Good Job, Mississippi November 9, 2011
Posted by Matt in politics.Tags: Initiative 26, Mississippi, rational thinking
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I’m often quick to decry the state we’ve called home for nearly 8 years, a place where common rationality often takes a back seat to the loudest voices in the room, but I must say that this time Mississippi has done the right thing.
Yesterday, after all of the balltos were cast and votes were counted, Mississippians shot down initiative 26, the so-called “personhood” amendment by a wide margin. It was a surprising turn of events because it seemed that, from the polling data I had looked at earlier and the vast amounts of support seen around me, it was a sure thing it would past. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed.
It’s a good day to be a Mississippian.
Say No to Amendment 26 November 3, 2011
Posted by Matt in politics.Tags: Amendment 26, Duncan Gray, Mississippi, personhood, Southaven, unintended consequences
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I haven’t written anything seriously politically motivated in a long time, having grown tired of the nonstop squabbling, but I hope you’ll bear with me for a few moments while I tell of something that truly bothers me.
Those of you in other locations around the country, or for that matter, around the world may not be in tune with the political controversy currently engulfing that in which we live, Mississippi. The hot button issue of the day is Amendment 26, i.e. the Personhood Amendment, a proposed addition to our state constitution with ramifications that could be huge. The amendment itself reads:
The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof.”
As you might guess, the stated purpose of the amendment is to end the practice of abortion, which in itself is controversial enough, but the wording of this sentence could go far, far beyond that.
If fully followed through, this amendment would end birth control methods such as the “morning after pill” and IUDs, but it could even affect the legality of the pill, for even though the birth control pill primarily prevents ovulation, it may also prevent implantation following fertilization. Thus, this bill could make the pill illegal in the state of Mississippi.
There are also the ramifications that this piece of legislation holds for the practice of in vitro fertilization, where several eggs are fertilized and the unused ones are either frozen or discarded. If followed through, this amendment could then cause this practice to cease entirely.
Then there are the concerns of the physicians who wonder about their own liability when having to make life-and-death decisions involving a woman and her unborn child. Could they save the mother if it meant the termination of the embryo, or would they be held criminally liable?
And then there is also the issue of miscarriages. Would every miscarriage then be subject to a criminal investigation to ensure that the woman did nothing to cause it, and if she did, could she be charged with a felony?
In a state that already has the highest infant mortality rate in the nation and one of the highest teen pregnancy rates, so it seems to this Mississippian, with two daughters of his own, that perhaps the focus is misplaced.
Driving around Southaven, the town where we live, you see the “Vote Yes on 26” signs adorning yards on every street. They leap out a drivers from churches and businesses and seemingly everywhere one looks. Even the Church of Christ, the denomination I grew up in and one that is historically apolitical, near our house is proclaiming their stance in favor of the initiative.
And though it seems the passing of this amendment is immanent, not everyone is in favor of it. I was quite happy to see that our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray, spoke out publically against it, and it is interesting to see that even many Roman Catholic bishops have voiced their opposition.
So, I will be voting against Initiative 26 and I hope that those of you living in Mississippi will as well.
In a related note, the local Fox 13 station interviewed our priest Patrick yesterday. He told us what he said to them, a measured and reasoned response that took no firm stand on the controversy, instead referring to the dangers of certainty (see why I like him so much?). Naturally, the news show cut his part down to just a few seconds and prefaced it with, “But some local pastors are not in favor of the Amendment.” That’s Fox for you.
The Universal Language of the Razorback October 31, 2011
Posted by Matt in Razorbacks.Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, drive-by truckers, faith in humanity, interconnectedness, Memphis, Mississippi
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Saturday night I had the opportunity to see one of my all-time favorite bands, the Drive-By Truckers, in concert again. It was an incredible show and I’ll have a separate post about that later (today?), but there was another phenomenon that took place prior to the band gracing the stage that captured my attention, something that again renewed my belief in humanity and interconnectedness of the universe.
I’m an Arkansan by birth, hailing from a small town in central Arkansas, so naturally I carry a strong affinity for the gridiron heroes of my home state, the Razorbacks. I have a deep and abiding affection for my fellow Arkansans, those who don plastic hog hats and pig snouts and give a great Woo Pig Sooie at any and all occasions, from weddings to funerals to just the general celebration of life. For nearly 8 years, though, I’ve been somewhat removed from my people, a stranger in a strange land, like the Israelites of old toiling away ‘neath the harsh rule of an Egyptian pharaoh. But, my predicament may be even worse, for these isn’t merely a totalitarian government seeking to enslave my people and kill our children, no, it is even worse.
I live in Mississippi, surrounded by Ole Miss fans.
Yet there is no prophet rising up to lead the people out of exile, to part the rushing waters of the Mississippi river and lead us back to the promised land, and away from the accursed calls of “Hotty Toddy.” The despair can sometimes be great, even unbearable, but occasionally my faith is rekindled.
Saturday, as you may recall, my beloved Razorbacks eked out a victory against the mighty Vanderbilt Commodores, in a game that may rank as one of the most entertaining thus far in 2011. So, as I chose concert-going clothes from my wardrobe (Is this clean? Not sure. Does it smell bad? No, so it’s probably ok.), I made sure to grab one article to proclaim my allegiance: a baseball cap with a Razorback featured prominently, glowing in its maroon majesty.
The friends with whom I planned on attending the show were all unable to go, but that did little to deter my enthusiasm. I mean, it’s the Drive-By Truckers, how could I ever miss that? So, I parked a short distance from the New Daisy Theater, and walked over to the building alone, but not feeling any real sense of aloneness. We’re all Trucker fans here and soon any subconscious unease was alleviated.
I walked into the theater, grabbed a PBR and strode down the runway, just one of a multitude fans beginning to fill the building. As I walked, I heard an unfamiliar voice call out from one side, “Hey, man! Woo Pig Sooie!”
I turned and saw a small contingent of young men smiling and waving. I waved back, “Barely, but we did it again.”
“Hell yeah we did!”
I nodded, gave a little fist pump, and walked on, eventually coming to a halt in the second section, the first elevated one from the stage. I had little desire to be in what would no doubt be a sweaty mass of humanity directly in front of the stage, so I settled into a spot where I would be able to easily see the band and have room to move around if I so chose. I stood in my place, sipping my PBR and enjoying the good sport of people watching (always interesting at a DBT show) when I heard another voice, this time a female one, call out, “Hey, you from Arkansas?”
Turning back, I saw a middle aged woman standing next to a couple gesturing to me. I walked the few yards over to them and answered, “Yeah, I’m originally from Beebe, but now I live here.”
Instant connection.
After that there were numerous others, some serenading me with a “Woo Pig” and others with a simple “Go Hogs,” our common language and homeland binding us together with an invisible force, reminding me that I’m not in this alone.
Though separated by miles and invisible borders, we’re all Razorbacks and we wear it with pride.
Woo Pig Sooie!
The Pink Purse August 2, 2011
Posted by Matt in family.Tags: boys, Hello Kitty, Mississippi, pink purse, Southaven, Wal-Mart
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Our two year old, JD, has found a new object upon which to bequeath his affection, a new item to embrace and hold tight at all times, to guard as if it held the elixir of life. So, what is this newfound source of joy in the young boy’s life?
His sister’s pink Hello Kitty purse.
In the past you might see him carrying around his beloved blue elephant blankie, but now, with the addition of his purse (or man-bag), he can now stuff the blanket into his pink bag and carry it around with him. It’s not that big of a deal to us, and we think little to nothing of him hauling it around at home or at church, but a week or so ago I found myself considering this with thoughts that later bothered me a great deal.
As a rule, I avoid our local Wal-Mart like the plague, preferring anything to the crowded, soulless aisles of the nearby megastore, but for some reason I don’t readily recall, I found myself in a situation where I had to step into the unsavory retail giant. Because of Diana’s work schedule, I was also carting along the kids, another undesirable aspect to our Saturday outing. We parked the car and began to get out when I noticed that my son was gripping the purse, fully intending to carry it in with him. To a Wal-Mart, in Southaven, Mississippi. As you can imagine, it’s not exactly a hotbed of progressive thought. Suddenly thoughts flooded my head. Would we be accosted by hordes of Baptists with crazed eyes, swinging their Bibles like swords? Would I be beaten senseless by camo-wearing, Skoal-dipping, rebel flag-waving Mississippi rednecks?
Granted, none of these attacks would probably take place, but the seed was planted in my brain, so I quickly talked JD out of carrying the purse, and went on with our shopping.
The next morning I was relating this story to some people at church and when I came to end, saying something along the lines of, “I told him, ‘I don’t think it’s in either of our best interests for you to take this into Wal-Mart. In Southaven, Mississippi.’”
One of the ladies looked at me quizzically and asked one simple question, “Why?”
And I had to think about that. Why? I’m not embarrassed. It doesn’t bother me. I guess it’s because I’m anticipating a negative reaction from others and I don’t want to deal with it, but that’s really not a good reason. Not at all.
So, from now on he can carry it anywhere he wants. If other people don’t like it, they need to grow up.
Like a Rolling Stone (List) May 17, 2011
Posted by Matt in top ten.Tags: All Along the Watchtower, best songs, Bob Dylan, Don't Think Twice It's Alright, Forever Young, Highway 61 Revisited, I Shall Be Released, Mississippi, Rolling Stone, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Tangled Up in Blue, top 10, Trying to Get to Heaven, With God On Our Side
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We live in a time often described in the easily digestible, yet hotly debated, terms of lists and I admit that oftentimes I am quick to read the latest list devised by so-called experts, while devising my own competing list. The latest list to capture my attention comes from new issue of Rolling Stone magazine and it is one that will no-doubt be highly divisive and will start numerous online conversations such as the one I’m engaging in right this minute.
So, what is this latest controversial list? In honor of Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday, the magazine has compiled the 70 greatest Dylan songs from his 50 year recording career. I could not find the complete list online, but here are the top 10 songs, according to the panel of experts:
10. Every Grain of Sand (Shot of Love, 1981)
9. Visions of Johanna (Blonde on Blonde, 1966)
8. Mr. Tambourine Man (Bringing It All Back Home, 1965)
7. It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (Bringing It All Back Home, 1965)
6. I Shall Be Released (Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, 1971)
5. All Along the Watchtower (John Wesley Harding, 1967)
4. Just Like a Woman (Blonde on Blonde, 1966)
3. Tangled Up In Blue (Blood on the Tracks, 1975)
2. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963)
1. Like a Rolling Stone (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)
So, I thought it through for a few minutes and came up with this list of my ten favorite Dylan songs:
10. Subterranean Homesick Blues (Bringing It All Back Home, 1965)
Why? Well, because the song rocks. It also doesn’t hurt that some people look at it as a precursor for modern rap music. The first lines, “Johnny’s in the basement mixing up the medicine / I’m on the pavement thinking ‘bout the government,” set up this fast-talking tune and it never lets up.
9. Mississippi (Love and Theft, 2001)
A beautiful, rambling love song that to my mind ranks among his best and I must admit that there have been so many times that his refrain of having “stayed in Mississippi way too long,” hits home.
8. Highway 61 Revisited (Highway 61 Revisited, 1965)
What can I say, I love the imagery of God and Abraham on this famous Mississippi Delta road.
7. Trying to Get to Heaven (Time Out of Mind, 1997)
I think oftentimes that Time Out of Mind is overlooked as the later career masterpiece that it is, but certainly it deserves a spot among his better works. When he croaks out, “I’m trying to get to heaven / before they close the door,” you can’t help but root for him.
6. All Along the Watchtower (John Wesley Harding, 1967)
Sure, the definitive version of this song is Jimi Hendrix’s, but Dylan’s is not to be overlooked, particularly in his ominous ending, “Two riders were approaching / And the wind begins to howl.”
5. Forever Young (Planet Waves, 1974)
Maybe I’m just getting soft now that I’m a father and well into my 30’s, but this song gets to me every time I hear it.
4. I Shall Be Released (Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, 1971)
This anthem for deliverance is one that will stick with you and it’s one that everyone should hear and know.
3. Tangled Up in Blue (Blood on the Tracks, 1975)
A strange and rambling tale of love and love ending that jumps around in perspectives and time in way that is as beautiful as it is unique.
2. With God on Our Side (The Times They Are A-Changin’, 1964)
One of the most damning statements ever recorded about claiming God’s providence for one’s actions, this should be required listening in the United States.
1. Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, 1963)
This ode to a relationship’s end has been one of my favorite songs ever since I first started listening to Dylan some 15 years ago and it remains one of my favorites today.
What about you? What are your favorite Dylan songs?
Roll What? March 5, 2011
Posted by Matt in Football, Southaven.Tags: displaced Arkansas fan, football fan demographics, minority status, Mississippi, Roll Tide
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There are a number of ways to divide and subdivide the people of our suburban, northwest Mississippi county. The most obvious methods may include race, socioeconomic standing, political affiliation (generally either far-right Republican or right-center Republican), or church, but perhaps there is no more divisive measure of humankind in this part of the country than that of football and of one’s affiliation with one team or another.
Though the county contains a smattering of fans from across the Southeastern Conference (and perhaps a few others as well, but they hardly matter anyway), the population is dominated by Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans. This can be somewhat problematic for me because, as you probably know, I am and always have been a diehard fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. This championing of the Hogs affords me a certain minority status in the Magnolia state, one which does not entail any sort of open hostility, yet does elicit the occasional strange and knowing look from others when I wear my maroon and white hat.
Today I was doing our weekly grocery shopping at one of the local stores, dutifully filling my basket with various goods, when a man walked up to me, nodded, and spoke two words I have rarely had directed at me, “Roll Tide.”
The momentary confusion passed and I gave the man a smile and a nod before continuing on my way down the aisle. Though I am quite sure he mistook the colors and the “A” on my hat as being for Alabama, in retrospect this slight error did not bother me in the least. If anything, the short encounter gave me a small feeling of community, a brotherhood of those not ensnared by the traps of the majority, strangers in a strange land not willing to surrender to the overwhelming sentiment of those around us.
Maybe next time I’ll even muster enough nerve to return the “Roll Tide.”
But probably not, I mean you have to draw the line somewhere, right?
Cruisin’ in the ATL – Part 3 June 28, 2010
Posted by Matt in vacation.Tags: antebellum homes, Columbus, Mississippi, Mississippi University for Women, Proffitt's Porch, vacation
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Friday morning, after three full days of activities in the city, we bid a tired goodbye to Hotlanta, and the five of us again hit the road, this time heading in the general direction of home.
I say general because, after discovering that our expenses were coming in below budget, we made the decision to take a detour and spend one more night on the road – this time in Columbus, Mississippi. Columbus is the home of my mom’s alma mater, the Mississippi University for Women, and she had long told us of the town’s beauty, a reputation that is well-deserved.
Knowing nothing about the town, I emailed a Facebook friend who grew up in the area, Jeff Baker, to find out where to go for dinner. He promptly responded with his favorite spot – an out of the way joint called Proffitt’s Porch. We unloaded our things at a local Day’s Inn and soon set off for our dinnertime destination, which we found way out on a gravel road adjacent to a small lake. What we found inside, though, were friendly people and excellent gumbo and red beans and rice.
Later on that evening and again the next morning we explored the town and the college a bit more and we were thoroughly taken with just how beautiful it was. The town is full of antebellum homes that are incredibly and impressively well kept.
The university also had some lovely old buildings that we were able to take some pictures of as we toured the campus.
And I have to include this picture of the girls underneath some crepe myrtles adorning the campus.
After that, our tired family loaded back into the van and made our way back home to the Memphis suburbs. It was a great trip …and, truthfully, I didn’t even miss going to the beach.
A Diverse Raising May 10, 2010
Posted by Matt in family, race.Tags: children, demographics, diversity, friends, Mississippi, population trends, race, suburbs
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Like Steve Martin in The Jerk, you might say that my kids are growing up as black children in Mississippi.
Last night my oldest daughter, Rachel, was doing one of those little girl playground chants and I was halfway listening when two words caught my ear – “black power.”
“Honey,” I said, “what did you say again?”
She repeated the lines for me, complete with the two words that grabbed my attention earlier.
“Where did you get that from?”
She looked at me with a sly smile on her face, “I learned it from T____”
I smiled back at her, “That’s cool, honey,” and she scampered on her way, saying the little rhymes she picked up from her friends. It’s not often that you hear a 7 year old little white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes use the term “black power.”
Later on I was talking with Diana about it and we both found it very interesting that most of our daughter’s friends are African-American. It seems as though they gravitate toward each other. In close proximity to our house there are six little girls around Rachel’s age (she is 7, so I’ll consider anything from 5 to 9) and of those six, three are white and three are black. While she is friends with and plays with all of them, she shows a definite tendency to prefer the company of the black girls – including the aforementioned T. From what I gather from her about her school friends and who she invites to our home, the pattern tends to hold steady. It’s the same way at our church as well. Though she has close white friends, they are outnumbered by the black ones.
While some of this stems from us – her church friends are the children of our friends – much of it comes directly from her. It is so amazing to me the way that kids do not see color as an issue, a barrier that separates them from each other. The continued experience of diversity is the answer to the prejudice problem that still plagues our society.
I read an interesting article today regarding race and society, this dealing with the changing face of America’s suburbs and how they are moving from being deliberately lily white to something that more matches the general populace. The article details a sort of reverse white flight trend, in which many whites, particularly young professionals, are moving back to the cities, while at the same time the suburban areas are seeing an influx of racial and socio-economic diversity. It’s quite fascinating to look at the numbers.
We live in Southaven, the largest suburb of Memphis, and have been here for six years. During that short time I can tell you that we have seen a good deal of demographic change. According to the latest population estimates I can find, Southaven has about 45,000, making it the fifth largest city in the state – though I suspect that once the latest census figures are tallied we will move ahead of Biloxi and maybe even challenge Hattiesburg. Though our city retains a decidedly white majority (65% vs. 25% black and 10% other), it is quite smaller than the other towns in our county (Olive Branch – 86%, Horn Lake – 83%, Hernando – 76%). In addition to that, our kids’ school is among the most diverse in the county, with a racial breakdown of 62% white and 30% black. This stand in contrast to some of the newer schools in the county which have much larger white majorities (80%+). So, in our section of the Memphis metro area, we have seen many move out to greener (or should I say whiter?) pastures farther away from the Memphis city limits – either to the far, more rural, reaches of the county or out of it altogether.
A large part of me would much rather live in Memphis than where we do now, but if we are going to be suburbanites, at least we can hold know that our children will grow up with diversity. I can think of few things as important as that.
The High Cost of Lower Taxes May 5, 2010
Posted by Matt in education, Southaven.Tags: DeSoto County, Mississippi, public schools, taxes
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I live in Southaven, Mississippi, a suburb of Memphis that has become well known for having low crime, good schools, and lower taxes than the city it adjoins. Over the past two decades, the population in Southaven and the surrounding area of DeSoto County have exploded to well over 150,000 people. The county is also home to the largest school district in the state, with 40 schools and around 37,000 students.
Recently it was announced from the office of our governor Haley Barbour that education would be forced to face cuts due to the state’s financial problems. In our district, all employees will face a pay cut and those that remain will not include 22 adminstrators, 40 teachers, and 50 teacher aides, all of whom will be let go at the end of the school year. In addition to that, some employees will see their work hours decreased, purchases of new textbooks will be delayed, and art programs will be cut, with the spectre of more cuts on the horizon.
So DeSoto County residents, who are overwhelmingly conservative (I’m not sure how we ended up there), will soon be forced to face the music and decide whether or not low taxes are more desirable than high quality schools. I have one daughter in the school system now and another who will start next year, so I have a vested interest in the future of our schools. If we need to raise the tax rate to save our education system, let’s do it. I can’t think of anything more important.
Remember this if Barbour really does decide to bolt the state and run for president.
