Maryland Doesn't Want To Be "Southern"?
What?
Many of Maryland's leaders feel that the state is leaning toward the north in terms of their political mindset.
In fact, the state moved from the Southern Region of the Council of State Governments to the Eastern Region to trade ideas with state officials from Pennsylvania, New York, etc.
"I just don't think we're as Southern as people used to think," says state Senator Catherine Pugh. Other residents disagree saying that due to the capitol of Annapolis having a small town feel, they essentially feel more southern.
Maryland readers, what do U think?
[Image via AP Images.]
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we're definitely not southern at all. i always consider myself a northerner
im in the most northern part of VA (fairfax county) right next door to DC and 5 min away from MD. i think this is the stupidest sh*t ever. Who f*cking cares if they are southern. plus ive seen some crucial Md rednecks lol.
I agree, I've always considered my state a northern state anyway. Not like it really matters though.
I am a Marylander and I do consider myself a southerner despite what the Maryland leaders say!!!! Love you Perez!!!! Come and visit us here in DC!!!
Is this topic really "Celebrity Juice, not from concentrate"? Come on Perez
although there are mad rednecks, we dont have a backwards ass mindset and are way more liberal than fuckers in the south. Mason Dixon line aint got nothin on us
. Seriously, northerners!
The south would, essentially like to feel more Maryland. And the north, I think, is leaning more towards Canada…. Haha stop with the drivel!
You're the hillbillies of the NorthEast, Maryland, get over it!
You are to New York City like what Cardiff is to London (sort of). Just accept it.
although there are mad rednecks in MD, we do not have the same backwards ass mindsets of those in the south. Mason Dixon line cant tell us nothin
. True northerners and proud of it!
I'm from Maryland and NO it is not a southern state.
Maryland is neither. We're Mid-Atlantic. We're liberal democrats with southern charm so we've never been accepted by the Yankees or the Rebels. But who cares anyway? I think the metro Baltimore/DC area is a great place to live because of all its contradictions. It's is one of the coolest cultural melting pots in the country.
Have they considered the Eastern Shore??! We are very Southern!
Living in MD for 8 years, I can say there are some southern views here.
I lived in MD. just before moving to PA and I was right next door to Delaware! I LOVED it , I could buy all my grits and fried green tomato's,boiled peanuts (MEANING anything Southern food)!! So for me everything about the state was southern, even the people spoke with a southern accent where I lived, so I have always considered MD SOUTHERN!
Im from Maryland & I don't care what were considered im just glad were on Perez Hilton!!
Hmmm, perhaps I remember history wrong but I always though we were a "Buffer" state, neither North or South during the war. Does it matter what we are anyway? We Marylanders are good people and we have delicious crabcakes.
I grew up in Maryland. I AM NO SOUTHERNER!
Perez, check out the video on Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show from last night. She covers this story in the context of comparing Maryland to the atmosphere in Virginia, with their homophobic governor and attorney general.
.
A Maryland politician is trying to lure defense contractor Northup Grummond to Maryland, and using the argument that Maryland would be a more hospitable state for Northup Grummond , which has a perfect record on LGBT rights from The Human Rights Campaign.
Definitely not southern! But there are a lot of farms and rural areas to Maryland, and so it seems much of the state has always been torn between northern and southern mentalities. But the big cities and suburbs definitely have a more northern feel
i dont think were southern. Geography wise and politicaly wise. when someone says "im going down south" you dont think of Maryland.
i live in maryland- technically it is a southern state, but bmore has the feel of a northern city….not so much like nyc, but it does kinda at times remind me of philly…id have to say that the people in md r really southern…not much of anything is north about md
Isn't Maryland already north of the Mason-Dixon line?
im from MD and i definitely consider myself from the north. dont get me wrong, we have some hardcore rednecks but on the whole its a very northern feeling. plus, i now live in atlanta and the difference is great.
As a native Marylander, I don't like being associated with the South because of the slavery history. I see confederate flags around our state all the time & it really bothers me. My politics tend to be conservative but I'd support being considered part of the North.
no way in hell. we are SOOOOOO not southern
we have a lot of ideas that lean towards Northern and a lot that lean towards Southern. I always thought we were a "middle" state. Meaning that we were a little bit of both. When I am up north (like I am now) I get made fun of for my southern accent and whe I head south I am called a Yankee. so we are obviously in the middle.
Even though there are a few hillbillys, the Annapolitans will tell you we are Northern!!! I heart Perez!
Re: kem1 – Not all of us buddy. We have blue state views!
I am a native Baltimoron and consider myself a northerner.
Re: crazie – Almost time for steamed crabs!!
Maryland is geographically Southern. Deal with it!
I love Maryland..take a look at the Mason-Dixon line.
I feel as if I am neither. If that makes sense? Or maybe a little of both?
I think the folks in Maryland have the best of both stereotypical worlds….the educational/urban-cultural opportunities of the north and the charm, "laid back-ness" and hospitality of the south. It all depends on where you go. There are rednecks in EVERY state. I don't think of rednecks when I think of Maryland. I think of great colleges, the Chesapeake Bay, Inner Harbor and wonderful crabbing!! I love Maryland!
hands down a blue state! it's always the most southern blue state thereby, for me, making it a northern state
I think it depends on where in MD you're from. I would never consider myself from the South… I grew up in Montgomery County and went to high school in DC.
I live in PA and have never thought of Maryland as a "southern "state" we are right above and definitely NOT southern
Maryland has rural parts like any other state where there are definitely some interesting characters… however most people live in the DC/ Baltimore area, which is heavily populated and one of the most diverse metro areas in the country. I live in the DC suburbs myself and would not consider it southern. It's certainly not New England but I would agree that it is more Northern/ Mid-Atlantic (like PA, NJ, DE).
Is everyone geographically and historically retarded? Md is BELOW the Mason Dixon line. That means technically southern. Can't move the state……. y'all.
as I am not from Maryland, does it matter? I am from New York and we are considered a MID ATLANTIC STATE. That is probably what they want. People have pre conceived notions about southerners. BUT, I never thought of Maryland as a state from the south. Georgia, S. Carolina, Alabama, yes, but not Maryland
depends on what part of MD.. My husband's family moved down towards Salisbury MD and I am telling you.. drive 5mins from the College town and there are rednecks everywhere.. However if you're near Baltimore, it's more Northern.
Coming from one of the small town country citys, a majority of the opinions, & views are southern influenced. Despite the larger cities like Baltimore. MD is primarily southern though..
I'm from Maryland and like it or not we're southern. The majority of Maryland folks are country like it or not, hell go around and look at all the farms. Just cause Bmore and a couple other places got all city does not mean we are northern.
Re: ValRiot – Not sure about the Cardiff reference but MD has like one of, if not the highest, per household incomes in the country, has the highest percentage of post-graduate degrees, and one of the best public education systems. Also, MD= not a suburb of NYC.
I'm so glad someone finally came out and made this statement. i hate it when people call Maryland part of the south, because it is very different from the south. at least in most parts.
Ima rebel bebe
Maryland was part of the Union in the Civil war so it is considered a Northern State. Take any Maryland History class and you would know this.
Re: Gossamer60 –
Are you serious? "The slavery issue?" That was over 150 years ago. Not to mention who do you think was buying all the tobacco, cotton, and sugar produced in the south? Pretty sure a lot of it was sent to the north. It would be ridiculous and ignorant to blame the descendants for something that happened so long ago. If northerners hate us southerners so much I don't want to see one more northerner plate driving down 95 on their way to OUR home towns during tourist season. And we're supposed to be the ignorant ones…….right.
although the capitol is annapolis…the portions surrounding DC (Montgomery County, PG County) is where a lot if the power and influence is.
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That's why i'd consider MD northern more than southern.
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there are backwoods areas…but who pays attention to them? you rarely ever hear about anything in those areas.
Damn Yankees
JK
I've lived here my entire life. We have a nice mix of big cities and rural areas. Although technically south of the Mason Dixon Line, we are largely a liberal bunch, and becoming more so all the time.
i live in maryland, and never considered maryland southern until my roommate from wisconsin told me i had a southern accent.
maryland has a lotta rednecks, but i don't think we're either southern or northern. mid-atlantic.
Yes Maryland! Although we do have a fair share of mullets and sweet tea at our McDonald's, the mentality and general attitude is to the North!
Re: shade13 – actually maryland was full of southern sympathizers. in all of my history classes we have learned that maryland was split.
Now for some history. Maryland was considered southern in all ways before the Civil War. When each southern state voted to secede, Maryland was expected to do the same. So sure was Lincoln that Maryland would secede and the District of Columbia/White House/Capitol would be SURROUNDED by Southern States and then captured, he sent Federal troops into the capitol of Maryland and OCCUPIED the state preventing the Maryland legislature from voting. Maryland was an OCCUPIED state during the Civil War, but would have voted for secession if allowed.
I don't understand why this is even an issue… it's not the 1800's and even then we were in the middle. Maryland has a slight southern charm/mindset, but is also forward thinking due to essentially being wrapped around DC. Maybe the lawmakers should start doing something about the joblessness, rather than trying to figure out if they want to be above or below the mason dixon.
Shade—you most have been asleep during your Maryland history course. Maryland was an occupied Southern state, it was kept in the union only by FORCE. That being said, I'm very amazed at the blindsidedness of those that show "relief" that Maryland doesn't have the history of slavery to tarnish being associated with it. Yes, there was slavery in Maryland. The first two states to legalize slavery were New York and Massachussets. The families who made their fortunes from the slave trade were northern families. NOONE's hands were clean from that horror.
Grew up there. Got family literally in each corner. Maryland is more Eastern than Southern, more Southern than Northern. And the folks on the Eastern Shore are their own alien race of people. Maryland is the most glorious mix of sea and mountain, urban and rural, from the richest african-american communities in the nation to the pockets of Amish, from fishermen to diplomats. And, to quote our own Mary Chapin Carpenter, in Maryland all you need is a bushel and a beer.
I live in NYC and DC. Having come from the south (Georgia and Texas) I find Maryland is much more 'southern' than 'northern'.
Would never consider MD a southern state.
i don't think that we are southern at all
some people are saying that they eat southern food in maryland
i don think that is true at all
love you perez
i think it depends…i'm from a very VERY small town in southern maryland, and def. consider myself a southerner
but i have friends from northern maryland who think they are northerners. md is a "boarderline state" haha
Re: idkmybffjill – yes that is all true! And Perez I forgot to add MD has ALWAYS been trying to make the claim they are Northern, I don't understand it because once you pass the Mason Dixon line,they all talk southern saying "YAll" and "Out Yonder", and everything I can buy growing up in Georgia, I can buy there! So whether they like it or not they are southern, if not then things would DEFINITELY NOT be different once crossing that Mason Dixon line!!
I've lived in Maryland for college and no native Marylanders (?) considered themselves Southern.
I'm from Maryland and I consider myself Northern.I LOVE YOU PEREZ!
Re: whatafarce – I agree with you I was born in Atlanta moved to PA at 14 and moved to MD at 25 and moved back here at 27 (PA)! EVERYTHING about MD reminded me of Georgia, from the REST STOPS, to the DINERS, to the NAME of DINERS (All southern restaurants), the menu for their food, not to mention the FOODS they SELL in the GROCERY STORES I CAN'T BUY HERE IN PA but, if I drive 3 hours to MD I CAN! Go FIGURE!
M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D MARYLAND WILL WIN!!
shoutout to mah Terps!
I'm always identified with my southern MD tobacco farming roots. But MD is a melting pot for sure.
Re: shade13 – are you serious? Well take any GEORGIA and PA HISTORY CLASS ( WHICH I HAVE BOTH ) AND THEY WILL BOTH TELL YOU PASS THE MASON DIXON LINE SWEETY YOU ARE SOUTH OF IT SO THEREFORE YOU ARE SOUTHERN!!! ALL you people saying we have VIEWS like the blue states Puhleaaze your going by southern stereotypes, and you people wonder why the "STEREOTYPING" NEVER CHANGES!!
For anyone who has spent any time in Cecil County MD, you know you're in the south when you're there. Just go to Elkton Wal Mart and take in all that is redneck. Trust me, MD is a southern state.
Maryland > Southern hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
I was born and raised in maryland. && i moved to GA a few years ago and in comparison to this SOUTHERN state, MD is not southern at all…eventhough this argument is kinda stupid, i just thought it needed to be said lol…
we're south of the Mason Dixon line and we were a slave state (which many folks try to forget)
but, accents vary widely across the state, and Baltimore has a reputation as the northern most southern city and most southern northern city. in other words, we're the cusp!
but we seem really northern compared to Virginia. which although it has lovely people and geography, has some pretty horrific laws in regard to the GLBT community. i know many folks who have moved into Maryland for exactly that reason!
i live in annapolis and have always considered us a southern state
i was born, raised, and want to stay in maryland forever. We are technically southern because of the whole mason dixon thing but politically and socially speaking i suppose we're northerners most people myself included think were of the north. BUT, i am from the north and went to school in the south east so… were i was at school there is a different perception.
Re: frankthetank – no
Re: catwoman3 – prob republican too
From NY and been to MD many times. Definitely not what one might think of as "Southern." Sure they have rednecks but so does NY!
Personally, to say we're "Southern" is an insult. We definetly don't have the same outlook or ideals as Southern states.
But I do agree that the WalMart in Elkton, MD (Cecil County) is one of the most horrifying, I mean Southern spots in the county
Southern….florida is southern…wtf
after living on the eastern shore of MD- you drive through plantation property to get there from Baltimore or DC and I would say the people on the Eastern shore (because they came from slave-owning families, and are very close to Virginia coast) are more southern than those of baltimore and north of the mainland. Maryland is a great state to live in terms of taxes, I lived also in Baltimore, which was one of the best places I've ever lived, and I'm sure the government wants to get away from the ignorance that is related to the southern states. I would consider Ohio (where I live now) more redneck than Maryland
Re: aaronphillip301 –
I would really like to know what these "outlook and ideals" that you're so appalled to be associated with are? Pure ignorance. Apparently prejudice against people that live in the south is a problem. I've spent the majority of my years on this earth living in the south and it seems that I'm more open minded and less prejudice than most of you northerners. It's a little hypocritical and sad.
I think the point here is that there has been a shift in the demographics within Maryland itself in the past few decades. The DC-Baltimore area is growing faster than the other regions. Most people, especially young people, in the area do not consider it to be southern. That being said, I wouldn't judge MD off of experiences in Cecil County. I've lived in MD my whole life and the only time I've ever been to Cecil County is while driving through it on 95. Not that there is anything wrong with Cecil County, just that I don't think it is an accurate representation of the rest of the state. For example, I am sure people who live in Philly or the surrounding regions would not want me to judge PA based off my experiences west of Pittsburgh… especially if said judgments were made at rest stops (which I think we can all agree reflect the absolute worst aspects of every state- I'm looking at you NJ).
PS- Jersey, I kid. I
Lifelong resident. What a stupid state senator. What kind of inferiority complex does she have that she needs to create northern vs southern issues where none exist. I've met some pretty redneck guidos in New York/NJ and some pretty liberal people in Mississippi.
Hasnt anyone ever watched The Wire?? B-More is super liberal city. Every state has country roural areas, even South Jersey has rednecks… doesnt make it a "southern" state. Maryland is a blue state.
i live in MD near the DC line. I think that maryland is geographically Southern but as to most peoples acts and life styles i think that we are a Northern State
lived here all my life never considered myself southern….i think its about time they changed it …
I was born in Annapolis and have lived there two separate times when my dad was stationed near there. After living in the south, I considered Maryland far from Southern. They definitely don't have the hospitality that MS, AL, LA has. It is a beautiful place though. I give it that.
I don't really go by either. It's not like we're back in the 1800's and we have to worry about whether we're yankees or rebels.
Re: winkipinki – I think that the general outlook refers to the stereo-typical southern rejection of anything that has to do with the government (i.e. enforcing separation of church and state, opinions on welfare, gun rights, and civil rights). Whether this is true of most southerners or not I think that MD- where the federal government is the largest employer- definitely does not have the views that typify southern politics. I agree that the idea that the South is ignorant is in itself ignorant but based off of the rhetoric of southern politicians (from both parties) there is definitely a cultural tendency to want smaller government. Again, since a lot of people in MD work for the federal government, there is certainly less of this particular attitude. Therefore it spills out into other things like the idea that the south wants looser regulations on gun ownership, etc. which many Marylanders may not feel as strongly about. Again, this may not be unequivocally true but it is nonetheless the perception of the south and Maryland's reaction to it.
Having lived in MD for 2 decades, I think they have a stick up their ass. I mean, last time I checked the Civil War was LONG over! And, what the hell is a 'Southern' or 'Northern' mindset anyway?
Following this train of thought I assume all Californians are still seeking gold, while all Kansans are still 'bloody'. Ugh… Grow up, lady.
Re: nattysmots –
We true southerners would never say anything so impolite and culturally ignorant as you do in your remark.
Re: vanessa.julia.lutz –
Well said.
I consider myself to be neither northern or southern. Our state is "The old Line State." So I guess we are just Mid-Atlantic..
We're below the Mason-Dixon which makes us Southern. Many of the long time families in the area came from West Virginia in search of work and many of us still have the "southern thing" going on, including an odd accent that flags us a Marylander.
Sad to say, where I am in Cecil County, I can tell you there is plenty wrong. I've lived here my entire life, 31 years. There's a lot of history that a person shouldn't be proud of but sad to say, there are several that are. My family has always made it very clear that we are hillbillies, NOT rednecks.
I have lived in Maryland for 18 years, all of my life, and have always considered us a southern state with liberal views. Though I am technically a very very very liberal republican, but still. I think Southern is Maryland's History.
i think were north
i live in maryland, and there is definitely a "southern" feel some places you go, but all-in-all, most of us are "northern". the "southern" people around here are the ones that can't let go of their racist, hillbilly mindset and choose to be ignorant. i guess it depends on which part of maryland you go to. where i live, people drive huge tractor's around for fun, but you go a little more southwest out of my county, and you feel like you're in a normal "northern" place. or maybe because i was raised in Philadelphia first, that has an effect on my judgement. whatever, i don't plan on living in MD much longer…
Who cares??????? I live in CALIF
I actually happen to work in annapolis and while I consider myself a northerner and definitely identify more with "northern politics" I can tell you that our state delegation is very much still in the past and therefore I would consider more "southern politics"