I grew up in rural, small-town America -- I can tell you the real reason why people love Donald Trump

[Newest Reality]

36. For the sake of brevity,

even though the term is not mainstream, I refer to them as pathologically xenophobic.

People can have a suspicion or aversion to people who are different, (hey, you're not like us!) and I think everyone can relate to that in some way from parties, being in groups or excluded, etc. What we are seeing is an extremist form of conditioning that supports and exaggerates that tendency when being "civilized" or having integration depends on recognizing that tendency, seeing its origins and supports and reckoning with them.

From what I understand, America pretty much invented what we now refer to as racism. Prior to the 1600's prejudice revolved around what you could call "nationalism" or what country or culture you were from.

I appreciate articles like this one because I think it is "our side" who is most capable of seeing our own biases and peeking around them. One way to do that, and to effect change, is to have more acute and accurate information about the kind of people who exhibit the various negative, (dare I say anti-social) behaviors that have a detrimental effect beyond their local environments. Joe Bageant, (RIP) was a liberal who grew up and lived in rural, red town and he made it clear that we have to do more to understand and communicate with them because the bashing and our prejudice really only exacerbates the problem and strengthens their confirmation biases rather than solving or resolving them. This is very important in the long-term. It is not easy. It takes time and work. It starts here.