No problem. New Jersey, particularly Newark, is the armpit, if not the bunghole of the nation. I sure wouldn't defend it.
Another anecdote....
I ran a subsidiary of an American company in Mississauga. In talking to suppliers, etc, on the phone, people were usually fascinated by what was left of my Texas accent. They would ask me where I was from.
If I said the US, they gave me an immediate cold shoulder. If I said Texas, they were all "wow, really? what's it like? are you a cowboy?"
You get the picture. I was a great guy if from Texas, but scum if from the US, as if Texas weren't a part of the states. I love Canada and Canadians. But when they try to minimize their hatred for the US, I tune them right out.