Quote:
Originally Posted by Michaelangelica
I have been to the States and was treated with great kindness and generosity.
I don't know how accurate the statistics/surveys are but they point to a much more Liberal,thoughtful & compassionate society that the Red-Necked one that is often portrayed
The NRA surveys were especially surprising
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I'm glad you said that Michaelangelica and I think you're very correct. The average "Red-Neck" American (of which I am philosophically opposed diametrically) is not so much like what people see in the media or on TV or film. In fact, when I lived in the south (for about a year), and now living in the midwest, I hear one thing above all others from foreign visitors. How nice everybody is. How kind and helpful and how unexpected that is. I don't know why this is so unexpected. Perhaps it is the perception generated by media - but it is amazing how often I've heard this from people from every continent.
"Southern hospitality" is very much alive and well in red-neck America. While people of the south often have very different political views and agendas than liberals like myself, this should not be taken to the assumption that they are uncompassionate or uncaring or the like. A quick example - When I lived in Louisiana (the redneck part) the person in the opposite apartment saw that my car was a piece of crap. He took the initiative to obtain a better-functioning car his parents weren't using and basically 'gave' it to me for a few months. This was no great friend of mine - just a neighbor with whom I honestly had little in common. This kind of sentiment (from everything I've experienced) is generally extended to anyone who lives in or is visiting the south.
Now - you're from Oz and from everything I've heard (never been down under myself) your countrymen and countrywoman are the liveliest and best spirited folk around. So, please, don't think I'm comparing countries here. Besides, France would make such a better comparison
I suppose someone will make the argument that the conservative agenda is un-compassionate in and of itself. And I would mostly agree with that. However, this should not be used as a broad brush to paint the character of the people who support such policies - IMHO, I think it's a bit more complicated than that.
-modest
