25+ Midwest Memes for Nice Folks Who Say Ope (November 8, 2024)

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Nov 8, 2024 8:00 AM EST

There are a few ongoing debates in the Midwest that I'm not sure if we will ever settle. One of them is pop vs. soda. Pop is a classically Midwestern way to refer to a sweet carbonated beverage, but when I was growing up the vast majority of the kids my age called it soda. Another is Packers vs. Bears. It ultimately probably depends on where you're from, but the rivalry is bitter, and once you choose a side you can't go back. Another one is how to make an Old Fashioned. Everywhere but Wisconsin, it's whiskey, bitters, sugar, and maybe a peel of orange. In Wisconsin, is a sickeningly sweet mix of maraschino cherries, muddled fruit, and brandy. Wisconsinites think theirs is superior, and will fight you about it.

But one thing we can all agree on is that we love a good meme. Almost as much as we love a good cheese.