I’m Sorry Mississippi

Like so many of us, I like to figure out the meaning of vanity license plates.  Of course, some are personal and are not designed to be understood, e.g., the car-owner’s initials, or his love for someone named “Judy.”

Others, like the one at left, are clearly meant to be interpreted.  But what, specifically, does this one mean?  Considering that he lives in this state, is he sorry for Mississippi?  Is he sorry that he, for some reason, has (or had) to leave Mississippi?

I’m guessing that this is akin to Neil Young’s line about the state’s neighbor to the east, which goes: “Alabama, you’ve got the rest of the union to help you along. What’s going wrong?” He’s thinking about how nice it would be if Mississippi would stop embracing ignorance and prejudice, and join the rest of the modern world.

I’m not sure that’s a message I’d feel safe displaying in the Deep South, but I salute the guy’s bravery.