More Grits Please (Hold the Small Talk)

I don’t think I have to explain the power that the Evangelical Christian movement still holds and wields over my Southern home town and the Bible belt in general.   I hope I also don’t have to explain what “grits,” are either.   Although I have had to explain more times than I like to admit what grits are to several people during my West Coast tenure. 

Grits in general are small milled grains of corn that when added to hot water becomes a type of hot cereal (think cream of wheat).   In the South it is generally eaten as a breakfast side and made in a savory fashion with pepper and lots of butter.   In the deeper South it is also used with certain dinner dishes like Shrimp ‘n’ Grits.   I highly recommend and refer you to Paula Deen’s recipe for Shrimp ‘n’ Grits, or if you are in the Savannah (GA) area, suggest you visit her brother’s restaurant, Uncle Bubba’s for a great big serving of it. 

The word “grits,” has also become a slang word (i.e. in the South) for strength or conviction.   For some reason it also has become a word for your ass!   Long before the character Flo (Polly Holliday)  off of the popular 1970’s/1980’s sitcom Alice became famous for turning the phrase “Kiss My Grits,” into a hilarious pop phrase meaning “Kiss My Ass,” my grandmother used to say to us that we were “showing our grits,” when we would throw a fit or act up.   So, in affect, “showing your grits,” was the nicer less profane way of saying, “showing your ass.”

Lest I digress, when the terrorist struck the NYC World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon on that nightmarish day in 2001 it was not only a horrible and evil act of cowardice upon thousands and our Nation in general but it somehow become some call to order for the Evangelical Right wing faction.   I remember listening to people back home in the South in December 2001 openly discussing that if Christians stood up for their beliefs like the radical Muslim faction did then maybe more people would “see the light.”  I will stress when I overheard these mumblings and debates going on that I don’t believe were not glorifying nor justifying the terrorist attacks; but somehow in some misguided way were saying that in fact, “well at least the terrorists die for their beliefs.” 

I was shocked into a state of surreal disbelief.   Over the next few years it became apparent that somehow not only (then) President George W. Bush but also the Evangelicals were going to use this attack as a talking point to rouse and energize the conservative and extreme Right Wing Conservative base and even many middle of the road independents to adopt and push their own agendas.

The terrorist attack and any crime of hate or terrorism is simply an act of cowardice.   Whether you are bombing a building or bullying someone it is simply a pathetic act.   There is no glory or prize for killing, maiming, scaring,  and terrorizing people. 

There is an old saying that goes, “Walk the Talk.”  To me this is what having grits is all about.   If you have a conviction about living a certain way, then live it, you don’t have to jam it down everyone’s throat.   There are times to speak up and be heard, like for example when a whole segment of the population is being openly discriminated against.   Yet, even then, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ghandi showed true bravery as they both advocated for peaceful assembly and demonstration.  

It seems the evolution of man has not reached the collective mindset that force and might don’t equal true bravery and justice.   In the world of food there is sadly instant grits for those who can’t wait for a nice pot of grits to be made on the stove.   In the world it seems we still chose instant gratification in large proportion in general.   It is much easier I guess to trade bomb for bomb.   As for me, I will wait for a nice fresh batch of buttery creamy grits off the stove.  When it comes to rushing to the war of words or even the war of fire power, I will take diplomacy and thoughtful conversation, you can hold the small talk.