diversity

Atlanta used to represent the old south perhaps as much or more than maybe any other southern city. I'm in Atlanta and have noticed one striking thing - and maybe it is only striking because I live in lily-white-bread Springfield. I happen to also be listening to Tom Friedman's audio book - The World Is Flat.

I rode on an elevator today with 5 guys from India who all work locally for Sun Trust which I guess is a big southern bank. At the hotel check-in I met a young lady from Germany, then a young man from Malaysia then another young lady from Germany during my repeated trips to get my room.

At lunch at Chick-Fil-A, I sat next to a woman from China.

Lots of accents and skins of different colors and this is not New York or LA - this is Atlanta.

I guess the melting pot is alive and well.

We don't see much of this in Springburg.

One final note - had dinner at the Hard Rock cafe because I may be the only person who has never been to one. I was also surprised that I was not part of the older crowd there. Most of the people were older than me. And I don't think it was anyone's birthday party. Final thought - they played videos on screens all over the room - most of which were old. We're talking Metalllica, Elvis (Yes, Elvis!) and plenty of other old looking videos. I have no idea why.