Boiled Peanuts, or Maybe Billboards.

When I used to think of the South, Florida would just barely come to my mind. Until I actually was here, it didn't take long to figure out differently. Our first few hours driving through Florida were an eye-opener. I think of Texas as a southern, conservative, bible-thumping state, and Florida is more of a bikini-clad, laid back sort of state. Sure, they serve sweet tea, and every state that touches them is considered 'Southern' but I thought maybe somehow the amount of ocean that touches this state, somehow makes it immune. I was wrong. My first hints (more like being beat in the head) of the southern, bible-thumping state I had just entered were the billboards. Sure, you had your "Orange Juice Welcome Center, Florida Has Lots Of Oranges. Hoorraayy" billboards, but more interestingly were the ABORTION billboards. Of course there are always a few. But, in Florida, it's about every other one. No joke. I began to feel guilty for, well, I'm not sure what. That lasted about a second, then I sort of wanted to puke. What a fantastic welcome to the state. "Hey I hope you feel guilty has sin, and want to drive off this road if you've done such a thing" and, I wanted to get on top of those billboards and graffiti over them "GRACE?" Because who would feel safe reaching out to someone like that.

Anyway, other billboards also were of much annoyance to me. There were billboards for things as normal as hotels which advertised along with their brand the Jesus fish. I'm not sure that Jesus and capitalism go hand-in-hand. Should we support Christian based business? Maybe. I don't think Jesus was against that at all, but we were also supposed to sell our possessions and follow him. Maybe we don't have to do that. We've come a long way from early Christian communities. It is what it is. But, why should I frequent your business because you can put a Jesus fish on your billboard? That means nothing to me. That does not mean that your business practices are ethical, that your religious views are ethical or that you're even a Christian. And I'll be honest, I'm cynical and skeptical, and part of me doesn't even think you're Christian at all. And, I also think you put that up there for pure profit. No other motive. Pure and simple greed. Because people WILL stop there because of that fish. And that annoys me to the depth of my being. You can take that fish and... well, I can figure out somewhere else to brand it.

End rant. I was going to get to peanuts in this post. That was my intended topic of conversation. Next time I guess.