tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post7469472662126876184..comments2024-01-25T06:55:55.041-05:00Comments on Hillbilly Savants: Responding to Ms. SmileyEric Drummond Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10651674250848286847noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-74799032642397698182010-07-08T20:21:24.193-04:002010-07-08T20:21:24.193-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Viagra UKhttp://www.viagra-cialis.uk.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-45907514148056831532008-02-26T11:52:00.000-05:002008-02-26T11:52:00.000-05:00Eric:I am a history major at the University of Neb...Eric:<BR/><BR/>I am a history major at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and just finished reading Albion's Seeds in order to complete a paper for a class on early Colonial America. I found this blog quite by accident. I'm not certain where Ms. Smiley learns her history, but you on the other hand have a firm grasp on the reality of Appalachia and its people. I found your provoking response quite necessary in order to put the record straight. As a student of history, it boggles my mind when one chooses to embrace their own opinion when facts to the contrary exist. Ms. Smiley has forsaken any authority by which she might be considered by dispelling the truth and subjecting it to her own convoluted ideas. As a prospective historian, ever allowing myself to espouse Ms. Smiley's attitude is what I fear. Fischer's book was not without its problems, but as a whole was well researched history...and certainly not incorrect in place of the "facts" she claimed should be in its place. However, there is an aspect of good that comes from Ms. Smiley's views...it does provoke us to think and respond...research and debate. There is a silver lining.mom2zmghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07427128415513390099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-14257609182899470852007-02-18T11:04:00.000-05:002007-02-18T11:04:00.000-05:00Re: Appalachia not being a hotbed of Union Sympath...Re: Appalachia not being a hotbed of Union Sympathy<BR/><BR/>Here's what Wikipedia says about it:<BR/><BR/>It is believed that the term "hillbilly" in the United States was conferred during the early 18th Century by the occupying British soldiers as a carry over from the Irish term, in referring to Scotch-Irish immigrants of mainly Presbyterian origin, dwelling in the frontier areas of the Appalachian Mountains[citation needed]. These Protestant Irish colonists brought their cultural traditions with them when they immigrated. Many of their stories, songs and ballads dealt with the history of their Ulster and Lowland Scot homelands, especially relating the tale of the Protestant King William III, Prince of Orange.<BR/><BR/>Alternatively, it is also speculated that the term emerged as a derogatory nickname given by the coastal plain dwelling Anglo-Saxon Southerners for the hill-dwelling settlers of Eastern Tennessee, Western Virginia, northern Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky, many of whom were ambivalent to the Confederacy during the American Civil War[citation needed]. Billy Yank was the common term for Union soldiers, the nemesis of the Confederate Johnny Reb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-53031871499217419682007-02-14T05:23:00.000-05:002007-02-14T05:23:00.000-05:00see http://smile4.info More than 50,000 Smiley for...see <BR/><BR/>http://smile4.info More than <BR/><BR/>50,000 Smiley for free downloadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-83436480556120449562007-02-01T00:54:00.000-05:002007-02-01T00:54:00.000-05:00A link with some info for the topic at hand.
http...A link with some info for the topic at hand.<br /><br />http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/secession.htmlCharlesTheKungFuMasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01287112725464743208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-13651324234270332932007-02-01T00:13:00.000-05:002007-02-01T00:13:00.000-05:00Well, my argument really wasn't "there's a statue ...Well, my argument really wasn't "there's a statue in this county, so I believe X to be true" as much as it was "I believe X to be true," and I simply provided two simple examples to back up that statement. I don't expect those examples to prove anything except the existence of something worth researching. I could throw in more examples (e.g., an historical signpost in the mountains near Asheville marking the spot where Union sympathizers were executed; at least one dissertation that I'm aware of covering the topic; etc), but I think we both agree that there was indeed division. A division, hotbed--that's an argument of semantics for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-89970655774345195852007-01-31T21:35:00.000-05:002007-01-31T21:35:00.000-05:00hmmm, one statue to the soldiers of the Union army...hmmm, one statue to the soldiers of the Union army and one to the soldiers of the Confederate army is not evidence of "hotbed of Union sympathy" but evidence of division, and likely along the same sorts of lines as the causes of the war (industrialism vs. agrarianism mostly).<br /><br />It was my grandmother's grandfather who fought, out of Dickenson County Virginia for the Confederacy (although I'm not sure that wasn't technically Dickenson County back then). Smith Ridge.CGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04542303804886924280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-21555778379916738592007-01-31T17:32:00.000-05:002007-01-31T17:32:00.000-05:00(At the risk of being neurotic, I must direct ever...(At the risk of being neurotic, I must direct everyone to read 'soliders' as 'soldiers'. Heh.)<br /><br />--DWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-71967079068917065512007-01-31T14:24:00.000-05:002007-01-31T14:24:00.000-05:00>>I've known any number of people, myself included...>>I've known any number of people, myself included, from here for the generations whose ancestors fought honorably for the South, and nary a one with ancestors who fought honorably or not for the aggressors.<<<br /><br />Well, I don't think the fact that much of this area was a hotbed for Union sympathy is up for much contention. For instance, my great-grandfather (originally from western North Carolina, later moved to eastern Tennessee) fought for the Union army and was by no means ostracized from the community. In fact, the Greene County (TN) courthouse has in its front lawn one statue dedicated to the soliders in the Confederate army and another statue dedicated to the soliders in the Union army. I've heard of other such displays in the area, so it really wasn't some sort of anomaly in the Appalachian region.<br /><br />--DWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-42764961667540726852007-01-31T11:09:00.000-05:002007-01-31T11:09:00.000-05:00She is a bigot. She misread Fischer because she w...She is a bigot. She misread Fischer because she was a bigot before she picked up the book and read into it what she wanted it to say. Sadly this is what most of the Liberal Elite think of us but are too timid to express. This does not mean I have any love for the Right who are just as bad in a different way.<br /><br />As usual Eric perfectly expresses my views and my feelings regarding this article. I would add that as far as I know, the counties of Appalachia have the lowest crime rates in the nation. This is made all the more remarkable considering many are among the poorest. As the Liberal Elite will tell you, if you are violent but grew-up in poverty it isn't your fault- unless of course you are a hillbilly.Michael Tod Ralstinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15669992715940507464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-21377347520091699002007-01-30T22:59:00.000-05:002007-01-30T22:59:00.000-05:00funny, I wasn't so insulted because, hey, I enjoy ...funny, I wasn't so insulted because, hey, I enjoy being characterized like that in that I do see the truth in it. There is a wonderful tension in the mountain culture between suspiciousness and hospitality. I've had the pleasure of running a number of people off my land, once when I was pulling the feathers off a chicken.<br /><br />Ah, but I enjoyed your response more.<br /><br />Except that bit about us not supporting the South in the war of Northern aggression. I've known any number of people, myself included, from here for the generations whose ancestors fought honorably for the South, and nary a one with ancestors who fought honorably or not for the aggressors.CGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04542303804886924280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-91239784541566097562007-01-30T17:02:00.000-05:002007-01-30T17:02:00.000-05:00You know John, I've read that as well, but I have ...You know John, I've read that as well, but I have difficultly taking it at face-value. Consider the sheer number of institutions of higher learning the mountains per capita, for instance, and their frequency relative to the region's population. I don't know . . . it does get me thinking, though.Eric Drummond Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10651674250848286847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-25101203489625239452007-01-30T14:40:00.000-05:002007-01-30T14:40:00.000-05:00No apologies necessary, Mr. Smith.
I once read a ...No apologies necessary, Mr. Smith.<br /><br />I once read a piece in a book on Appalachia (I wish I could remember where) on how the people that settled these mountains deliberately shunned formal education. Was it to our benefit in the end, considering the way the world progressed? Who knows, but it's what our forebears did, so it's part of who we are. It's has caused some problems, but in a way, it is its own unique form of progressiveness. They made a conscience decision that was based upon what they calculated was in the best interest of their communities.<br /><br />Responses like Ms. Smiley's to this fact are indeed ignorant, and deserve whatever outcry comes as a response to it.John Louis Kernshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12150175193557421596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-29612199946799156302007-01-30T09:27:00.000-05:002007-01-30T09:27:00.000-05:00Eric, Do not apologize for this. Ms. Smiley shows ...Eric, Do not apologize for this. Ms. Smiley shows her own (dare I say) racist stupidity and disgusting ideals toward the very same people she belittles. She, in fact, does exactly what she is arguing against. By overtly characterizing this culture in such a way she only adds to the idealized and poorly romantic generalization so many of us have had to fight against, the false identity that looms over the mountains. Inside the historical rhymes and rhythms of her article Ms. Smiley swiftly joined in on the media driven pity machine with a condescending elitist set of values that reflect how poverty, guns, and radicalism makes for a good story, the idea that we need to be saved or to be shown the “good” road. Brought on by many movements like the news driven Walter Cronkite’s dramatic answer to Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” this notion that we are a lost people that needs the hard pressed social reigns around our necks in order that we act, think, and progress like the rest of the chosen people is ludicrous. The point remains that we as Appalachians are no different than any other culture, any other time, or in fact anything in opposition to the ideals described by our national forefathers.Our Goblin Markethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07878159974018658432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-61886391497376454492007-01-29T20:38:00.000-05:002007-01-29T20:38:00.000-05:00Skippy, I hope more offensive articles find the HS...Skippy, I hope more offensive articles find the <b>HS</b> inbox and inspire responses from you. That was a monologue deserving of "Post of the Year" nomination.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17718782706074838772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-20323084015323743602007-01-29T19:35:00.000-05:002007-01-29T19:35:00.000-05:00WOOOOOOOOOOO! Well done.
I just love that it is ...WOOOOOOOOOOO! Well done. <br /><br />I just love that it is okay, particularly among these folks — what are they? liberal elite? — to continue to stereotype and denigrate southern highlanders when they are appalled if that sort of attitude/behavior is directed toward any other group of people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22156824.post-3600485663462001642007-01-29T18:45:00.000-05:002007-01-29T18:45:00.000-05:00Eric, I do hope you copied Ms. Smiley on your resp...Eric, I do hope you copied Ms. Smiley on your response. I too was offended, I presume I was taken aback because I must be "antagonistic towards 'elites'" as I don't think I'm "antipathetic to women's autonomy", nor do I define myself "by masculinity and arms bearing". Then on the other had,maybe I'm just too "quick to take offense."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com