Southern hospitality key to survival? Puh-lease

[Greg Collard, News Director, WFAE]

I laughed when I read that a new book credits Southern politeness for the survival of all Flight 1549 passengers on the Hudson River. The premise of Miracle on the Hudson: The Survivors of Flight 1549 is that passengers' Southern hospitality brought out the best in humanity and created an environment that led to a calm, orderly evacuation of everyone.

What a load.

The Observer's Tommy Tomlinson does a good job of debunking the Southern hospitality argument in this column, while also providing a superb definition of the phrase "Bless your heart."

But back to the book. Yes, the plane had many passengers from the Charlotte area, but I bet many of them aren't actually from the South. After moving here more than a year ago, a guy looked at me like I was a fool when I asked if he was from Charlotte.

"No one in Charlotte is from Charlotte," he said.

Obviously, that's an exaggeration, but the point was made. Our area has a lot of nice folks. It's just rare to meet people who are from the area.

I'm sure the best in humanity did manifest itself on the Hudson River. Just don't tell me it was a Southern thing.

The best in people is usually on display in times of crisis.

In fact, a bunch of New Yorkers provided a perfect example on 9-11.

[Mark Kemper]

As one of the rare natives but only first generation I would say Greg is correct. We just say "Bless your heart" instead of being blunt by saying your an idiot.
The pilot was not a hero he had a higher quality he was a Professional and the world would be a nicer place if more people followed his excellent example.