Blog #4

Which of the metaphor systems Lakoff describes (moral accounting, moral strength vs. moral nurturance, family-based morality, etc.) do you see/hear most in social or political discourse around you? We've talked a good bit about the importance of region/place in culture; which metaphors seem to be strongest in Mississippi/southern discourse?
Remember to use specific examples and quotes from the text.

I feel like the family based morality model or "strict father model" as it is referred to in the text is the one concept in this writing that resonates completely through Southern culture. In Mississippi, shame is felt for exhibiting one's sexual desires because the "strict father model" has an ideal that inner sexual desires are viewed as evil and should not be acted upon in our society. I feel like some of Mississippi's difficulties such as low socio-economic status and high teen pregnancy are attributed to this ideal. If the parents in our state could some how wrap their head around the idea that sex by teenagers is inevitable then students could be exposed to safe sex practices in the sex education classes in our schools. This would lower our teen pregnancy and drop out rates. Much of Southerner's beliefs are steeped in the "father model" that the text discussed and some of them are great ideas, such as being a hard worker and protecting one's family, but other ideals are not fair to hold on to and are stifling the advancement of our state.