Dec 1, 2007

Arriving in Charleston, SC. Our home for the next year.

We arrived in Charleston, South Carolina at St. James Yacht Harbor. The marina was recently bought by a company in Maryland. I asked the first people I met how they liked the marina.  The primary complaint from one of the men was that the new marina owners made him take down the confederate flag from his boat.

The two men went on to complain about how it is unAmerican that the federal government made the South Carolina state capitol building take the confederate flag down. I see their point, America is supposed to be a free country... He said it was "heritage." I would have liked to say "heritage belongs in a museum, not on a capitol building" but I'm not that witty, and I didn't want to make a bad impression. I did however point out to him that the confederate flag is unAmerican based on the fact that is was used by the south upon their succession from the United States.

The men went on to explain that many black people took up arms to defend the plantations they worked on ... I'm thinking to myself "is it possible you are so ignorant?"

During my short time in the South so far, I've heard many people refer to "Yankees." It's strange, and a bit awkward. I keep asking myself "the civil war is over right?" South Carolina was the last state to abolish segregation in 1968. It is also apart of the bible belt.

LeeAnn has just finished reading a few books about racism, and I'm finishing up a book called "The God Delusion." To say the least I think we are going to have an eye opening winter. We're not in Michigan anymore.



Sushi checking out some shrimp. We paid 4 bucks for this pound of shrimp. We got well over a pound a few days later for free.

shrimp boats.
Fog creeping out from the swampy trees. This is alligator country.

Traveling down the ICW on a really calm day.

4 comments:

  1. Dear Chad, I've had some time to catch up on your adventures today, what a great adventure. John Sellers would be so happy to be cruising where you are. You can tell the people you meet that the boat was built by a true Southern gentleman, and that you're taking her down to his spiritual home. Don't be too upset by the non-PC comments by people you meet, mostly they're testing your mettle. That shrimp looks absolutely delicious. Take care - you both look wonderful.

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  2. The Civil War may be over, but "the South will rise again!" (Or so I'm told.)

    You two Yanks have fun.

    Can't wait to see you in a few weeks. We'll have a blue (state) Christmas!

    Love,

    Coley

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  3. Gotta tell ya, I might have to vote republican this year... I like Ron Paul's integrity. romney's business mind.

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  4. Yeah, now that I have money, me too. Though, socially, I'll remain firmly liberal.

    So this is what the dark side looks like, eh?

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