Southern Pride

The US House's GOP tried to pass an amendment to allow the confederate flag on public buildings and the Demos successfully blocked the racists from passing the amendment. The party of racism always complains about the injuries to its "southern pride" and how the confederate flag is key symbol of that "pride". I have always been a bit confused about the term "southern pride" because I have never been able to understand what they are proud of.

Are they proud of poor public schools which according to a Huffington Post article by Rebecca Klein (Aug. 2014) the entire South ranks below average for public schools and in many instances the worst in the country. Are they proud of their economies which according to a Forbes article June 2014 ranks Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi in the bottom ten in the country. Are they proud of their healthcare systems which rank at the bottom nationally along with Nevada and Oklahoma (basically any state with a Republican governor and legislature) according to The Atlantic Magazine (May 2014). Are they proud of their poverty rates which according to Fact & Fun.com (Feb. 4, 2014) eight southern states (South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi) ranked in the list of ten poorest states.

I could go on of course but I just marvel at how anyone can talk of "southern pride" with such facts staring them in the face. What are they proud of has to be answered, I suppose, in terms of some moral, religious, or  lifestyle basis. But if that is the criteria how do they ignore slavery, homophobia, anti-semitism, lynchings, the KKK, and white citizens councils. Maybe that is the key to "southern pride": amnesia.