Very informative post beternU. I can only speak for myself however. I DO NOT APPROVE OF SLAVERY NOR REPRESSION OF A PERSON BASED ON RACE, SEX, ETC. I am simply proud of where I was raised. I love the colonial influences in architecture, the influences on cuisine from the many different cultures, the temperate climate of the south, and the pleasant drawl of a southerners voice. That is only naming a few but I promise they are all good and not the vile things people remember. In my first post I agreed with the celebration but now I'm just content about what makes me who I am.