A good friend of mine was starting a new dog club. As a dog lover and friend to all who would join, I signed on. As is common in dog clubs, conflict occurred at its inception. Having learned years ago to play a low visibility role in dog clubs, I found myself in the unusual position of being the source of the debate. So I had to ask myself if my concerns were warranted. Were my objections well founded in principle or was I making too much of nothing? Allow me to explain.
I live in Alabama. It is a state that is often marred by a bad rep. But in this instance I felt as if the situation was the kind of thing that propagates those internalized concepts about the South in the minds of the rest of the country. We were voting on a name. The name Dixie Flyers was chosen and I left the club before it began on principle.
Arguments presented to me included, “I don’t really think people will think Rebel Flag when they hear the word Dixie.” Well if that was the case, why on earth did the other member feel a need to mention it? If that was in fact true, then there should have been no need for the member to deny relationship to the Rebel Flag.
The other argument really gave me pause. “Well our license tags say, ‘Heart of Dixie.’” I told that member that I had actually complained about use of the word Dixie in the tags. But I felt a need to do a little research and soul searching to appraise whether or not I was over reacting.
First, the argument implied that if the state used the word Dixie, it must be okay. I am supposed to rely on the state of Alabama to define for me what is socially acceptable? Really? That seemed so wrong to me on so many levels. The social history of the state government in Alabama has left much to be desired. The Confederate Flag flew over the capitol of Montgomery as late as 1988. It took much debate and discourse to have the flag removed. What? The state flew the Confederate Flag above the US Flag until 1988? Does this sound like the kind of state government I can site as an appropriate value system? Not to me. Admit it. Do I even have to go into the Civil Rights battle fought in this state? Rosa Parks 1955. Governor Wallace on the steps of The University of Alabama 1966. And it wasn’t just oppression of the African-American population by the state that comes into question. What about the Wyatt Stickney case of 1972 when abuse of patients in the State Mental Health Care System shocked the entire country? I am supposed to rely on the government in the state of Alabama to define what is socially appropriate and what is not? I don’t think so.
Back to the car tag. When I got my new tag I was offered the choice between a “Heart of Dixie Tag” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” I quickly ran through the lyrics with southern context translations flagging the song.
Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten, (translation: Pre-Antebellum with slavery)
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.
In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
early on one frosty mornin’,
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.
I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray! (translation: Rebel Yell)
In Dixie Land I’ll take my stand
to live and die in Dixie. (translation: fight as a Confederate Soldier)
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie
Needless to say, my choice was clear. I went with “Sweet Home Alabama” and have complained about the tags ever since. Then today I noticed the strangest thing as I was out running errands. I didn’t see the first “Heart of Dixie” license tag. Nadda! They were all “Sweet Home Alabama” and “God Bless America.” Now I am going to ignore the whole “God” debate; but, I did find it interesting that the state had turned in its “Heart of Dixie” tag for “God Bless America.” Could it be that I was not the only one to object to the “Heart of Dixie” tags? I have found little about it; however, I cannot deny that the “Dixie” tags are obviously absent. Hummmm. I did manage to find some information about the word which apparently developed in the New Orleans area as a term for a legal tender used in the region. Dix meaning 10. I have no issue with that. Unfortunately, the word took a bad turn when the song “Dixie” became popularized in the 19th century in the Confederate states and has since been the complaint of many as a term that identifies itself with southern slavery. And that is where I draw the line. An example occurred in 1999 when Rehnquist did a “sing along” of Dixie and the African-American lawyers present would not take part. I cannot think of the word Dixie without connecting it to the song. And if it is connected to the song, I cannot be connected to the word. Actually, there is claim that it was written by a slave who was longing for his plantation home while displaced in the North. Sorry, I just can’t imagine one would prefer slavery to freedom but hey, that could just be me.
Suffice to say, I feel much better about my choice. My objection to the word is not some hyper vigilance on my part as the internet abounds with objections to the word and debate as to its social appropriateness. I was correct in saying the word may and is offensive to some people. The grounds to those objections did not just occur to me but to others. So as much as I hated to abandon my friend’s endeavors on a new dog club, I had made a choice that was right for me. I wouldn’t have been a very active member so I am sure they will all be just fine. As to their ability to see what the word means not only to them but to others, well, that will take some time. Everything in Alabama takes time.
