Freedom Isn't Free.. Don't Tell Canada

I've been feeling the need for change.  I've been talking to my brother this past year about joining him and his wife in Boulder/Denver area, where their plan to move this summer was delayed after his accident last year to the summer of 2009.  When I moved to Atlanta in 1998, it was not really toward anything, but rather to get away from where I grew up and the bad patterns I'd established there.  Ironically, the minute I set foot in Atlanta, I knew I wouldn't stay here for the rest of my life.  I have no regrets, as it was an amazing learning experience.  I've always been independent, but this was a whole new lesson in capability.  Planting myself right in the middle of a city that I'd never been to, hadn't known anyone and re-establishing my identity was challenging to say the least.  I decided all those years ago, that the next time I decide to reinvent my life in a new city, it'll be a move forward, towards something.  I've already established the fact that I'm terrible at making plans, but I think I can spend the next year or two or maybe five, who knows, visiting and researching new cities while prioritizing what is important to have in a city I call home.  I'd really like to love where I'm living.  

There are a lot of things that I love about Atlanta, but there are also some important ones that I don't.  Atlanta may be a big city, but it's still pretty deep in the south.  There is definitely an underlying current of racism.  I know it doesn't disappear as you move about the country, but its roots here are deep.  Also, it's one of the worst cities for biking and as you may or may not know, I really like to ride my bike.  

Today I went out to Newnan, about 45 minutes southwest of Atlanta, to do a road ride called Silk Sheets for a change of pace from the normal routes.  I took my camera, but it wasn't particularly scenic.  There were three things that caught my attention, however, and they just happen to illustrate my earlier sentiment.  

Having the childish sense of humor that I do, I stopped to take a picture of this sign because of the name:  Soggy Bottom Farm (not the best at picture taking today - must've been sweat in my eyeballs)

THEN, I looked to the left and saw something I'd only seen in old cartoons in film classes - go ahead, click on it and look at the detail:

I wonder what sort of statement these people were trying to make.  Now, I'm pretty sure that black people have eyelids, but I'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe this particular figurine had hyperthyroid and was a smoker - hence the bulging eyes.  Then I looked closer at the picture I took and noticed how the little black boy is all busted up, as is his seating.  Is this a statement from the owners or was it vandalism?  Crispin and I joked about their stance on race relations having this display in their front yard, but I wish I was more clever and witty because I can see several jokes here somewhere, I just can't put them together.

After witnessing that display, I came upon this "Freedom Isn't Free" sign:

...which TOTALLY reminded me of the following David Cross bit.  If you're easily offended by swearing, or a "W" supporter.. it's just going to piss you off..

So, I think I'll start my list with:

Large network of bike lanes.

Politically progressive towards alternative transportation.

and of course - Nice weather.  (nice according to my definition)

I'm tired.  This whole entry might read horribly, but that's the chance I'm taking in publishing it now...