Southern states poor in Christmas spirit

Raven

Wed Dec 24 2008 23:12

People, give it up. She's a northern Grinch. It's over and it's dead. Let it go and enjoy the rest of your holidays.

dre

Wed Dec 17 2008 07:37

Agree, southern states are missing out on a lot, the Christmas feeling is un descriptable

Your name

Sun Dec 14 2008 14:02

if you do not like the south LEAVE it is that simple just leave and dont critized us southerners because some of us cannot afford expensive lights and the kids like the reindeer in the yards and all of the "tacky decorations" you just like to go on the general things you have seen and that is what makes people think that all southerners wear overalls and are barefoot. it is people like you that make me hate Yankee's!!!!!

Your name

Sun Dec 14 2008 12:41

I am appalled that the spirit of Christmas as come down to what music you hear, shopping experiences, climate/weather, and decorations. You are criticizing a whole region based on, im sure, only a few experiences. Based on what you have written in this article, you do not exude the very Christmas spirit of which you are claiming we are so poor in. I cannot believe that you even have the nerve to suggest Christmas only being celebrated where there is snow on the ground, have you any idea how many people experience the white Christmas of which you speak; is that to say that Christmas has been reduced to this commercial view of Christmas? The very spirit of Christmas should not be reduced to these trivial issues you discuss, it should be about Christ, the spirit of giving, love, and family. Last time I checked the South had all the things that Christmas should be and I am appalled that your article made it into the Oracle, considering we are in Florida and your article was not written with the eloquence that journalists possess when writing negatively about a subject. I think your communications professors have more teaching to do.
"The entire essence of Christmas in the South is worlds apart from the pristine, traditional American idea of the perfect Christmas"- You cannot be serious, in all the depictions of this perfect Christmas you speak of, there is something deeper than tthe surface...apparently you are blinded by the snow and lights, and failed to realize the real point of Christmas.
Lets get real...we live in warm weather, do not criticize us because we walk around in flip flops and tank tops, if we walked around in scarves and boots in eighty degree weather we would pass out from the heat.;Vice versa people up north are in cold weather so they have to walk around bundled up or they would freeze.
Do us all a favor and re-evaluate what Christmas really means because then you might realize that Southern states are not poor in Christmas spirit, but you are!

Angelina Political Science

Fri Dec 12 2008 09:07

I would feel sorry for the rest of the world if Christmas was only about snow, cold weather, shopping, and decorations deemed appropriate by a particular group of people. The truth is that Christmas is generally celebrated the same throughout the world, and the meaning for most people that are capable of understanding it would completely disagree with Ms.White. I'm a native Floridian, and having lived in Panama (the country) the only thing I can remember being different was that there were a lot more festivities/social gatherings, fireworks, and there'd be a big Christmas tree bonfire after New Years. Oh, and of course the absence of snow, considering it's geographic location-sorry, it's not Dubai or "the North." Take a trip through Old Northeast or Snell Isle, here in Saint Petersburg, maybe that will satisfy your idea of how a home should be decorated. There's one home in particular that has a wreath (probably the biggest you've ever seen) adorning the one side of it, palm trees wrapped in lights, and lights lined along their many feet of waterfront property. For me, it's what's on the inside. I have a real tree, an advent wreath I made myself, an advent calendar, a German Christmas Pyramid, christmas cards, and hopefully many loved ones making their way here. Decorations are only a mean to express oneself. I won't even get into the gift shopping, try International Plaza. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL (around the world)*

P.S.
Go to Whistler in British Columbia-that is the beauty of snow and ancient trees.

tank top santa

Thu Dec 11 2008 07:46

You are an idiot!

Jess

Wed Dec 10 2008 16:54

Wow, this is something.

This article is bad and you should feel bad.

The Oracle should be embarrassed that they allowed such drivel to slip into print. Not only is the flow and grammar choppy and poor at best, but your method of arguing opinion comes off as both lousy and insulting.

For one, for a person so caught up in the "spirit of Christmas" and how "commercial" the South is, almost ALL of your comparisons of the "tacky" Southern holiday to that of the "pristine" North are all deeply rooted in that commercialism. If you had told me "Northerners donate to food banks more" or "Northerners are more active in their churches during what is, most fundamentally, a religious holiday," then maybe you'd have almost got me on your point (even though, I suspect these points would be met with the same care you gave the ones you did present, that is, with NO accompanying examples or proof). But alas, this did not happen; you were too busy crying over tank tops. Minus two points for ineffectiveness and COMPLETELY MISSING THE POINT OF YOUR OWN ARGUMENT.

Then, of course, there is your blatant generalization. For someone majoring in this field, I'm surprised you fell into such an obvious fallacy that my 9th grade English teacher taught me to avoid. If this is the caliber of your work, then I don't think these other dissenters that worry about you becoming an alum here have anything to really worry about. Frankly, I wouldn't pass you if all your articles are like this one.

You really should consider what you write and how you write it before you put your pretty little elitist northern hands to the keyboard. This article is not only a sham because of its structural quality, but it is also downright rude, condescending and on top of that, its unnecessarily so on all counts. This is coming from someone who has celebrated the holiday in both Florida AND Massachusetts, and noticed that the only true difference was the awesome lack of snow shoveling I experienced here.

So, my dear, when you book that ticket home to return to the comfort of your "big house" in Pleasantville, USA, for the holidays, do us all a favor and make sure it's a one-way.

Your name

Wed Dec 10 2008 08:43

there are A LOT of really expensive nice homes down south. the south is filled with rich traditions and a heck of a lot of money. however, the demographic that you are referring to does not have a lot of money and - besides the fact that they don't represent the entire south - are entitled to the same respect as you give your "peers" and i use that word loosely - up north.

you should be ashamed of yourself - no just because your article is classed based under the guise of a critique of an entire region - but because you are seemingly incapable of doing research, talking to people, or reading much about southern history before you write something like this.

i know its an opinion column - but you still call yourself a journalist right? Act and write like one will ya.

Oh and please take yourself back to the north and at the rate you're going you won't have any friends here when you get back! And PLEASE drop out of USF while you're at it. We don't want you having alumni status. I am sure Rutgers would love to have you.

Betch, please

Wed Dec 10 2008 03:32

Like, oh my gawd! Xmas shuld only be dun in the north, ok?!
Xmas in the south is ovacommercialized! It is totally tacky!
Xmas shuld be dun in big houses! With sno! and with Starbucks, lol!
USF mass comm is, like, so awesome! One of these dayz Im gonna werk for the New York times! They have gr8 shopping in NYC! and they have Xmas the rite way!

Richard E.

Tue Dec 9 2008 22:31

This is not only incredibly insulting, it's also extremely stereotyped and essentialist. There is no more a single "northern Christmas" experience then there is a single identifiable "southern Christmas." It's warm here, and that's about all you can generalize about.

I'm also a little concerned about your characterization of "enormous" house up north-- does everyone live in a large house up north? What about poor people, or people who live in a condo in large cites, like NYC? Are there no large houses in Florida?

A word of advice to you: avoid writing articles filled with useless generalities that don't say anything specific or important.

you suck

Tue Dec 9 2008 19:31

You are so dumb! Do you think you are special because you were born up North? Where exactly are you from anyways? I was born in the "North" as you call it, nyc to be specific, and Christmas sucks there. Get a life and open your horizons. Stop being so stuck up. Are you talking about Christmas on the west coast too? If not, shut up cause you don't know crap.
ps. it was so hard not to curse and call you by the name you deserve to be called in this comment.

Proud Floridian

Tue Dec 9 2008 19:24

Lady, if you don't like the South, You can get the hell out cuz it doesn't like you either! If you are seriously planning on a career in journalism or anything with writing, you need to understand that you have to appeal to your audience. I don't know where you are that the grocery store is the only place you are feeling the Christmas Spirit, but maybe you should check out a church, or a friends house, hell try Disney, I am certain that has a lot of Christmas spirit (and the expensive decorations that you are looking for) and where is it located, oh right here in Florida, the Sunshine State!
Please stop writing things like this, you are just going to piss a lot of people off and possibly get yourself hurt someday.

R

Tue Dec 9 2008 13:42

The Oracle really should be ashamed that this ran.

I am in no way offended that the writer criticizes Florida or "Southern" Christmas customs; I don't care. I am definitely offended, however, as a writer and a student at USF (whose student paper chooses to publish tripe like this). This piece is just dreadful -- in concept, execution and (sadly) spelling.

I guess you were really hard-up for the obligatory cheesy Christmas column.

Your name

Tue Dec 9 2008 11:40

I feel genuinely sorry for you. I can't believe that snow is that important for you to celebrate Christmas. To state that Christmas in the south exemplifies the commercialization shows you lack of understanding of culture and the Christmas holiday. You are the one who has lost the meaning of Christmas not the people in the south for simply putting Santa on a surf board. You seem to have forgotten that Christmas is about a baby born in a manger to a virgin, not about snow. Winter is about snow not, Christmas. Someone needs to open up the bible, go to church, and be reminded about what Christmas is truly about. I'm sorry that you miss the snow. It a greater tragedy that you have seem to completely forgotten that Christmas is truly about God sending his one and only son to save us from our sins.

Gavin

Tue Dec 9 2008 11:04

Just want to point out that Arkansas has long been known for its snow in Christmas, and also Jennifer, while you might look good under mistletoe, check your sources. Thanks.

mr grinch

Tue Dec 9 2008 01:48

i wonder if you realize how dumb u sound...take ure bitter attitude and shove it

Cassie

Mon Dec 8 2008 14:11

If you think that its so bad TAKE YOUR ASS BACK UP NORTH!!
We all live down here because we love this weather, and we want our Christmas to be this way. I have lived in Florida my whole life, and wouldn't change the fact I can wear shorts on Christmas morning. You have completely insulted everyone from Florida, While writing for a Florida University paper!! Real Good.
If you have such a problem with Florida and the Weather then seriously go to another University in a northern state where you can get "what you want in Chirstmas" and while you are still here in Florida please keep your MOUTH SHUT!! You have no right to beraid Floridians like this, we all have a choice where we live... so MAKE YOURS AND TAKE YOUR ASS BACK UP NORHT!! We don't want you here anyway!

Former northerner

Mon Dec 8 2008 14:09

Hmm... Check the cruise ship passenger lists over the holidays to see what northerners think about the holidays up north. Count the bodies of people freezing to near death in any northern inner city and ask them where they'd like to spend the holidays.

You ain't up north any more and the rules are different here. So when in cognito, do as the cognetians do. Enjoy a walk on the beach on Christmas day. Play a little golf and gather with your friends around a palm tree to enjoy the remainder of a balmy day.

Your name

Mon Dec 8 2008 11:47

Wow, what a way to win over native people! Perhaps instead of saying that Southerners suck, just suggest more Christmas stuff that people could do. Insulting someone really won't win them over unless you're an Army Drill Instructor.

But really, Christmas is all about giving. And I want my gifts!

Truth

Mon Dec 8 2008 00:30

It does not snow where Jesus was born.