"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Friday, May 13, 2011

On My Southern Belle Qualifications

So yesterday I was posting something on Facebook that made me find a picture of the Cowardly Lion for my friend, Nasr. 

I'll leave it to your imagination why I thought of cowardly lions.


Somehow that lead me to showing Samer a clip from The Wizard of Oz since he'd never seen this movie before.

This lead to our speaking of Gone with the Wind. Oh yes, I think we were talking about how people in old-timey movies had odd accents.  Samer showed me this clip from Citizen Kane and we discussed whether Americans still talked this way.

We decided no.



So that's what lead to Gone with the Wind.  Because Samer is enamoured with southern accents and I was trying to find a movie displaying this most charming characteristic of genuine Southernness.

I think he started reading more about this movie because soon he asked me what a Southern belle was. 

"Look it up and tell me what you find," says bossy Susie (who was on the floor recording some donations for work.)

Samer obeys.  (Who says men aren't trainable?)

"Susie, let me see if this describes you."  So he started reading the Wikipedia article out loud.

A southern belle (derived from the French word belle, 'beautiful') is an archetype for a young woman of the American Old South's upper class.

A southern belle had a lot of rules in order to behave. Pants/trousers were not allowed on girls; they always had to wear a dress that covered their ankles and their wrists. Not doing so would result in accusations of being a tomboy, a prostitute and in some cases a lesbian. These rules became more relaxed in the 1940's when most of the men were fighting in the war, and companies began to hire women to do the work in the men's absence.

Speaking to someone who was not white, rich, or properly dressed was taboo for young girls, as well as talking about bodily functions and sexual themes. Even the word "pregnant" was banned for little girls to say, considering the word vulgar.

Women could never raise their voices at all. [Here Samer inserted, "This stuff sounds like the Middle East!" and then, "Nope, Susie, this isn't you. You yell sometimes!"They always had to be kind and polite to everyone they meet. When talking to others, women had to use proper grammar at all times and to never say swear words. Getting into rough, physical fights was only permitted for young boys and never girls.


We concluded that I didn't fit the description and Samer was glad.  According to this article, I would not be allowed to talk to him since he's not "white."


My sweet Arab friend in Switzerland - March 2010


Amber did a cute post about Southern Culture for outsiders. It is a compilation of things she and her friends came up with one night as they were discussing the subject.

I just wanted to record this because I found the whole conversation rather cute. Especially when Samer reminded me that I sometimes yell.

Who meeee?



Bless his heart.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Aw, that is cute. :D Also the idea of you yelling. I can't really imagine that, you're so sweet!

Susanne said...

Let's just say Samer and I have some rather heated discussions on occasion! ;) But, I can be sweet. And I can also yell if need be! :D

That usually earns me a, "Susie, calm down" and "be rational."

:-P***

Amber said...

Cute! Yeah, the Southern belle is a thing of the past, and I for one am glad. I never would have made it!

Though I am shocked you tell at Samer. Very rude! Be more Southern.

Lat said...

So that's what southern belle means :) Well I'm glad it's outdated.Can't imagine you not 'talking' to me :) And I'm glad you yell! Cause I do it whenever I want or feel like it :D

That pic of Switzerland is so WOW! Great pic! And the last one is so cute!

Achelois said...

"Nope, Susie, this isn't you. You yell sometimes!"

Haha! This cracked me up!

Very cute :)

The word verification is "ockeries"...wondering how you'd say that!

Susanne said...

Amber, I never would have made it either. I doubt I'd be of the Upper Class anyway so manual labor would have been my friend. :)

Well, Samer brings out the passionate side of me with his varying perspectives. We discuss things mostly without yelling, but occasionally he hears me out when I am angry...hehehe. Poor guy. He sticks around though. He's loyal and a true friend. :)

Susanne said...

Lat, now I cannot imagine you yelling. Ever. Ever. You are always incredibly sweet. I was thinking of this yesterday as I was driving home from town. "I wish I could be more like Lat on the blogs. She is always so kind and says things in calm ways." On the other hand, I have this monster that lives inside me..and I am not always so sweet. Thanks for being a good example! :)


Yeah, I love that picture from Samer's visit to the Alps. Pics of Middle Easterners with camels and in the desert are so common that it's awesome to see a Syrian surrounded by snowy mountains. :)

Susanne said...

Achelois, I know! When he stated that so matter-of-factly, I laughed and laughed! He said before that I taught him how to joke in English. I think I taught the guy too well! *hmph* :D


Well,I'm sure you and I would pronounce "ockeries" differently given our accents. ;)

Lat said...

Oh that was such a sweet comment,Sus! Thank you for thinking so good of me!(blushing) here.But do believe I yell like a tigress!:D

Susanne said...

Hehehe...I love my tigress friend! :)