An observation, based on comments elsewhere

[pat]

When those of us on the left talk dismissively of "Red State America," often in tones usually reserved for pond scum, we are doing the same thing as when they rant about "the liberal elite." No, we don't call them traitors, we say they are stupid sheep. Which will, of course, make them much more likely to listen to what we have to say, right? After all, when people call you stupid, you assume they must know what they are talking about. Right?

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I agree. (Big surprise, eh?)

This is one of the reasons I avoid most political discourse. While my philosophies incline me to some pretty firm positions, I've no wish to engage in the "red meat" kind of discourse that has taken over American politics.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

As someone who lives in a staunchly conservative county within a somewhat progressive state, I learned long ago that stereotypes break down when applied to actual people. My neighbors, good or bad, are still my neighbors, however they may vote: Real people with complex lives and complex reasons for doing what they do.

To boil them down to aphorisms or epithets would not only do them an injustice, but would blind me to the possibilities we have for finding common ground.

It's not a black-and-white world out there, but rich with nuances of gray.