.
As I mentioned, many southern tourist attractions make lots of money "poking fun" at "hillbillies". You can buy tee-shirts, gag gifts, and loads of "hillbilly" souvenirs. It's a large part of their economy, and they like it. After all, it's "innocent humor". Plus, it's hard to be offended when the money is rolling in.
Looking at Larry the Cable Guy, (admittedly, I have been known to laugh at some of his jokes, and even rented Delta Farce) his real name is Daniel Whitney, and he's from Nebraska. Whitney moved to West Palm Beach in South Florida when he was 13. His natural accent is much more Midwest than Deep South. He says in interviews and in his book, GIT-R-DONE, that he willingly "turns on" the accent. The redneck persona is profitable for him.
My sister was telling my Mom, even before I posted about Kentucky and southern stereotypes, that she was watching the news broadcast of Hillary Clinton visiting some poverty stricken area in Kentucky, and it showed a man sitting out on the porch. He said, "I ain't got nary job, and I ain't got nary gas to go out n' look for a job."
My response may surprise you: While it's true, this man should be dealt with in compassion and love, he could also benefit from being told that he shouldn't sit back and do nothing, expecting the rest of society to cater to him. What's he going to do.. just sit there?
If he "ain't got gas" (which is understandable with today's prices) could he not get a ride with someone else into town to look for a job? To my knowledge, he wasn't disabled. Is he too proud to walk or ride a bike? I guess I just look at it this way... there's no excuse for not trying.
Please allow me to insert some Bible verses here:
Do we make excuses? “The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!’” ~Proverbs 26:13
“The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.” ~Proverbs 21:25
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.” ~Proverbs 6:6
“. . . If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat...” ~2 Thessalonians 3:10
God rewards our hard work. “The soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” ~Proverbs 13:4
We can all better ourselves somehow. To reiterate, there is no shame in being poor, and we should; of course, help the poor and the disabled. We will be held accountable for our actions and whether or not we helped those in need.
I am also a firm believer in hard work, and have little tolerance for laziness. How does that quote go? "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."
Why is it that the media seems to go to these people to represent Kentucky? Why didn't Hillary come and knock on my door. The media eats this kind of story up, too. While it's true that some counties in Kentucky are considered poor, I'm sure most everyone can think of some county, neighborhood, or community in their state that is not exactly representative of the whole state.
Family Issues
I've got issues.. I have some relatives, some of whom were born here in the south and relocated to northern states, raising their families there. I have found some of them to be rather obnoxious upon their visits. (I'm not speaking of all "northerners", just some of my relatives.. lol) For example, my uncle and his wife told of how these relatives visiting him, went out into his garden where he was growing onions, and began to pluck them out of the ground and toss them in the air, yelling, "Hillbilly fireworks!" So much of his hard work was ruined. Where were their manners?
It's not that my uncle had to grow his own food to live, gardening was simply a hobby, and they love fresh, homegrown food, but, it was still not appreciated.
(Fortunately, those relatives don't visit me.)
So, in summary, if your only "picture" of Kentucky, or any other southern state has been "painted" through the media's description of poverty, or based on some stereotypical idea passed along through jokes, comedy shows, or movies.... especially before you inadvertently pass the misconceptions along, why not take another look for yourself.
You might be pleasantly surprised with what you find.
What state claims the "winningest" team in the history of college basketball? Where were Johnny Depp and George Clooney born? Where is the oldest continuously played golf course in the United States? Where is Churchill Downs located?
Did you answer Kentucky to all of the above? Details are below. _____________________________________________
This lengthy blog entry may not be for everyone to read, but I have a specific purpose in mind: Could I possibly shed some light on Kentucky and help stifle some of those offensive Kentucky stereotypes?
The stereotypes I'm talking about are those that depict us (Kentuckians, especially in the southern part of the state) as hillbillies walking around with no shoes, a pair of overalls, a straw hat, and a weed stuck between the teeth. Ah, that tired old persona does wear thin at times.
Sometimes, I can't help but get a little agitated at those episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies. For the record, I've never eaten possum,I don't own a pair of overalls or a rope belt, nor do I wield a shotgun. (My purple fuzzy houseshoes; however; make quite a statement.) Yes, it's true I have a southern accent, but I don't say "ain't", nor do I even recognize it as an official word. I do try to use correct grammar with the exception of dropping a few g's from the ends of words.
That "uneducated southerner" stereotype is probably the worst. Well, there's also that notion that we live in rundown shacks with no indoor plumbing. Yes, that one irritates me, too.
I recently read a blog that featured some pictures of a "quaint" southern Kentucky town. One of those pictures included a shanty I assume was someone's home, and the caption read that it was "typical of rural Kentucky".
Now, folks, I've lived in southeastern Kentucky all my life, and I can assure you we don't all live in squalor. We are not all poverty stricken. And, being a Kentucky native, I wouldn't call that type of home "typical of rural Kentucky".
Yes, there are poor people in the south.
But, you know, Poverty is almost everywhere. And, having traveled recently to New York, I saw some places that made that little shack look like a townhouse. In New York, I saw homeless people and beggars, and I'm not used to seeing those. I really feel for them. I don't know of any homeless people in the town where I live, but I suppose it may be possible that we have some. ? I have seen quite a few in Tennessee (Knoxville, to be specific).
In the Eye of the Beholder: Now, I am not angry, and I assume the photographer of that little home had good intentions, possibly taking the picture because he recognized some sort of beauty in the simple, humble life that probably existed beyond those collapsing walls. (I need to add here that there is NO SHAME in being poor, by the way. Wealth is not always measured in material goods, and just because a person is poor, it doesn't mean they are miserable.)
But, saying that the little shack is "typical of rural Kentucky" is not entirely accurate. While it may be typical of the small community he was visiting, the majority of rural Kentuckians don't live in houses such as that one. And, while it's true, the average median income in southeastern Kentucky is lower than many other states, our cost of living is lower, too, so it sometimes equals out. (There is one thing I do complain about, often, and that's medical care. We seem to get the bottom of the barrel at times, but there are top quality medical facilities available if one is able and willing to travel to other parts of the state.) ________________
I was floored:
Was he ignorant or simply a victim of stereotypical ideas forced upon him in society? Once, I spoke with a man living in New York. (Now, those who read my blog may know how much I like New York. I enjoy my visits there, thoroughly, and intend to go back!) Anyway, we were talking about the differences in KY and NY, and some of his misconceptions floored me!
For example, we were talking about food, and I mentioned country ham. He asked how often I "got to eat it", and was shocked that I could eat it anytime I wanted it.. not just on Holidays! That one caught me off guard.
He also asked about my Dad's profession, and made mention that our doing so well must really be unusual considering the poverty to which my parents had been accustomed! Now, he automatically assumed that my parents had been raised in poverty and were lacking in quality education. Why? I hadn't said anything about their backgrounds. Now, this makes me wonder: Do other people in other parts of the country assume these things? How disheartening.
[I'll note here for clarity that my Dad, now retired, served in the U.S. Airforce, where he traveled the world. He made his business in construction and became a successful kitchen and bath designer. (He designed and built my home, too, by the way.) He is also a Kentucky Colonel. "Kentucky colonel is an honorary award bestowed upon individuals by approval of the Governor of Kentucky. The award is presented to those who make exceptional efforts to enrich the lives of Kentuckians and the world at large. Those who have been named a Kentucky Colonel are members of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels." My Dad's most outstanding quality; however, is his love for Jesus and his family. I have never been without any necessities of life; but, on the contrary, have had more material wealth, growing up in a small town in Kentucky, than many people I know in other parts of the United States.]
I know Kentucky has its share or problems, but illiteracy, homelessness, poverty, and ignorance can be found in abundance in every state.
Having been a teacher for about 9 years [I was allowed to teach in our public school system as a German instructor at the age of 18, because of my test scores and academic achievements. Later, I taught Science (Biology, Chemistry, Health, and German) in a private Christian school. I also tutored for a local University.], I suppose I have less tolerance for ignorance and the refusal to better oneself. I guess the southern term would be "sorriness". Sentence example: "He's more than lazy.. he's sorry." or "There's no excuse for her sorriness." (Please don't see arrogance in this post. As I said, I would like to just shed some light on life in a rural southern town. The only thing I can brag about is Jesus and His mercy.)
People Places and Things:
Not everyone from Kentucky is a noted Hillbilly. I'll mention a few Kentuckians:
Have you heard of The Backstreet Boys..the best selling boy band of all time and world's biggest money makers with concerts and album sales (having sold over 100 million records)? Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell were both born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky.
This man needs no introduction, but for the record, he was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky.
Can you guess what former three-time World Heavyweight Champion and winner of an Olympic Light-heavyweight gold medal was born in Louisville, Kentucky? and he's "pretty, too".
In 1999, Muhammad Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and the BBC.
Have you ever read about William Wells Brown, the first African-American to publish a novel, a play, a travel book, a military study of his people, and a study of black sociology? Throughout his life he was committed to the abolition of slavery.
Ashley Judd was NOT born in Kentucky, BUT, she apparently felt it a good enough place in which to pursue some educational training: She is an alumna of the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Kentucky, where she majored in French and minored in anthropology, art history, theater, and women’s studies. She was in the UK Honors Program and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. (She is also an avid Kentucky Wildcats fan.)
Speaking of Kentucky and sports, The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest team in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky also leads the NCAA in NCAA tournament appearances, NCAA tournament wins, NCAA tournament games, and ranks second to UCLA in NCAA championships with 7. Plus, Kentucky also has won the National Invitational Tournament in both 1946 and 1976. No one can argue against the fact that the Kentucky Wildcats are known for their impressive basketball team.
On another note, "The University of Kentucky cheerleading squad is the one of the most prestigious collegiate cheerleading programs in the world. Representing the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, the UK squad has won the Universal Cheerleaders Association National College Cheerleading Championship an unprecedented sixteen (16) times, in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 - more than any other Division 1A school.
UK's squad is the only team to win back to back championships twice, once in 1987 and 1988 and again in 1995 and 1996. Further, UK is the only squad ever to win three, four, five, six, seven and eight championships in a row.
The UK Cheer Program is recognized in cheerleading circles as perhaps the finest cheer program in America as the squad has placed first 16 times and placed second four times in the National Championships.
The squad receives substantial media exposure. Having finished in the top ten every year since the existence of the UCA National College Championships, each year the UK squad is seen on the ESPN televised Championships Program, which airs at least eight times nationally.
The squad is frequently the subject of highlight stories by television and radio stations and newspapers. The squad has been featured on the "CBS Evening News," Connie Chung's "Eye to Eye", and the "CBS Morning Show", in "Southern Living" and "Gentlemen's Quarterly," "ESPN the Magazine," and "Seventeen" magazines."
I could go on, but sports are not my main item of interest.
When some people think of Kentucky, they think of Kentucky Fried Chicken or the Kentucky Derby, so I'll provide a little information about the Derby:
Kentucky has been a major center of horse breeding and racing since the late 18th century. From the time the region was settled, the fields of the Bluegrass region were noted for producing superior race horses.
The Kentucky Derby is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration. It is part of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and draws around 155,000 fans.
"Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in fine outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. As the horses are paraded before the grandstands, the University of Louisville marching band plays Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home." (I'm just not sure if you'll see any of those straw hats, overalls, and barefeet previously mentioned.)
I know that we bring some of those aforementioned stereotypes upon ourselves. Some small rural areas use the "Hillbilly" concept to bring in tourists. I don't always agree with this strategy, though, I suppose it's better than using casinos, lottery, and other questionable tourist attractions.
Here is an example of rural Kentucky: Pikeville: Population around 6,500. (Pikeville; in fact, is smaller than my own hometown.) It boasts one of the largest concentrations of individual millionaires per capita in the U.S., primarly due to the abundance of natural gas, oil, and coal. If you want to see a small Kentucky town (Pikeville) in action, you can click HERE and view a video. It talks about the economy, business opportunities, and so much more. You'll notice a southern accent, but not like that on The Beverly Hillbillies. You'll see people wearing shoes, driving cars, etc. I know this may sound a little silly, but I am still surprised by some of the ideas people have of small town life in the south. Pikeville also hosts its' annual "Hillbilly Days" festival.. but some of the proceeds are used (in cooperation with Shriners) to help benefit crippled children, which is great.
I suppose I've posted enough for now, and I hope that my goal was accomplished: to help extinguish a few of those silly hillbilly stereotypes or beliefs that all people in rural Kentucky are destitute. A small town life is not necessarily a poor life deserving of pity.
Please Scroll down to continue reading.
