Reply #113: could you give names and locations of these stores?

[Iris]

I live in Atlanta and have pretty much surrounded myself with like-minded people - or at least people who are polite enough not to bring up politics in "mixed" company. I work outside of Atlanta in one of the most redneck areas in this part of the state and I rarely see a confederate flag. I also only see a handful of really offensive bumper stickers. None of the gas stations I go to has any "Mammy" dolls.

I did grow up in southwest GA. There is definately a constant undercurrent of racism but, still, no gas stations or other stores that I'm familiar with sell "Mammy" dolls. There is one store on Hwy. 82 that I will not stop at because during the Clinton years they sold bumper stickers with slogans like "Impeach the President (and her husband, too." They have replicas of old Coke ads for sale. But, honestly, I don't think they would have a bunch of racist merchanise around because most of their customers are black and if they pissed them off, they'd go out of business.

And another thing - how do you know people were angry about your Howard Dean stickers? I have often tried to honk, wave, or give a thumbs up when I see something I like (such as the "Don't Watch Fox News. They Lie" painted on the rear window of a truck with shoe polish), but these gestures could easily be misinterpreted.