Jackson Jambalaya

this whole "my feelings are hurt" because of "so & so" thing has been going on long enough. Really stupid of Biloxi

Whether banning or burning books, only a moron would do such.

Remember when people would get "offended" by something, yet they would just ignore it and not make a deal of it? Yeah, it's been far too long.......but those were MUCH better times than now.

If only the younger generation(s) could experience (and understand) less tedious times where everyone wasn't at everyone else's throats over every little contrived thing! We just haven't always given idiots an audience......

I didn't "say" shit. I thusly quoted "Nevermore" dammit!

Banning? Is book BURNING next? Will the port on the coast lead the clarion call?

I well remember when our family would save up a couple of hundred dollars and drive down to Biloxi for four days vacation. We always got one of those siesta looking places that had a kitchenette so we could save money. And dad would swing by the ice house and get a twelve-pound block of ice for the trip. Mom already had pimento cheese and tuna-fish sandwiches made. And we'd have a ball. We might catch a fish or a crab and would run and run in the sand and wade out to what we thought was at least fifteen miles, knee-deep.

Now, the entire coast is ruined by casinos, most of the fabulous motels and restaurants are long gone and poker chips and neon rule. Now books are banned and soon will be burned. The place has turned to shit. Is there any other way to describe it?

4:58 is right. It is as if Old Biff got in the time machine and went back and corrupted things. Today, much of Mississippi is like finding yourself in the town of Hill Valley in Back to the Future II.

Geez people stop. Anyboby that wants to read the book can read it. There's no book banning. John Grisham books should be banned though. Ha.

4:58 - No. The place hasn't turned to shit. Different yes but shit no. Biloxi and Gulfport now employee thousands of people, what was old crappy hotels are now beautiful high rise hotels with conference facilities. The food is excellent at many of the local, and chain, restaurants.

If you really miss the old times you can take a trip down memory lane by putting all your crap into an igloo cooler with a 12 pound block of ice.

BTW - The book has not been banned. It is still in the school library. Still approved for AR. Can still get it on your Kindle, tablet or phone.

5:37 - I don't have any desire to find the book or buy the book or search for the book on my Kindle. The point here is that, indeed, the area has turned to shit. You just fail to realize or acknowledge it. If you are hollow-headed enough to actually believe we should trade out heritage and happy days for a few pieces of silver (people having jobs that require wearing short skirts in casinos), you're beyond help. You obviously did not enjoy a family life back years ago like most of us did.....and now you think success is measured by high rise hotels with conference facilities and chain restaurants on the street below. Meanwhile you leave the slots and stumble into Waffle House at 3:16 a.m. and think you're in a really cool venue. You simply would NOT understand.

@6:12

While I am in no way defending the way the "Coast" is these days, it is certainly much better than it was in the 50's and 60's. As a child and young adult I remember the sleaziness that was rampant from one state line to the other. Back then the Mississippi Coast rivaled Las Vegas for graft and corruption. I don't know that things are a whole lot better now but at least it is more presentable and the sleaze is not out in the open for all to see.

and McDaniel sees nothing but opportunity.

Hey I agree with you my questions is why should an 8th grader be required to read it rather than choose something else. Look most 8th graders have no idea of 50s and 60s and the problems is why should they be required to read about it amongst the many great books available. It's really a matter of simple choice. My concern is we seem more to be simply opposed to a common sense issues bec its a change. I say let's grow up and recognize we all have to live together in the future not the past. I am not offended in the least by making this book I loved elective not required

I had some really fun times at The Dream Room. Other than that, I didn't know anything about all the 'sleeze and corruption'. Casinos have ruined the Mississippi Gulf Coast just as surely as they ruined Vicksburg. We've traded our Broadman Hymnals and fried chicken for the Crystal Cathedral and can never go home again.

Vicksburg was a mess before the casinos. They didn't ruin anything that wasn't already on a downward spiral.

Will those of you attacking Biloxi and Vicksburg ( for other than a poor decision on a book), please tell me where I might find the Garden of Eden where you reside?

I want to know how to find this glorious city or town without crime or scandal or corruption or deterioration of any building or road and there is no poverty or decay.

I've travelled the entire state and I can't find it. But, clearly, those of you who trash other cities must live in this heavenly place.

It is sad that we have a major school district refusing to teach one of the greatest novels written in the history of American literature.

I can remember driving down hwy 90 through Biloxi many years ago and thinking what a pretty city this is and that I would like to live there some day.
I finally moved there and I thought it was great.
They gambling was voted in. After a year or two I moved out. I used to drive down for a visit every once in a while but since Katrina I have only been there once. It isn't the Biloxi I knew and enjoyed. One time was enough.

9:26: Sure, I will be glad to tell you. Try traveling to any of a number of mid-sized cities outside of Mississippi and in the New South, especially those cities that have quality colleges and universities (not an Ole Miss) bringing together local investors and well-educated college grads developing business after business and enhancing the quality of life for their communities. (That is the reason why we have “nice things”.) I’ve said it before: In the early 1980’s landmark federal tax legislation was passed that made it possible, for those who wanted it, to massively improve the quality of life in the South. It’s was called the rise of the Sunbelt. Today, right smack in the middle of the Sunbelt is a black hole. It is called Mississippi. You had your chance, but you gave it over to your law school grads, your elites, and your politicians. (That is why you do not have “nice things”.) The typical example of your development (apart from your casinos and your coal gasification debacle and your football stadiums) is represented by your state’s investment in a company that is (or shall we say was) going to produce wood pellets from sawdust. Again, it’s your own fault. What are you people in Mississippi going to do to change this?

This seems to me to be a tempest in a teapot. One student's parents did not want her exposed to the book. She was offered an alternative which was accepted. Then the news broke. Look out! The book was not banned. It is still available for an elective study. The copies given out to the class were not collected. Removing it from the curriculum may be an over reaction, but how better to get a bunch of teenagers to read something than to tell them not to read it.

my papaw made tons of money doing illegal stuff on the coast in the 50's and 60's. only difference now is that the "stuff" is taxed. oh...and your competition don't get their legs broke.