(You probably won't see this- since your post was a while ago-- but I have to respond anyways!)
Captain Bob Writes:
Scary. I just happened on this movie on HBO tonight. I come from west coast America and have lived in various countries the past 15 years. The more I look back, the less I feel I know my fellow Americans and a movie like this intensifies that sensation. As an avid traveler I meet a lot of Americans but those who travel tend to be liberal, highly-educated and diverse.
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My reply:
You try to pass yourself off as urbane and sophisticated, but instead come across as very limited and intolerant. I've done quite a bit of traveling in the states myself and have met people of all persuasions of life. Its what makes this country rich and diverse-- not being liberal and highly educated. Book smarts don't necessarily mean you have life smarts. To me, being diverse can also mean being to open to other people and they way they are and the ideas they support. In my experience-- some of the most intolerent, unaccepting and least diverse people have been highly educated and liberal.
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Captain Bob:
Meanwhile there is this heartland cowboy country music culture that seemingly occupies much of my homeland. Thing is you never meet them traveling. Probably too sold on all the Republican fear-making that the outside world is full of terrorists. Anyway I'm perhaps going too far, but boy do I feel creeped-out by this movie
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My Reply:
Yes, you are going to far. Talk about lumping people into one seething mass. How liberal and diverse is that? I'm a Republican, but I make my own decisions about how I feel about individual issues. I don't toe the party line on any issue. Do you? Because I happen to believe that we should all think for ourselves- no matter what political affliation we are a part of. ( for example-- I have no problem with gay marriage) It just seems to me, that the least tolerant people are the ones that try to sell themselves as the most tolerant.
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Captain Bob:
To live in a place where the majority of people wear cowboy hats is spooky enough, but much worse is that these are the sort of people who have elected GW Bush twice and could conceivably elect McCain this time. I'll say it again - scary! Just curious though - anyone out there wearing a cowboy hat and planning to vote for Obama?
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My Reply:
How sterotypical of you. So are we then to assume that everyone who lives on the west coast is liberal, illegal-immigrant loving, clueless surfers who feel they are superior and better then everyone else? Of course not-- thats just as ridiculous as the assumptions you are making. Believe me, there are sterotypes out there about people from the west coast, that are just as unflattering and untrue as the statements you are making. I really do not get the feeling that you are well-traveled at all-- and if you are, it appears that your traveling experience has been very limited. Maybe you should pack up your Prius (sterotyping!) and get out there and really get to know some of the people from the heartland of America. You may be surprised to find that your preconceived notions are just that. And maybe you will learn to actually think in a diverse matter- instead of just claiming to be diverse.
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