Good folk

[PureCountry]

I just wanted to toss out somethin' for everyone to think about. Feelin' philosophical I guess. I've noticed in the 'entertainment' industry in the last few years, there's always references to 'Southern born', 'the South's gonna rise again...', and then Alan Jackson singing that old Alabama song on the 40th anniversary of the ACM, 'Southern born, Southern bred". When he sang that song, it really got me thinking. How strong is that legendary feeling of being from the 'deep South'? It's always fascinated me how some people seem to cling to their roots while others don't give a damn - which I think is just wrong.

When I was in Scotland and Ireland a few years back, I felt 'home' as soon as we got there and I heard the accent and saw those rolling hills. But when I hear talk of the South, or get together with folks from around here who feel the same way I do about life, it makes me proud of who we are and what we do. But I can't help wondering what our future holds. For those of you South of the 49th, is the South really gonna rise again one day? I'd love to devote more time to the Western Separatist movement here, if I had it. As it is, I can't get the things done I'd like to now. But it bothers me and weighs on my mind that me doing nothing, is also doing nothing for the future of my children and their children.

Tell me what you think. Don't hold nothin' back, 'twouldn't be our way now would it? Thanks in advance.

[Liberty Belle]

Pure Country – From your travels, I’m guessing you are Scotch-Irish like me and several others on this board. I don’t know if you saw the postings I made on here about a great book that gives the history of the Scotch-Irish and their strong influence on this country, and especially on the south, from the very beginning of the United States.

The book is called “Born Fighting” by James Webb, a Scots-Irishman who was a highly decorated Vietnam vet and served as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan.

I don’t know much about your Western Separatist movement, but from what little I’ve heard, I think I’d be on the same side of the issue as you are if I were Canadian. Explain it to us, would you?

[DiamondSCattleCo]

I guess my heads been in the sand, because I didn't even realize we had a genuine Western Separtist movement

For the past few years, I've felt that Western Canada should be its own little country, although we in Saskatchewan and Manitoba should probably face the reality that Alberta wouldn't want us

All jokes aside, my family came over to the US in the mid-1800s (we've got a history somewhere, just can't remember the dates). My ne'er-do-well family wandered around Michigan then Idaho for a few years, until they decided to come North (I suspect they likely got chased out ) Anyway, my family settled in Western Canada before there was a Canada or a Saskatchewan. They built some semblance of a decent life before the dirty 30s wiped it out, but they persevered and came north to rebuild once again. My family and thousands just like them built Western Canada into something great and proud. I'm one of those guys, who when filling out the census forms, I add a box and write Canadian beside it when they ask my ethnic background.

But I've been watching politicians tear down what my family built for years now. It really does grow tiring to vote in the elections, knowing full well that its really not going to help us anyway. On the international stage, our government does absolutely nothing to help the west for fear of ticking off the big dawgs who buy from the east. Where's our support over European grain subsidies? Or support for the soft wood lumber industry. Or for that matter, where was our government during most of the BSE crisis?

Anyway, my post likely something that should have been in the politics area, but if The West Is Gonna Rise, I'll be in there like stink on....

...my coveralls.

Rod

[PureCountry]

I remember reading your post about that book, but I never took the time to find it. Was it in stores?

As for Western Separation, there's been a party trying to gain 'Official Party Status' since about 1999 I believe. I first met some of the folks organizing it in 2002. They still don't have enough members for party status, but they're still trying. The idea behind it was to first get the numbers needed in Alberta, then try and roll the ball in Saskatchewan. Myself, I wouldn't want anything to do with it if it didn't include Sask, Manitoba and B.C. It should be WESTERN CANADA or nothin. There are some really good people behind, influential ones, too. So hopefully it gains momentum in the near future.

Another place I forgot to mention, is Deer Lodge Montana. Been through there a few times when I was a kid, some of the prettiest country I've ever seen. Just felt like home, too. I've got a great grandfather buried in some cemetery there. My Grandad and great aunts went down there a couple years back and took pictures of it. I'd like to see it with my own eyes one day.

[DiamondSCattleCo]

[kolanuraven]

I'm in the DEEP DEEP SOUTH..and of Scotch/Irish-Native ancestory and you can be ASSURED that there is something about an attachement to your "Southern Roots" here. 9 times out 10 the first question you will hear upon meeting someone you haven't seen in a long time or may be never seen...." How's ya momma, honey?"

It has always amazed me--and at times really PO'ed me-- as to why our accents get made such fun of? And it is made fun of that were basically really REALLY nice people...even @ times nicer to strangers than our own!

I travel and have traveled all over the US and the world....I guess my Momma just ' raised' me right as I never have made fun of a different accent I came across....but if you're Southern...it seems to entertain some folks.

And " yes" to some of our folks...the" War of Northern Agression" has never ended. And also, I'm a member of the Lee Society also....by kinship to R.E. Lee!!

[Oldtimer]

[kolanuraven]

R2--or should I call you Cousin R2!!! You know how we claim " kin" to the nth degree!!

...I'm glad you see what I'm saying about the " entertaining" value of the Southern accent. I've gotten now when I know that someone is getting ready to be a royal a** about my accent/sound....I just make my accent sooooooo thick it would put Scarlett to shame!!

At least we've got some "character" about our sound...not like plain brown paper...like most folks sound like today.

[Faster horses]

Your post on the Deer Lodge Valley kinda made me homesick, OT. For sure, the weather is better there.

One needs to know or remember they have their problems too. It is just a different kind of problems. We have lived on ranches in Wyoming, W. Mt (Deer Lodge) and now extreme SE Montana. I can tell you first-hand that there are problems everywhere. It just ain't easy being in this business, but it has its rewards regardless of where you live. I guess that's why we still do it...and why you are still doing it...

[ranchwife]

[ranchwife]

Pure Country----My 18 year old is moving back to deer lodge after the Christmas Holiday and i will be taking him there (long, painful story for another time)! He will be going to work on a ranch there and he simply LOVES the work and the area!! When i take him there, i will make sure i have my camera and take some pix to post.....then you can see why it is a place you can never forget!! Mount Powell truly is a sight!!

[Faster horses]

I knew that was going on and it is sad...
Gonna build a huge golf course as well.

That ranch was home to many ranch families. Then Tavenners owned it and sold it to Louis Ward (Ward Paper Box Co. and Russell Stover Chocolates). Louis Ward was a good guy and he kept it as a working ranch. Had alot of employees, kept them on the ranches where it was feasible and built new homes for the others at the main headquarters. Don Davis, ranch manager, was a good friend of ours, as were many of the cowboys. They had a ranch cook and bunkhouse for the single cowboys. Rock Creek Cattle Co. kept their help a long time, which is a testamant to being a good place to work. They were good neighbors and good people for the community.

Things changed there, as things tend to do. Help came and went. The ranch sold; timber was harvested and the owner ran buffalo which didn't set well with the neighboring ranches. It sold again to the current owners and huge changes are coming. It is a beautiful ranch and now will never be like it was.

Deer Lodge really isn't doing good economically. The prison guards and workers mostly live in Butte or Anaconda. Why, I don't know.

When we moved there in 1975 the Anaconda Company was viable. The Prison, Milwaukee RR, Comico (Phospate Plant), Louisiana Pacific, Warm Springs, Galen, Registrars Bureau and logging were all places of employment. Many of these no longer exist for job opportunities. Sure it has been 30 years, but there have been a whole lot of lost jobs during that time. It was feared LP was going out and Sherm Andersen, owner of Sun Mountain Logging, managed to get it purchased and kept it in Deer Lodge.

Up to now, I think Deer Lodge was passed by the outsiders because of the prison and the type of people it attracts. Now who knows what will happen. I do know a work force has moved in to work on the projects at Rock Creek Cattle and that has boosted the economy, I am sure.

These changes are what is called progress...