I’ve heard this northern emotional adjustment referred to as the post-Civil War conquest-era syndrome. In other words, shock-waves ensued when the South finally recovered from its decades-long slump resulting from losing a war, a military invasion and occupation. Please note that pointing out the resulting degree of disruption is not a defense of slavery or the plantation system, but rather recognition of the roots of southern poverty for decades.

Regardless, of the benefits of ending a corrupt labor system, the northern states raked in financial benefits and certainly gained economic domination. Some of their gains imitate the pattern of any typical conqueror. In the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, northerners purchased valuable southern and south eastern resources at fire sale prices, and yet still kept their residences in the north. This situation meant that the taxes and profits from coal mines, horse farms, lumber production and natural gas often went out-of-state for decades. Southern states, like India were convenient for providing their raw materials for northern factories and then as markets to purchase northern products. I don’t need to remind anyone here how the tax and revenue cycle would impact schools and cultural opportunities.

Of course, these conditions restricted development in industry, education and cultural opportunities. These regions lacked the financial reserves to kick start their economies. One might hope that northerners such as Mr. Hirsh would have the common sense to understand that this earlier poverty cycle was not due to the culture’s intrinsic “coarseness” or the “savage” nature of southern people, but rather to the burdens of history limiting opportunities for southern youth. Instead He espoused a twisted version of White Man’s Burden. Hirsh argues that the northern grownups were once able to take the childlike southern savages by the hand, and lead them into the light of civilization– Please Mr. Kipling, focus on your own backyard; Chicago may be burning again.

I suspect if Mr. Hirsh viewed a similar situation on a different continent; he would demonstrate a new found sympathy and advocacy for their struggles. Correct me if I’ve misunderstood, but I don’t believe that northern states attempted to help rebuild the southern states during the late 19th or even the early 20th century. In fact, some of its cultural leaders appear to have enjoyed picking over the bones for depressing scenes featured in their literary and film projects. They gawked at southern culture as though they were visiting exotic animals in a zoo. What was hinted but remained unsaid was the belief that the South deserved to be punished for decades after the war.

There is a reason Mr.Hirsh adores lording it over another American region, and beats his breast at the prospect of losing his Sahib status. His tone is an ancient one; found in the contemptuous accents of conquerors.

Ragnell on April 28, 2008 at 5:26 AM

Somehow my last line didn’t make it on my previous vent and I liked it

It should end as:

Well sir, you’ve lost your colony

Ragnell on April 28, 2008 at 5:36 AM