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Blue in a red state: Learning to confront, conform to or navigate your neighbors’ right-wing reality
Salon ^ | Feb 27 2016 | Salon

Posted on 02/27/2016 10:54:21 PM PST by WilliamIII

Lisa in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has two Facebook accounts. One reflects her liberal politics; the other is for acquaintances and family members to whom Lisa shows only her cat photos. Christina, in Milford, Massachusetts, has a sign in the back window of her car proclaiming support for a Democratic candidate. But as soon as she parks in the company lot, she puts it facedown on the backseat. Byron has lived in the same small town of Pomeroy, Iowa—population 662—his entire life. He brings his partner to family dinners but has never actually said to his conservative sister that he’s gay.

Lisa, Christina, and Byron are “blues in red states”—liberals who live in conservative communities that exist in every state, Republican or Democratic-leaning, across America. They and people like them are constantly reminded they aren’t quite like everyone else: from the churches they do or don’t attend, to their purchases and media preferences, to their loyalties at the ballot box. On a daily basis, liberals who have made homes, formed friendships, and participated in the civic life of conservative towns and cities are confronted with unsettling reminders that they’re different, and they’ve found myriad ways to take that truth in stride.

(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: civilwar2; civilwarii; culturewar; obamunism; playthevictimcard; playthvictimcard; snowflakes; socialistnetworking
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To: Talisker

Exactly they like to play the victim, it excites them. And now with Trump helping to tear down the barrier known as p.c. they are probably a bit scared of hearing the actual factual reality based truth and not the p.c. delusional storybook truth they prefer.


41 posted on 02/28/2016 6:04:08 AM PST by This I Wonder32460
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To: GraceG

“Wussconsin is already a libtard state,”

Well....maybe the bottom of the state in Milwaukee & Racine, but the rest of Wisconsin is IMO pretty conservative & likes guns, hunting, & fishing.

Even the local Indians with their guns & pickup trucks are more redneck than redskin.

Get far enough from the greater Chicago area & blue turns to red, in my view.


42 posted on 02/28/2016 6:25:23 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: WilliamIII

Is Salon published in a marijuana legal state? It has a real stoner mentality.


43 posted on 02/28/2016 6:48:17 AM PST by Spok ("What're you going to believe-me or your own eyes?" -Marx (Groucho))
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To: WilliamIII

Idiots. They believe in their hearts that Republicans would treat them as bad as they’d treat the Republicans if the roles were reversed. Baloney! I live in Collin County, Texas . . . one of the most conservative counties in the state. Occasionally, I see “Collin County Democrat” bumper stickers and liberal candidate yard signs. I just laugh at them. No harm will come to them. No one will key their cars or egg their homes.


44 posted on 02/28/2016 7:20:23 AM PST by al_c (Obama's standing in the world has fallen so much that Kenya now claims he was born in America.)
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To: WilliamIII

Reds are Communists. Rebuke the media newspeak colors !


45 posted on 02/28/2016 7:39:13 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: Talisker

The abusers claim victim status,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Narcissists do this.


46 posted on 02/28/2016 8:06:51 AM PST by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: GraceG

She shows only cat photos.

Gee! No photos of kids and husband. Can’t imagine why. s/


47 posted on 02/28/2016 8:09:27 AM PST by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: Unam Sanctam
Welcome to my world. I’ve always lived amid blue state liberal loonies as long as I could remember.

We seem to share the same world. I only discuss politics with a handful of people that I know have some conservative leanings. I gave up discussing politics with liberals years ago, except for a few (meaning I can count them on one hand and have fingers untouched) that are oddly capable of reasoned discourse.

The premise of this article is laughable and deeply ridiculous. Being a conservative in Massachusetts? Now there's a challenge.
48 posted on 02/28/2016 8:49:26 AM PST by LostInBayport (When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

(She has) only one vote just like me

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wanna rethink that?


49 posted on 02/28/2016 9:55:08 AM PST by Graybeard58
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To: dp0622

I never backed down, and people would sometimes whisper to me in dark corners that they agreed on some things.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I’m 70 years old, conservative all my adult life, never have voted for a democrat.

I was also a member of a labor union (U.A.W.) for 30 plus years. Always outspoken in my beliefs and never backed down. I’ve had many, many of those same conversations that you’ve had.


50 posted on 02/28/2016 10:01:44 AM PST by Graybeard58
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To: elcid1970

Get far enough from the greater Chicago area & blue turns to red, in my view.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Same here in Illinois.


51 posted on 02/28/2016 10:13:10 AM PST by Graybeard58
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To: Graybeard58

Well, yeah. Fortunately we have a good Secretary of State who is cracking down on voter fraud. But the left is taking him to court, trying to get back that double voting.


52 posted on 02/28/2016 10:35:48 AM PST by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Of course. Everything is about their causes when it
comes right down to it. Everything is fair game to the
left. For example, if there is a possibility of
a political component in any neutral organized group you can
always count on the left to push that group in their
direction permanently. The League of Women Voters and
AARP come to mind.


53 posted on 02/28/2016 11:21:47 AM PST by Sivad (NorCal red turf)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

I have a flaming liberal neighbor I hold my tongue. She does not. Such is the double standard of a liberal.

Call her a racist.

Then ask open ended questions like "Why do you hate black people? Why do you hate women?"

Then tell her that you will not tolerate her disgusting racism. Then tell her she's being intolerant.

Tell her that you're going to call the police and report her for racism.

I've tried this. It works. When liberals are confronted with their own tactics, they shut down. Fast.

54 posted on 02/28/2016 1:09:50 PM PST by IDontLikeToPayTaxes
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