Palmer Blevins Blog

Since my vacation to the South this weekend, I’ve been puzzled by something. During the entire trip, we saw only two Confederate flags flying in the air, three bikers who happened to have the Confederate flag stitched on their jackets, and countless cars with Obama bumper-stickers…even in the most remote places. Not once did we see a car/truck with a “Kiss My Rebel Ass” or “Proud to be a Rebel” or “the South Will Rise Again” bumper-sticker.

We were treated with the outmost politeness and respect. It was truly shocking when we went to a bar in the middle of nowhere in South Carolina, one of the bikers with a Confederate flag emblem, bought us dinner…talked politics, the economy and gave us names of people to talk to in regards to getting a job or place to rent in North Carolina if we so desired.

Contrast those experiences with the following.

On our ride home we went through Indiana and went through Champaign to Casa Blevins. We stopped at a gas station near Springfield and the attendant followed Samantha around like she was up to no good; despite her being professionally dressed, not speaking with an accent, and her having the required white-male escort (me) at her side.

Since being home we have seen 1 Confederate flag flying outside a house off of North Grand, 25 trucks with a Confederate flag decal and/or the catchy slogans mentioned above, and dealing with closet racists at some gas stations, banks, restaurants, etc., we’ve encountered almost daily here in Springfield and who don’t have the balls to say what they think/feel.

Is Illinois/Springfield more racist then the areas we visited and traveled through in the South? And if so, should Lincoln really be the posterboy of this town?

I am about to write/say something so shocking, so evil, so un-Springfieldian and I sincerely hope that you, my dear reader, will not think any less of me than you may already think.

I DISLIKE THE MYTHOS of ABRAHAM LINCOLN!

Since my childhood, despite years of educational indoctrination that built Lincoln into a larger than life demagogue worthy of worship to the point of extreme fetish, I’ve never been a fan of Honest Abe.

When I became a history buff, I often found myself quickly silenced when I went against accepted conventions in regards to Abe, and I usually try to avoid any public criticism or disdain for the man.

But honesty is truly the best policy. So it is out there: I am not a fan of Abraham Lincoln. So, when I planned my vacation I carefully tried to avoid any place with the slightest association with Lincoln; yet, there is no escape.

Of course, traveling through three former Confederate states is not going to provide a real escape from Abe since the landscape is dotted with many Civil War battlefields. I avoided going through Kentucky today just for the simple fact it was Lincoln’s place of birth; but lo and behold there is a Lincoln Museum here in Tennessee. In a strange twist of fate, I had to pay for my hotel room, $50, with fives. There just is no escaping Abe.

I’ll be in South Carolina by mid-afternoon. Hopefully Myrtle Beach will grant me at least some reprieve from the ghost of Lincoln that is following me.

If there were to ever be a Springfield Blogger Hall of Fame, there is no way Dave, Marie, 30 What, Shoo, Gish, Will or Just 2 Guys would not make it. After reading The Way of the Andy, after reading comments left by him, I would have to say this site is “Hall” worthy.

Insightful, funny, fresh and in your face.

BTW, Andy, correct me if I am wrong…Wells Fargo ‘03, you sat a couple cubicles behind me?