when I lived in california many years, I was often surprised how some small towns, and even some large ones like bakersfield, had such a "western" influence. Because of all the Oklahoma and Arkansas dust bowl immigrants settling there. They seemed so southern to me and I felt very comfortable there with the "country" and very much "southern" feel. Towns like Elk Grove, Sacramento, Lodi, Stockton, are very agricultural and country with lots of people walking around in cowboy boots and hats. I loved it there.
I grew up and live now in the most redneck part of florida and to me, the diversity here is ok, I dont ever hear the N word and there is lots of different cultures living here that everyone seems ok with, vietnamese and hispanic, and everything else really. But the thing I cant stand is the extreme Christian RIGHT. I have seen people lose their jobs because they were the wrong religion. I have been in government department head meetings where I had to sit and listen about THE LORD and how BLESSED we all were for over an hour. I would just get so tired of it. Not because I'm not christian, but because I believe every religion deserves respect and I would see people hurt by it, like one person, a Quaker, she did not pledge allegiance to the flag, they pratically persecuted her for it. That was so wrong. But aside from that, there is hate stuff everywhere, and what I do, I let it begin with me. If there is someone at work or wherever that people seem to be intolerant of, I try to be tolerant and open about it. I personally love the Southern culture and way of life, and most old timers here are so laid back and gentle about everything it would not occur to them to hate someone for what they are. Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
