You're right: the South is known for some great food, a slower pace (at times) and Southern hospitality. You're also very mistaken. Southern hospitality isn't some religious practice that Southerners follow from a manual. It's not kissing up to strangers all the time for the hell of it. Our being hospitable isn't fake, and it certainly isn't too good to be true. I've also never heard a Southerner preach that they "practice" Southern hospitality. Being hospitable doesn't equate to being two-faced as you say, because I also have no apprehensions about telling you how things really are here.

Southerners don't pass instant judgments on people that they meet and then decide to still be nice because they feel an obligation to do so. I talk to the cashier at the grocery store, say "please" and "thank you" and make conversation with strangers because my mom raised me to be polite and use my manners. She taught me to not judge a book by its cover and to love everyone. Your parents obviously didn't do the same, and I don't understand how you can say that we're lying to someone's face and wasting our "precious" time by spending a few extra minutes talking to those whom we haven't previously met. Some of the most enlightening and valuable experiences in my life have come from conversations with strangers. I'm sorry that you had a bad encounter with a lady from Louisiana, but you can't make generalizations about 87.44 million people based off of one bad situation.

You also said that Southern hospitality "only applies to those who are Christian, right-winged and straight." I am a heterosexual Christian who usually falls on the right side of the political spectrum, but it just so happens that I live with two girls who fall on the left side (one of whom isn't white), go to a school that is largely liberal, and yes, I even have gay friends. What has this changed about my attitude toward them? Nothing at all.

Aside from accusing me (and all other Southerners) of being shallow, you accused the men here of being aggressive. I'm not sure how much time you've spent in the South, but I can assure you that you are blatantly mistaken. There are jerky guys all over the nation, but as a whole, the men that I've met in the South have been some of the most polite and selfless people ever. They call you "ma'am", they hold doors for women, children and even other men; they treat people with respect. You're also wrong by saying that more violent crimes are committed in the South than anywhere else. Out of the top ten most dangerous cities in America, only three were in the South.

I really don't understand you bringing up Jim Crow laws either. Yes, those laws were in place in the South, but they were in place from 1867-1965. Is it 1965 anymore? I don't think so. We are over 50 years removed from those laws being repealed and somehow, you're still stuck in the past. Plus, you're a white girl from Boston, so why are you out of all people complaining about race and labeling it exclusively on the South? Racism is sadly still an issue, but it's a nationwide issue. Just recently, a mentally disabled white man was tortured by several other African Americans so that they could "make a point." That's racist, too, and it happened in Chicago. You dividing our nation and making generalizations is going to do nothing but inflame the race issue in the United States.

I was born and raised in the South, but I've also been to the North and all over the world. In general, if you're nice to someone, they'll be nice back. The South reflects that universal idea, but Southerners are definitely a little more open with each other. We take our time to get to know others, use our manners and show class, because that's how we were raised. Here's my cry to you as a born and raised South Carolinian: I sincerely and honestly hope that you quit judging people based off of things you've heard and your one experience. If you really want to experience some Southern hospitality, come on down. We'll show you.