Jackson Free Press

In separate nationwide reports, Mississippi gets high scores in happiness and religion. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta released a report ranking the states for happiness. The Magnolia state was No. 7 on that list, topped by other sunny climes, including Louisiana, Hawaii and Arizona. New York state is at the other extreme.The CDC speculates factors including hours of sunshine, cost of living, congestion and air quality all contribute to the happiness rankings, according to USA Today.

Yesterday, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life ranked Mississippi No. 1 in a survey determining which state is the most religious. The survey measured the importance of religion in people's lives, frequency of attendance at worship services, frequency of prayer, and absolute certainty of belief in God. Rounding out the top five in the survey is Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. At the bottom of the list sits New Hampshire and Vermont, tied at last place, with Alaska dead on their heels.

Previous Comments

ID

154436

Comment

See, now that's positive news.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-12-22T11:00:55-06:00

ID

154437

Comment

Yes, unlike all those media outlets that lead with crime every day.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-12-22T11:08:36-06:00

ID

154442

Comment

Ladd, In my opinion, "positive news" based upon a lie (a statistical dilution of the truth?) is not positive news. It is a lie Based iupon your editorial "Let It Shine" (JFP 12-16-09) I'm surprised Donna,that you have not discounted this survey's dependence upon the "token" religious behaviors of Mississippians (not just Jackson) as a measue of happiness in the state. Based upon this states historical and current attitudes, policies and politics regarding "the least of these", religion in Mississippi, it appears to me, is still being used by the powerful Whites in this state to control the less than powerful Whites in this state to keep the powerless Blacks in this state "in their place". Perhaps I have underestimated the blinding hunger of Mississippi's minority of progressive Whites to see any positive print about Mississippi, no matter what distortions are used. You know, a positive lie is better than a negative truth. Maybe I am making this too much of a racial issue. Of course if you consider the 60% approval vote for keeping the Confederate Stars and Bars on the state flag as an accurate measure of the "will of the people", then I guess I should be quiet.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2009-12-22T12:20:55-06:00

ID

154443

Comment

I'll be honest with you, Frank: I'm too busy today to dissect yet another meaningless ranking study. But it is nice to see good ones reported, as well as all the crime-scare studies we see all the time. Otherwise, I'm not in the mood to fight with you. My work, and that of the paper, speaks for itself. Have a happy Christmas.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-12-22T12:44:57-06:00

ID

154447

Comment

Frank, you're mixing up what the two studies concluded, and assuming that there's a causal relationship. There's no correlation between the results that I can see, since the first study didn't look at religious activity as a measure of happiness, and the second didn't look at hours of sunshine or cost of living.

Author

Ronni_Mott

Date

2009-12-22T13:36:01-06:00

ID

154449

Comment

Frank, you're assuming (dangerously so) that religious behaviors are "token". There are many people who do believe, and take religion seriously. Contrary to what Marx said, Religion isn't an opiate.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-12-22T14:50:45-06:00

ID

154452

Comment

Ronnie, I see your point. I missed that the article reported on two separate studies. My Bad. Iron, When a persons actions are contrary to the beliefs that person claims to be the basis of their interactions with their fellow human beings, I consider the trappings and rituals of their beliefs to be "token". Remember the Southern Baptist Conventions support of slavery and Jim Crow based upon the "Children of Ham", New Testament book of Philemon, etc. Just my opinion. Donna, I again fail to see why you have to characterize the presentation of facts as provoking an argument with you rather than prompting a conversation or dialog. I did not say anything to disparage you or the work of the JFP. I specifically differentiated between Jackson and the rest of the state, as you differentiated Jackson of today from your hometown of twenty (?) years ago in your editorial. All I did was pose a question that I thought would prompt you to try to reconcile your lauding a study that appeared to contradict what you had previously editorialized. I guess that your admission that you didn't analyze the study before basking in the limelight of its apparent "positive" depiction of Mississippi explains it all. I, on the other hand, committed the greater error of actually reading the article and still I completely missed the point that two separate studies were being reported. Thanks again Ronnie for your gentle correction.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2009-12-22T20:56:36-06:00

ID

154454

Comment

Frank, even the bible says you'll know a person by their actions. I did say some take their religion seriously. If they take it seriously, you'll know it. Using a broad brush to damn everyone isn't going to help your case at all.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-12-23T09:20:05-06:00

ID

154459

Comment

Iron, My brush is as broad as necessary to cover the "majority" of Mississippians, religous and non-religious, who are "happy" with the condition of the systems,institutions and leadership that sees no value in investing in ALL of its people. JFP has used the term "randon acts of kindness", in recent articles and headlines to highlight the positive efforts of indivuals who are actually living the universally accepted concept of love for your fellow man. These indivuals should be complimented for their efforts. Additionally JFP has done an excellent job of highlighting them. JFP has also lead efforts to utilize under-utilized business across Jackson, minority and women owned by hosting weekly events and get togethers at these businesses. These efforts should also be applauded. (Donna, this comment is meant to be a compliment to you and your staff) However, the JFP article which used the term "critical mass" says it all. Random acts cannot compete with organized, funded and institutionalized political and social "systems, and leadership" whose goal and/or effect is to marginalize 40% of Mississippi's citizens. My goal in even talking about the two studies is to make sure that the committed progressives for positive change in Mississippi keep their (our), eye on the ball and not be complimented into complacency by a few token examples of a positively progressing Mississippi. Queen suggested that I take a pill and relax now and then. I wish I could. I've got plenty of pills and very little time.

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2009-12-23T13:41:43-06:00

ID

154462

Comment

[quote]My goal in even talking about the two studies is to make sure that the committed progressives for positive change in Mississippi keep their (our), eye on the ball and not be complimented into complacency by a few token examples of a positively progressing Mississippi.[/quote] In other words the JFP should ignore the good news while there are people still being actively opressed by "the man", huh? Print nothing but doom & gloom? It's not the case. I've made my point, and you're admitting you won't see reason but will continue to push your party line. We can't have a conversation if you're going to ignore reality.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2009-12-23T14:17:32-06:00

ID

154466

Comment

Iron, Mississippi's sky is Purple. No other state has a purple sky. Isn't that good news! Wow, reality is a beautiful thing. Yea Mississippi!

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2009-12-23T17:36:08-06:00