Mississippi

I was reading the Clarion Ledger updates about the Miss Mississippi Pageant.  They asked the contestants what they loved about Mississippi.  This makes me proud to be from Mississippi and the South!  These are some of their replies:

• "Our roots run deeper than those of the magnolia trees for which we are known"   -Miss Alcorn County

• "I, for one, am extremely excited to say that I am a fellow Mississippian to William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Brett Favre, Faith Hill, Elvis Presley, John Grisham, Morgan Freeman and Payton and Eli Manning and many, many other famous and talented individuals"    -Miss Clinton

• "We have overcome stereotypes and hardships.  Today we are people who value diversity and welcome challenges."  -Miss Hattiesburg

• "Hurricane Katrina was a test of character for our citizens.  We are not wholly dependent on government, and in time of disaster, we learned to lean on each other."  -Miss Leaf River Valley

• "It has the world's longest man-made beach, the most churches, the second oldest cemetery, and not to mention all of the inventions that have been patented here,"   -Miss Rankin County

• "What strikes me the most about Mississippi is its profound diversity.  From white beaches to large cities to peaceful pastures, Mississippi has a place for everyone." -Miss Dixie

• To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.         -William Faulkner