my life

The fact that you were under fire was naught more than a mere accessory to the deed of my reading your blog. I read it because it was (and still is) interesting – because you make it interesting. Sure, bullets flying about and hoping that an artillery shell doesn’t land on you and telling higher-ups why you’re so great within the confines of a rigidly defined format is adrenaline-pumping action, but it was the writing, mind you, which induced sympathetic adrenaline pumping on this side of the screen. And even now that bullets are no longer flying around you and those other things aren’t happening, either, it’s still interesting. I very much enjoy reading what you write, and it is for this reason that I do, in fact, read what you write.

That said: “What would you research, and why?”
Well, were I in your shoes and were I interested in expository writing, I think I’d write my paper on Birth of a Nation, mainly because of all the retaliations after F9/11. You could study how propaganda is crafted well and when the crafters go blatantly too far, and things of that nature. And then have a scone or two.

The previous sentence doesn’t really have a point.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy creating the paper and do well!

K
He came to boggle minds but stayed to give his honest opinion.

If you are interested in local KKK history try Elmore county, Slapout and Lightwood communities specifically. It has allways been referred to as “The Beat or Beat 14″. I am told there is quite a sordid history there. So much has been written about Nathan Bedford (long credited with creation of the KKK) something on a local level might be more enlightening.

good luck

How about the impact “Birth of a Nation” had in Alabama in 2004? That radio personality’s reaction indicates there are some strongly-held attitudes today. It may be interesting to trace the roots of those attitudes.

History isn’t just in the past - it’s being made fresh all the time. Besides, dropping the names of a few Auburn faculty members in your paper might be worth a few points. Educators love to hear about their own.

Dave

I, like you, have a fascination/disgust with the Klan and the mentality it represents. I would combine the lunching aspect and the Klan influence of the time, but focus it on a landmark lynching that they were influential in if not directly responsible for.

All good ideas. Which only seems to exacerbate my problem. Argh. Still accepting suggestions, though.

I’ll have to watch Birth anyway (that goes without saying). I’ll decide then if I want to look more deeply into it. Right now, though, it’s looking like the KKK. You seem to, uh, know a lot about them, Rick. ;)

d

Hey!
I lived in that area for a year and the oldtimers there told me about it. I have never been nor will I ever associate myself with such a terrorist group. I hope you were just needling me.

I was. Of course. :D

I was impressed with your knowledge, actually. I may interview you for my paper.

d

Your needling me again!

Actually, Rick, I was kinda serious on that one. You might give me some interesting leads, should I decide to do KKK.

For the record (and for anyone who happens along that doesn’t know one or both of us), you’ve never given me the first indication that you’re racist in any way. Quite the opposite. There. Disclaimer provided, JUST IN CASE.

d

Let me add my voice to the chorus singing your praises. This blog is the first thing I check whenever I sit down at my computer. I also make a point of reading your posts on IIDB.

Just to make your decision a bit tougher, my vote goes to “reactions of freedmen and whites to emancipation in 1865-66 in Alabama.” I find that as I get older, I’m more interested in the lives of ordinary people. (Maybe because I’m coming to terms with how ordinary I am) Enough attention has been paid to the Klan already.

Kathy

I reccommend the movie. Your background in literature, as well as your love of movies, coupled with your sharp wit and your burning desire for honesty, tempered by your desire to look at the truth of a matter, should make one of the most fascinating movie reviews ever written. I would be very pleased to have a copy of it.

Daddy,

It won’t be my review, per se, although that would doubtless creep into the paper. I’d be researching the impact the movie had when it came out. Come to think of it, that topic doesn’t even require I see the movie…. I can’t imagine writing a paper on it if I don’t see it, though.

I thought I’d see the movie first, then depending upon my level of interest at that point, decide whether I want to write a paper on its impact.

d

Urgh. Decisions, decisions. I have to choose soon, that’s fer sure. I took a day of leave Friday to spend the day at the Alabama State Archives. My paper may hinge on how much material I find for any given subject. Or more likely, how sucked in I am by any given subject.

d