Dixie-net

The reading for class this week was entitled "I'll take my stand in Dixie-net" by Tara McPherson. It is apart of a larger book entitled "Race in Cyberspace", a compilation of many authors. The main concept of this article is the neo-racism that is taking place on the internet, and why the current standpoint still exists in the south. The websites are designed to protect their "Southern heritage" and their icons, such as flags, that keep them alive today. It is a problem that these thoughts continue in American culture, and that 150 years after the Civil War, we are still divided.
One of the problems that the author discusses is the writer's registers of place. The author feels that because the south has been stereotypically called "redneck and racist" that they inherently act in such a way. Also, the author describes the websites as not racist, but supplying racist information, such as links to other websites for confederate or rebel on-line activity. Her depiction of the "Cultural genocide of the Confederacy" furthermore proves that there is a social uprising of southern men and women that believe the former Confederate States of America should be upheld.
One question that I have, and something that I found as interesting was the fact that there was a Confederate States building in Washington D.C. that is still fully functioning. It doesn't make sense to have a building in operation for something that has been abolished since 1865. Also, if the taxpayers are paying for this building, it would raise quite an uproar from many people as to why it is so important to hold on to this building.
I enjoyed reading this article because it was something that few people ever realize is still exists. It is a mindset by a few individuals that live in the past because it is the only way they can feel important. Unfortunately, there is little chance of this ever changing.