I live in a Red County

[Coexist]

People make fun of how "redneck" we are here - even the locals.

Last night I went to a playoff game at the local High School (we only have one).

I wandered over to the end zone area, where a lot of the Alumni watch the game from. I saw several adults I know. My youngest son ran over the play a mini-game of touch football with their kids.

I knew my daughter was in the crowd somewhere (yes, half the town shows up for these games) and I scanned the concession stand area, looking for her. I saw two teenage girls, obviously in love, holding hands and facing each other. They kissed lightly and smiled into each other's eyes.

They were in middle of a large, mixed crowd of adults, teens and kids - some wearing John Deere hats, some in black t-shirts, some in cowboy hats. No one seemed to care. No one was snickering or pointing, or huffing.

I think we might be just one generation away of mass tolerance.

It made me pretty happy.

[katinmn]

1. The Bush years were definately a setback.

But maybe now things will change for the better.

Bush opened the door to intolerance, made it seem patriotic. I despise him for unleashing hatred and divisiveness. Maybe now tolerance will make a comeback.

The Bush years...over for all practical purposes. He no longer sets the agenda alone.:)

[Karmageddon]

6. The bush years pushed intolerance beyond the limit of ridiculousness...

... and therefore showed just how ugly, silly, immature, and "un-Christian" it is. The level of hatred and vitriol attained by this crowd opened many people's eyes, so that now they can recognize it even when it's not so blatant. By taking intolerance (of gays, minorities, immigrants, liberals, etc) to such farcical levels, they have made it into a laughing matter (I know, it's not funny, but even hardcore righties like my older sister laugh publicly at the likes of rush and o'really and coulter when they spew their bile). The racists, sexists, etc are now a joke.

That is the only positive part of bush's legacy, and I'm sure the part he'd be least proud of if he had any awareness at all.

On a related note, I've seen a lot more mixed race couples lately, mainly younger, and nobody seems to care or even notice. And I live in Kansas. That has to be a good sign for the future.

[madmusic]

10. Great analysis!

Here comes the backlash, like the backlash against the 50s. The last 10 years or so may have been even worse than then.

[Coexist]

11. I agree - the 70's turned the 50's upside down

and then some.

[brer cat]

2. I hope that you are right! I can't see that happening

in my red county, so I really appreciate your post, FLDem5.

* made hatred such a "patriotic value" that we need time to climb out of the slime. I see too many people who are clearly proud of their narrow minded, bigoted views. I see no hope for conversion of these folks, but your post suggests that maybe there is at least hope they will keep their views to themselves.

k&r

[Vorta]

3. Thanks for the report

It's nice to hear good news.

I don't know about you, but I am often astonished by some of the ideas that people in the solid blue areas have about Florida and the South in general. Around here we have a lot of what I call "beach Republicans"; they unfortunately vote Republican but aren't the wingnut variety (some exceptions of course). There is one that lives down the street from me in a local landmark who has this monster banner across the front of the house he ruins by living in it: "We support President Bush". I always have something to say about it when I ride by, but have yet to actually catch him in the front yard.

[mdmc]

4. nice

:kick:r

[Vorta]

5. Pasco could be blue soon

Registered Voters as of 11/7/2006: Republicans 106,370 Democrats 96,571 Others 61,276 Total 264,217

[Selatius]

7. I live in Mississippi, and I say the message Mississippians send is clear

"If you're gay, fine. Be that way. Just don't expect us to give you the same rights we give heterosexual couples."

I say that as a Mississippian after that gay marriage ban referendum they passed in 2004 on election day. I'm not ashamed of my fellow Mississippians, just disappointed in their ignorance and bigotry. Then again, this land has always had a major problem with tolerance of minorities of all kinds.

[Ezlivin]

8. How would Inglis in Levy County handle a pair of married atheists?

We purchased some property there a few years back. The town had banned Satan at one point, so I know it leans pretty hard to the right.

[Coexist]

9. Oh my goodness, banned Satan

as if he would pay any attention to THAT!!