Don't believe the hype!

When I read in the Clarion-Ledger that there was a bill submitted in the Mississippi legislature that would honor Nathan Bedford Forrest, founder of the KKK, I was embarrassed but honestly not shocked.  It would seem that my state gets a lot of attention in the media for being first or close to first at everything bad and last or close to last for everything good.  I am often asked by people who do not live in Mississippi, how could I stay in such a racist place.  When I try to explain to them that it's really not that bad here, they don't believe me.  Who would? Reading the stories printed about MS would make most people cringe...including me.  Are these stories an accurate portrayal of what life is like in MS is the question.  Yes, we are the fattest state.  Yes, our state is controlled by Republicans who do not have the best interest of minorities at heart.  Yes, our kids are scoring lower on national tests.  Yes, our teen pregnancy rate and drop out rates are among the highest in the U.S.  I could go on.  But do these stories accurately portray life in MS.

I believe that they are true in many aspects, but can be misleading.  Having lived up north in Detroit, Mich.  I experienced more prejudice and evidence of social ills that I had ever seen in MS.  And yes, Detroit does get its share of bad press.  But I do believe that if you polled a hundred thousand Americans asking them what is the worst state to live in, MS would once again be first in the minds of those who don't live here.  I'm saying all that to say this: however you get your media information, please be aware that the articles you read and reports you watch will never tell the entire story of what is really going on.  Additional research is always needed.  For example: the Bedford-Forrest tag issue got national attention, however no one has talked about how MS has more black elected officials than any other state in the U.S.  Makes wanna say, hmmm............ I say, don't believe the hype!