Alabama Native: If Moore gets elected, will I have to explain

[ThoughtCriminal]

to everybody that I'm not a pedophile?

I'm a white middle-aged male, born and raised in Alabama. I moved to Arizona 35 years ago but I still have many friends and family "Back Home". My entire adult life, I've frequently found that when I reveal my heritage, there is an assumption that I probably have white-supremacist views. This is usually unspoken, but it is especially disturbing when I encounter people who think that makes it "Safe" for them to say "Politically incorrect" (AKA Racist) things in my presence. Nevertheless, I have never before been hesitant to talk about growing up in my native state. I'm quite proud of many things: my progressive parents who taught me tolerance and respect, my hometown (Huntsville), the brave people who fought against inequality, and sometimes - Auburn football.

But now I may have to deal with a new stereotype courtesy of large constituency of fundamentalist cultists: Dirty old man.

[lapfog_1]

1. From my frequent stops in AZ (living there for periods of time since 1974)

I don't think Alabama is that much MORE racist than Arizona.

That's not saying much about Alabama.

[sandensea]

3. I know what you mean.

I lived in South Orange County (the southern half is the "OC" half; the northern half, more like L.A.), and have never run into more brazenly bigoted people.

I'm white myself, and because I'm also rather old-fashioned many of these types assume I share their views. So much hatred.

[lapfog_1]

5. yes... although the change in OC is also coastal v. inland

Like I lived in Newport Beach (sort of OK, if you have $$$), but worked in Irvine (bigots abound).

This is in addition to a north/south separation.

[sandensea]

6. Ah. Same here.

We probably ran into each other at some point.

California's bigots, as you know, are a little different from Southern/Great Lakes-area bigots in that their misgivings are mostly against Hispanics, rather than African-Americans.

It's not that they like Black folks; but they don't feel "invaded" by them (a word you hear often in OC) like they do with Hispanics.

Of course though, whenever they need any landscaping, housework, nanny or elder care, its usually a Gómez or Fernández doing the work.

That said, there are many exceptions. I'd be as unfair as a Republican if I said that everyone there is this way or that.

[lapfog_1]

7. Having worked in Hi-tec (or high technology)

what I've noticed is that there is a specific hierarchy in California:

White
Japanese or Chinese
Indian (subcontinent)
African American
Latino

(not universal but in general)

And I tried to rank by male v. female but I'm not smart enough about prejudice exhibited here to get that right (does a white female rank above or below a Indian male for example...)

It's really astounding... but I've walked into a meeting with one of my top engineers (Latino) and had someone say to him "uh, somebody already picked up the garbage".

[sandensea]

9. That's the OC totem pole alright.

And even the White segment has its own hierarchy, mostly determined by your address and how much money you have.

To be fair, it's hardly unique in this world of ours - which, ironically, is precisely why so many Latin Americans try to leave their countries if they can.

Everything's connected.

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Indeed

I doesn't help much if I just tell people I'm from Arizona. When I first moved here, I was in Tucson, which is noticeably more liberal than much of the state. I'm in deep tea-party country now.

[lapfog_1]

14. Every time I visit, as I am driving back

and cross the border to California over the Colorado near Blythe, just as I pass the "welcome to California" sign... I let out a primal scream.

I instantly feel better about the world.

I love the Desert. I used to love Tucson. But not anymore. If it wasn't for the rest of my family living there... I doubt I would ever go there again.

[sandensea]

2. Only the Republicans.

[Motley13]

4. I was born in B'ham, but moved to Miami at 7 yrs, I am an old white female

and haven't returned since I was about 14. I usually tell everyone I'm a Floridian, which at times gets a chuckle or an OMG.
I know how you feel, they hear Alabama & immediately think redneck, I think more than any other southern state.
I just hope the election will put some of that to rest, there have been several good politicians in AL & Doug Jones seems like someone they can be proud of.
Louisiana elected a Dem governor so I have hope.

[Whiskeytide]

8. The state is actually...

... quite full of decent people who act morally and honorably most if not all of the time. And that includes people from both parties. The Alabama stereotype is taking a beating right now, but it’s not a complete picture.

But there are stereotypes for a reason. I have to admit that there is also a pretty large demographic that is uneducated, ignorant, fearful, misogynist, racist, hate-filled and easily manipulated by the teevee and local politicians. And they vote. Loyally.

But even if that’s 50% of the population, that still leaves quite a few people I’m proud to call friends and neighbors.

Oh, ... and Roll Tide!

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Same problem for me when I moved to the South

The "good ole boys" would assume it was ok to spout their stupid racist crap.
Doesn't happen much anymore, because I don't run into a lot of new people these days.

What really gets me down is the overall level of ignorance that you cannot avoid noticing.
Some otherwise nice people simply do not read anything except the newspaper, not books, and get their info from tv.
Any computer use is for Facebook and email. Period. There is no intellectual curiosity at all.

It would drive me nutz if I was not a happy hermit these days.

[Motley13]

11. I don't think ignorance is limited to any one state, north or south

there are plenty of stupid people to go around, evidenced by the moron

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Ignorance is not the same as stupid.

Thankfully ignorance can be fixed.