we are all yankees

[hensylee]

The Word of the Day for July 4 is:

Yankee \YANG-kee\ noun
1 a : a native or inhabitant of New England b : a native or inhabitant of the northern U.S.
*2 : a native or inhabitant of the U.S.

Example sentence:
"They mistake who assert that the Yankee has few amusements...and men and boys do not play so many games as they do in England." (Henry David Thoreau, _Walden_)

Did you know?
Many etymologies have been proposed for "Yankee," but its origin is still uncertain. What we do know is that in its earliest recorded use "Yankee" was a pejorative term for American colonials used by the British military. The first evidence we have is in a letter written in 1758 by British General James Wolfe, who had a very low opinion of the American troops assigned to him. We also have a report of British troops using the term to abuse citizens of Boston. In 1775, however, after the battles of Lexington and Concord had shown the colonials that they could stand up to British regulars, "Yankee" became suddenly respectable and the colonials adopted the British pejorative in defiance. Ever since then, a derisive and a respectable use of "Yankee" have existed side by side.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

and there you have it. We are all yankees, including Bonnie, Bubba and me. Happy Fourth!

 

[Mary]

Hear Hear!

 

[Wise]

Happy 4th fellow Yankees!! That includes "you guys", "you'uns", "yous guys", "you all", "all you all" ....ad infinitum....

 

[Christina L]

Very interesting -

Very interesting -

thanks for posting this Hensylee.

Guess we are all "Yankee Doodle Dandies."

Such a rich American heritage we have - those who came before us gave us so much and we have the duty to carry on in keeping this great country as it is so our descendents will be able to live in freedom.

Today I was thinking back to Wayne's and my trip to Boston last summer - we saw in Boston where the Declaration of Independence was first read. When you are there, you can scarcely wrap your mind around the hugeness of it all - especially when it is now such a modern age. We tend to forget what it took to make the U.S. what it is today.

Christina L

 

[hensylee]

another history tidbit by Washington Irving

another history tidbit by Washington Irving

The Declaration of Independence

By Washington Irving

While danger was gathering round New York, and its inhabitants were in mute suspense and fearful anticipations, the General Congress at Philadelphia was discussing, with closed doors, what John Adams pronounced, "The greatest question ever debated in America, and as great as ever was or will be debated among men." The result was, a resolution passed unanimously on the 2nd of July - "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

"The 2nd of July," adds the same patriot statesman, "will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forth forevermore."

The glorious event has, indeed, given rise to an annual jubilee - but not on the day designated by Adams. The FOURTH of July is the day of national rejoicing, for on that day the "Declaration of Independence," that solemn and sublime document, was adopted.

Tradition gives a dramatic effect to its announcement. It was known to be under discussion, but the closed doors of Congress excluded the populace. They awaited, in throngs, an appointed signal. In the steeple of the State House was a bell, imported twenty-three years previously from London by the Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania. It bore the portentous text from Scripture: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof." A joyous peal from that bell gave notice that the bill had been passed. It was the knell of British domination.

 

[Superbob]

Ain't No Yankee

Ain't No Yankee

Under definition (a), ain't no way we are all Yankees!

But if Yankees want to come South and try to blend in with the native culture, here are some tips for them:


Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later how to use it.

If you forget a Southerner's name, refer to him (or her) as "Bubba". You have a 75% chance of being right.

Just because you can drive on snow and ice does not mean we can. Stay home the two days of the year it snows.

If you do run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in the cab of a four wheel drive with a 12-pack of beer and a tow chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them. Just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store.

Do not buy food at the movie store.

If it can't be fried in bacon grease, it ain't worth cooking, let alone eating.

Remember: "Y'all" is singular. "All y'all" is plural. "All y'all's" is plural possessive.
There is nothing sillier than a Northerner imitating a southern accent, unless it is a southerner imitating a Boston accent.

Get used to hearing, "You ain't from around here, are you?"

People walk slower here.

Don't be worried that you don't understand anyone. They don't understand you either.

The first Southern expression to creep into a transplanted Northerner's vocabulary is the adjective "Big ol'", as in "big ol' truck"or "big ol' boy". Eighty-five percent begin their new southern influenced dialect with this expression. One hundred percent are in denial about it.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper.

Be advised: The "He needed killin'" defense is valid here.

If attending a funeral in the South, remember, we stay until the last shovel of dirt is thrown on and the tent is torn down.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this!" stay out of his way. These are likely the last words he will ever say.

Most Southerners do not use turn signals, and they ignore those who do. In fact, if you see a signal blinking on a car with a southern license plate, you may rest assured that it was on when the car was purchased.

Northerners can be identified by the spit on the inside of their car's windshield that comes from yelling at other drivers.

The winter wardrobe you always brought out in September can wait until November.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the most minuscule accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store. It does not matter if you need anything from the store, it is just something you're supposed to do.

Satellite dishes are very popular in the South. When you purchase one it is to be positioned directly in front of your trailer. This is logical bearing in mind that the dish cost considerably more than the trailer and should, therefore, be displayed.

Tornadoes and Southerners going through a divorce have a lot in common. In either case, you know someone is going to lose a trailer.

Florida is not considered a southern state. There are far more Yankees than Southerners living there.

In southern churches you will hear the hymn, "All Glory, Laud and Honor". You will also hear expressions such as, "Laud, have mercy","Good Laud", and "Laudy, Laudy, Laudy".

As you are cursing the person driving 15 mph in a 55 mph zone, directly in the middle of the road, remember, many folks learned to drive on a model of vehicle known as John Deere, and this is the proper speed and lane position for that vehicle.

You can ask a Southerner for directions, but unless you already know the position of key hills, trees and rocks, you're better off trying to find it yourself.

Ya'll Come Back Now, Ya hear?

Borrowed from the "Country Humor" website, but it's all true, y'all.

 

[hensylee]

directions I always give to get to my house and it works every time starting with the first step:

remember where the old bear bar used to be? (oh, yeah, it's a mexican money swap store now)

well, there's a two rut road right before it, just over the rr tracks. (yeah, I know that road)

well, turn there and come on down to the white house that sits way up in the pine trees and that's me. the house number is on a pine tree by the driveway but you have to hunt it because there are lots of pines and the numbers are faded now. (they always arrive and always on time)

talking about Boston, I love that city. I think it's the greatest city I have visited - well, Washington, D.C. was really great, too. Fanuiel Hall is where you were talking about, Christina. They had all the community meetings there. When we went, we followed the historic trail with the footprints on the sidewalks and saw everything we could find. We went to Yale, Kennedy library, Boston Pops, saw the tall ships, went to the seat of our government (the court house or city hall), the farmer's market, China town, Paul Revere's home - and on, and on. Beautiful

 

[Gail in Ca]

Will Never be a Yankee, I'm an A's Fan!!!
Gail

 

[tommy]

I was born a Yankee. I know that some (Rob?) say that can't be cured. But I'm learning some of the traditions of my adopted culture.

"Hold my beer. I'm gonna try something" are the last words heard before the wreck.
I enjoy barbecuing in November, and fetchin' the mail barefoot in December.
Dairy Queen is the Texas stop sign.
If traffic is stalled on the highway, make your own off ramp.
Thank eeeyuuuuuu!
Bless your precious little heart.

Also grew up a Yankee fan - Mantle, Maris, Yogi, etc.
Those were the days.

 

[Andrew'sMom]

robhol -- that made me laugh!
as a yankee living as a pseudo-southerner for 6 yrs in NC , here are my additions to your list:

Livermush Sandwiches
Vienna Sausages
Chow-Chow

And you gotta learn how "to reckon'" and how to be "fixin' to ___fill in the blank with just about anything___" !!

 

[Adam T]

Ha ha, I'm a pseudo-southerner too! I like to think I can fake it really well though.

I "carry" my dogs to the vet in my four wheel drive truck. I "mash" the button at the gas pump. I love shrimp & grits (try it if you're in Charleston), oyster roasts, college football, and barbeque (if you have to ask barbeque what, you don't know what I'm talking about). In a pinch I can whip out a "Yes ma'am, or a "Hey, Bo" to keep people guessing.

I did have a hard time not calling soda "pop" when I moved here. You can take the boy out of the midwest, but you can't take all of the midwest out of the boy. That one will give you away every time, y'all.

Oh, and NEVER, I mean NEVER put sugar in your grits. That'll blow your cover faster than you can say, "scattered, smothered, and covered." (Again, if you have to ask...)

 

[lcwhitney]

You guys can be yankees if you want too but I refuse to be one!

lettitia

 

[Wise]

Oh, and NEVER, I mean NEVER put sugar in your grits. That'll blow your cover faster than you can say, "scattered, smothered, and covered." (Again, if you have to ask...)

Now that's one area that this former midwesterner will not budge on. No cheese, salt and pepper in my grits. I HAVE to eat them with sugar, milk and butter. Otherwise I'd gag. When I first saw grits I instantly thought breakfast cereal. Actually, I never had them until I moved to Kentucky many years ago. I only moved from northern Indiana, but there's a big difference between the two locales.

 

[gadgetman]

I "carry" my dogs to the vet in my four wheel drive truck.

Yo' "haul" o' "drag" yer dawgs t'th' vet in yer fer wheel drive pick-m-up truck. Yo' "carry" them t'th' truck so their feet doesn't git ye truck all muddy.

Bubba

A humorous aphorism attributed to E.B. White summarizes these distinctions:

To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast

Happy Day After!!!!!!

 

[gadgetman]

I HAVE to eat them with sugar, milk and butter.

Yo' might as well haf ceral ah guess. Only thin' t'add t'grits is salt. Mebbe a li'l pepper eff'n yo' wanna live on th' wild side. An' a litte dab of butter eff'n it is a special occashun!!!!!

Bubba

 

[mntbiker]

I AM A NEW YORKER! I was born and raised a New Yorker and even though I live in Georgia (the r is ennunciated) I am still a New Yorker, I will not eat grits and I will not say you all and I refuse to get any type of truck, I like my mini van.

As far as being a Yankee, technically I qualify but don't ask me about baseball, I have never watched an entire game and will not allow that or any other sport to be tuned in on my TV (exceptions are TdF and World Cup).

If after this you think I have an attitude you are wrong, I am a New Yorker!

 

[hensylee]

sugar on your grits! Well, I never! I married a man who put sugar on sliced tomatoes, but had to divorce the poor boy for that very reason!

 

[gadgetman]

I AM A NEW YORKER!

Wal, we still love yo' man, even eff'n yo' is a "dadburn yankee".

Noo Yawker huh????? Thet explains a lot about th' "hard haid" in yo'.

Bubba

 

[Mary]

Yo' "haul" o' "drag" yer dawgs t'th' vet in yer fer wheel drive pick-m-up truck. Yo' "carry" them t'th' truck so their feet doesn't git ye truck all muddy.

Bubba

A humorous aphorism attributed to E.B. White summarizes these distinctions:

To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast

Happy Day After!!!!!!

I will always eat pie for breakfast, if offered the opportunity.
Am I a Vermonter?

 

[Wise]

sugar on your grits! Well, I never! I married a man who put sugar on sliced tomatoes, but had to divorce the poor boy for that very reason!

I hope you can reconcile with me. I just can't help it. I don't want a "divorce".

I do watch Paula Dean cook on TV; does that help any?