I was down in Jacksonville, Florida last weekend to visit my parents. I am still trying to process the experience. The presence of Confederate flags has definitely gone down in recent years. I suspect that is a post-9/11 phenomenon, when American flag decals replaced rebel flags. However, I did see one “Remember 9/11” sticker that incorporated the rebel flag. That was just too weird. I also saw two NAAWP (National Association for the Advancement of White People) bumper stickers. The public pronouncement of racist sentiment still surprises me and I’m never quite sure how to respond to a racist bumper sticker (punch the car?).
But it is the ubiquity of conservative Christianity that continues to smack me in the face whenever I go back. I’m just not use to seeing people praying in restaurants, pro-life billboards dotting the landscape, those fish icons on the back of every other car, and people wearing t-shirts with religious propaganda on them. Of course, pro-Bush car stickers were everywhere, for both W and Jeb.
I went to a show while I was there (the great Stevie Stiletto put on an amazing show). But beforehand, I was told that my “Us vs. Them” PP t-shirt “wasn’t very Christian” by some Christ-loving hipster. But I can’t think of a time that that shirt was more relevant. I grew up in that community, but I simply don’t recognize it anymore. I am a product of that community, and many of my principles flow out of my upbringing there, many decades ago. But now I find myself not only at odds with that society, but actively struggling against most of the beliefs currently dominant there. The stench of nascent fascism is quite strong there. Quite strong.
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;
His soul's marching on!