I was born in Florida and always considered myself to be “Southern”. Moving back South to North Carolina in 1985 was the beginning of changing my life. Moving permanently to WNC in 2015 has changed my life completely. This includes a healthier life and a firmer grasp of what freedom and liberty mean. I also have improved my life skills in more ways than I would have ever imagined.
I was watching a video on the people affected by Hurricane Helene in WNC. The woman was explaining why people should not mess with Appalachians which hit me like a ton of bricks: am I “Southern” or “Appalachian”? I believe there is a difference since the Appalachians extend further North into Pennsyltucky and excludes other parts of the South.
I am not going to lose any sleep over this distinction but if I had to choose one, it would be Appalachian. The people here are resilient and hate the government; both are excellent traits to have in your area of operations as we collapse into chaos.
David DeGerolamo
Agree 💯. Being Michigan most of my life I always knew my roots were from the south. When I first arrived here I was label “the hillbilly “. I use to say at the time , go check your Webster dictionary you making yourself look unlearned. The old Webster dictionary said that a hillbilly was a northern farmer. After a while I got their respect due to my hard work ethics and take no bs rule. I also preferred the Appalachian term better than southern.
I usually reply to some jab such as “hillbilly” with, “say what you will about my accent, but almost all the signers of the Declaration of Independence spoke this way”. : ^ )
Appalachian core values can be found in all patriots, thank God. These attacks on those in WNC has provided an opportunity for the rest of us to realize just how important those principles are and to hold on to them. God bless those in the front lines who are facing the beast.
Appalachians extend into northern Maine. It is the same up here.
exactly!
Character should be what matters, the names are divisive.
How about an article on praise that Milton was more mild than many forecast.
The pricks that caused the Helene disaster were told to turn down Milton a couple of notches. The pricks do in fact control the severe weather.
“Were told to turn it down?” Of course they were, and they listened?
Believing man is in absolute control is believing the fear of man, the propaganda, and misinformation and hype!
You place man and there by satan on a pretty high pedestal.
Hurricanes build in strength when they hit the warm gulf, pretty much every time as i recollect, sometimes Yah willing they lessen in strength. Many times as they near land they loose some intensity.
Probably 99% of the readers of this site would tell you that man-made climate change is nonsense, just liberal crazy talk. Its amazing then that so many of the same people actually believe that man can create a hurricane on demand and control it like an RC car.
Sometimes weather just happens.
So being called a Christian is divisive? This would be divisive if it was meant to be a derogatory term.
What was the origin of “christian? And yes it can be very divisive.
I was born and raised in North Carolina, the son of tobacco farmers. North Carolinian’s have a proud heritage and history. Having retired from the military, I now reside in Alabama. My Southern roots and traits run deep -- humility, hard work and no BS attitude. The Appalachian Mountains run through Alabama as this is also coal country. The good folks down here share the same feelings as my home folks in NC. God Bless my countrymen!
You are doing a tremendous service with your site.
Thank you.
I think it may be due to the isolation that Appalachians feel so rooted in the founding mindset. Too many of us have lost what it means to be true patriotic Americans. We have been manipulated by entertainment, the media, schools, communist infiltrators, and science(the false religion). It is important that we listen to what Appalachia has to tell us about ourselves, our roots, our country, and our connection to God.
I am so glad to hear others talk the way this young girl did. It’s long overdue. It doesn’t matter what part of America we call home, the spirit of America lives within us all. It’s only too many have forgotten what it means.
It’s the patriot’s job to remind them in everything we do. From posting articles online, commenting, talking with loved ones and neighbors, to reminding public servants the meaning of public service in the our Republic, to standing up to tyranny and embracing each other, and to live with God in our hearts.
God Bless America.
I concur. I would consider myself Appalachian. Every day I try to do more to earn that title, and will until the end of my final day.
Mountain folk, as the Appalachians run a good distance from Maine to Geogia. I lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
It’s “Southern”. Don’t make exceptions because the leviathan is currently at your throat. They would ,have, and will do to the same to the rest of us.
The Sots-Irish fled persecution. So did the Cajuns of which I am proudly one. I challenge you to find a more clannish society that exists in a more austere environment than us.
I do not discriminate and we may have to accept some states outside of the Macon Dixon line in the near future.
Attitude over longitude.
Hillbillies like Cajun music too, but you must admit it’s a different flavor.
Different is good!
My people came from those mountains. They started migrating Westward one step ahead of Daniel Boone. They settled in North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and fought for Texas Independence, then settled across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. About as Southern as you can get.
When I was young, in the Army, a Florida guy (the stinky one in Basic who wouldn’t take a shower) was getting a hard time from the other guys. He came to me and said “Us rednecks got to stick together!” I punched him and told him to never call me that again, as I was a cowboy!
Now days? You can call me anything you want as long as it isn’t late for dinner.
As the country goes we forget we were Americans first. At least that is what some tell me.
Both. Southern, Appalachian and Confederate at heart. Why are you sowing division with my brothers in arms.
I am not sowing division and you know it. I am closing ranks.
When we stop seeing each other as americans first, and instead as some racial or ethnic, (cultural?) group, we undermine the very foundation of unity that built this nation.
i think this is what some of us are concerned with.
As you can should know and recognize, by the comments over the years, many of us across this nation identify with you in many ways, and some of your neighbors. i do not believe this is due to ones location entirely. Many people from “down south and or Appalachia have relocated even here in Indiana, their values came with them and some of them did rub off.
Our primary values or those with them perhaps came even from a Higher Authority?
At Berea College “Appalachian” extends through New York into New England, too, as long as they learn to say the word right. Different from “Southern”? Well, the image of “Southern” farms features slaves; the image of “Appalachian” farms doesn’t. I’ll take Appalachian, thanks.