Florida, from top to bottom, is worlds apart

BY LIZ DOUP

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 12, 2008


It's a civil war, Florida style.

Last week, North Lauderdale commissioners suggested dividing our sunny state into two parts: North and South.

Their complaint is with the Legislature. Too stingy with the South, they claim.

We don't bother ourselves with boring budgets. But we do know that North and South Florida are like two adopted kids. They've got different cultural DNA.

Two states? Heck, they could be two countries.

Consider ...



The North: Home to Crackers



The South: Home to (real, live) nuts



The North: Once known for really good tobacco



The South: Still known for really good weed



The North: Famous for controversial lyrics in Old Folks at Home

The South: Famous for controversial antics of old folks in condos



The North: Seminoles football team



The South: Real Indians





The North: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings



The South: Marjory Stoneman Douglas



The North: A bona-fide plantation — Kingsley



The South: A bona-fide city — Plantation



The North: Clogging!



The South: Salsa!



The North: Home to Allis-Chalmers (mighty fine tractors)



The South: Home to Aston Martins (mighty fine cars)



The North: I-10 death trap



The South: I-95 death trap



The North: Fashion statement — blue jeans



The South: Fashion statement — bling! bling!



The North: Speaks pure Southern



The South: Speaks Spanglish and Brooklynese



The North: Feasts on beer and barbecue



The South: Feasts on mojitos and pollo en mole



The North: Known for horse

country



The South: Known for horse hockey