2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: The Iranians are not MY enemy. [View all]Hortensis
(58,785 posts)And, of course, the Pacific Northwest before that even.
I do wish those people could see a bunch of my neighbors at home. They can be really wonderful -- as long as they don't realize they're talking with a liberal. No, seriously, we've been "out" almost since we arrived and the conservative friends we've made can accept that just fine. Within reason. I would never repay their acceptance by trying to seduce their children away from the righteous path.
It really is a matter of principle and morality for many. Some friends are paying a fortune they really, really cannot afford (age-retired small farmers) for her health insurance through a private broker. I don't know how they're doing it. They won't purchase subsidized coverage through an exchange because it's against their principles. I felt obliged to tell her how much I pay, just so she'd know since they swallow Fox whole, but apologetically and only after assuring her that I really did respect their position.
And the others who can't forgive? Courteous nods and social smiles in passing. If none, I know that person's sure I'm one of Satan's demons. (No, I'm actually not joking, much.)
As for their general reputation outside the South, some don't deserve it but contribute to it anyway, and some are even worse. The whole region seems to be trapped in a kind of circular reasoning it's not aware of and has absolutely no interest in breaking out of. As for the Bible Belt influence, you know the old saying about religion bringing out both the good and bad in people. There's plenty of both on full view.