Alabama and Buckingham Nicks

[holidayroad]

Originally Posted by JamieSPC

I'm not picking on you... but this is a great example of what I'm talking about. The exact thing you said is true of rural areas in any state, but because it's Alabama (or Kentucky, or whatever state you want to pick where perception is reality), people don't find it hard to believe.

I just got back from California... spent almost a week in the central valley. It's redder than red. But because of LA, SF, SD, the perception is the whole state is blue. In fact, the vast majority of rural residents of CA resent—even despise—the coastal cities and their voting propensities. In fact, I've never been more uncomfortable than when I traveled last year to rural Minnesota; my borrowed car had an Obama sticker on the back and more often than not I was not just asked, but confronted about it. I've never had that happen in Alabama.

This country is a very homogeneous culture... it's the same all over. The real divide is urban and rural, and it's true no matter where you are.

I definitely don't feel like you are picking on me. I have been to a lot of states in the U.S. and I can agree (mostly) that people in rural areas tend to have a more narrow mindset.

Still, when I lived in KY, I knew plenty of people from rural areas and plenty of people who were Christians. It just seems that the people here in rural AL take Christianity Extremely Seriously. People expect everyone to be in a church every time the doors are opened. They can act very scary toward people who don't see religion the way they do.