Posted by josh on July 27, 2005 at 23:43:55 (PST):
In Reply to: Secession is back in style ?? posted by Jen on July 27, 2005 at 18:42:39 (PST):
: Someone at work was telling me today that a group of Christian's are planning an Exodus to South Carolina. I didn't believe her so I checked the net & sure enough - an article in a Minnesota newspaper does give that info. Can you imagine if one group is able to take a state & declare it its own country, everyone will want their own state. All the homosexuals will shout "we want California"! The fanatical conservates will have a country, the fanatic liberals will have a country. Could get interesting lol. (I'm still searching trying to find out if this is legit. Anyone else hear about it??)
: Jen
: Secession is back in style
: Aaron J. Brown
: The Daily Tribune
: Last Updated: Tuesday, July 26th, 2005 10:43:56 AM
: Brothers and sisters! The time to declare independence from our oppressive government is now!
: Don’t worry. Unlike the olden days, you don’t have latch on to one big revolution (eg: communism, fascism, perfume for men, etc.). Numerous smaller revolutions, ranging from liberal to conservative, economic to social, are available in many pleasing sizes and shapes. Let’s call it “insurrection a la carte.”
: In this era of consolidation, where the company that makes vacuum cleaners also produces things that spill, many regions in the U.S. and Canada want to secede from their parent nations. I’ve written before about the possible “State of Superior,” that could one day combine northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into one big watery, woodland state. Talk of Superior statehood has waned in recent months (sure, after I silkscreen 100,000 “Statehood Now” shirts), but other independence movements are cropping up all over.
: For example, a group called “Christian Exodus” encourages conservative Christians to move to a handful of specific counties in South Carolina (Greenville News, July 12). In time, after electing members to public office, the group plans to spread throughout South Carolina to form a new fundamentalist Christian state. If it “becomes necessary” they might even secede from the United States, a spokesperson said.
: This group selected South Carolina because they determined it is already the closest thing this country has to a fundamentalist state. To me, it’s a little like Minnesota being “infiltrated” by snowmobile enthusiasts, anglers and stoic Scandinavians who feel funny giving hugs. Who could tell the difference? I would think twice about selling “Harry Potter” books door to door in South Carolina anyway.
: Then I found a column from a Canadian newspaper detailing another possible North American secession. Of course, you might already know about the province of Quebec’s effort to become an independent French-speaking nation. But did you also know that Alberta could bolt from Canada?
: Western Canada, like the American West, is decidedly more conservative and anti-government than the more populated parts of that country. However, much of the country’s farming and mineral wealth is held within the Albertan province. So, a University of Alberta professor pointed out that they really don’t need the rest of Canada. This is all detailed in a column by Link Byfield.
: Back in our country, many also point out the geographic division seen in America’s political map after the last presidential election. You might recall the “blue” Northeast, Upper Midwest and West Coast and the “red” Southeast, Great Plains and Mountain states. Noted scholars and anonymous authors of e-mail forwards (finally on the same side!) suggested that the dissatisfied Blue States secede in a de facto reverse of the 150-year-old Civil War.
: A quick scan of the Internet yields the possibility of a sovereign Alaska and Hawaii. A new nation called “Cascadia” could one day take command of the Pacific Northwest, including northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Western Canada. If that doesn’t pan out, a new state called “Jefferson” could one day combine northern California and southern Oregon. And I’d bet more time would yield even more revolutionary movements.
: It’s easy to say that these campaigns are just the ramblings of crackpots and/or intellectuals. But I do know that most people I know throw around the terms “us” and “them” rather strongly when talking about regions and political ideologies within our country and even our state. Pick up a history book and you’ll see that generally signals the start of a rumble. The next 20-30 years will indeed be a pivotal time for this country and the world around us.
: Meantime, huzzah for the State of Superior!
: Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune. E-mail him at aaronjbrown@yahoo.com.
: http://www.hibbingmn.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=4&story_id=205757
jen, that comment you made about gays taking over California was just IGNORNAT !! For one I am gay, and GET it right, WE will TAKE FLORIDA. And guess what, we get the Magic Kingdom too.