I'm doing a Thread about this, mainly b/c I can't really talk to anyone here about this..........I've tried, but. Anyway, one thing I found out, the demographics of some cities/states is definitely different than others. Take Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho. The demographics of cities/towns in these states is very different than a lot of states in the South or along the Eastern or Gulf Coasts. Gays, Lesbians and Transgenders aren't welcome in every city/town in the U.S.. A lot of people have different thoughts about all three groups. IOW, not everyone is accepted everywhere like some folks think it should be. Where I lived in So California, it seemed like I talked way to much about my old farm life and the weather there. I would say the word "mame" and get criticized for it by women. It was a word that I learned in Basic Training (Navy) to use when talking to a female Naval Officer. I continued to use it when I got out, but found out very quickly that it sure wasn't accepted in "good old So Cal"! I loved it when it rained, and got negative remarks for saying that as well. My feelings is: I wouldn't call it "discrimination" when a person isn't accepted wherever. I'd simply check out the demographics and go on a forum and find out what people there would think BEFORE moving to any certain area. So, I just wonder what people think.
I agree, you should check out a place very well before moving there The problem over here is, we have way too many immigrants coming in that want 'us' to change to their ways I do object to that because I wouldn't even think on those lines if I were to move to another country or elsewhere within Britain !
I have been living in the south for close to twenty years now and still have people look at me rolling their eyes and say you ain't from around here ure ya. Sometimes I just don't get their way of thinking. I also get bless your heart which is southern for your an idiot alot. LOL
yeah I agree. Especially if it is an area or way of life that is unfamiliar to you, it would be important to do your homework and make sure it is a place you really want to be. You don't want to feel like a fish out of water, or stick out like a sore thumb. It always seems there are things to like and things to dislike about every area you live in, but some are a better fit than others for sure.
Yes, I agree Patsy, if someone wants to move to the US, the right motive would be that they like the way things are in the US. The wrong motive is to think they should change things to their own ways of their home country. Our country already allows all sorts of worship, in your own church, except if there is danger there for people (cults etc.). We also have many of the foods others love. We have different types of doctors that folks may choose to go to. I saw many of our flags flying Monday as I took a walk, I felt wonderful seeing them. This is America, and the only flags that should ever be allowed to fly in America, are the American, and each, separate State. I can go on about this, but I wanted you to know I liked your post, and am with you on this. I also want to add something that came to my mind the other day, and I do know not all things will change, or even get better here in America. But, I do not believe if you have 10 candidates for a job, you should have to hire a person that is less qualified for the job, simply because of their nationality/race. I don't know who came up with that, but getting a job should ALWAYS be based on your qualifications, not the race you were born into. I know there is true racists, and that is horrible some folks see things that way. Anyway, I didn't have a lot of time to post this a.m. but happened upon Cody's. Thanks Cody, good topic denise
Is that why they kept saying that to me when I lived in Alabama for 3 years?? LOL!! By the way, I don't care if they did think I was different or an idiot, I loved that beautiful State, as well as the people denise
There are lots of places to live, and I for one, would always try to go where there are people of my kind. That is rather hard when you are from Venus, LOL!! But seriously, why move into a place that you know people are "different" in their ways and beliefs systems? Check your motives right? If you are looking for trouble, you will find it. If you don't have a choice about living somewhere, your stuck whether you like it or not, I say learn to get along, to survive. I'm not saying give up your beliefs, or for me, my faith in God, but I would be praying hard asking Him if he doesn't want me there, take me away, LOL
I remember, when we bought a house/lived in Parker, CO and I worked for a company in Denver. Some of the drivers lived in "not so safe/desirable" areas of Denver. They would mention how many times a week they could hear the police helicopter in the sky in the evening or night. Parker crime rate was very low and that was one of the main reasons we bought a house there. Heck, it had to be since I drove almost 28 miles each way to work. Anyway, I just mentioned a house that was for sale in our Development to a lady driver who lived in a "not so desirable" part of Denver metro. She looked at me and said "why would I want to live there among all them snobby people?". I looked at her and said "heck, if people can afford to live in a safe area, why not. Sure don't mean they are snobby." She walked away, but I thought that part of her thinking was also due to the demographics of the town (very few Hispanics/mostly White). I have found out that some folks won't move to a certain city or town because there's not enough diversity for them. Then again, not everyone wants much or any diversity. Heck, there is a town in south Texas, right on the border of Mexico, and their primary language is Spanish! Then, there is part of Orange County, California that is called Little Saigon. I wouldn't live there, just like I wouldn't live in East L.A.. I just wouldn't "fit in".
I think that all cities have " their neighborhoods " my husband was raised in Forrest Park Illinois which was a strong German ethnic based neighborhood. His mother slapped him silly one day when he was a teen for kissing an Italian girl. Seems silly but that was their belief at that time. Chicago still has ethically strong neighborhoods.
I don't think that it would be right to tell people that they couldn't live wherever they want on the basis of race, religion, culture or sexual identity, but others should not be required to embrace something that they are uncomfortable with. If we truly have the rights that we are supposed to have in this country, then any American has the right to be a racist, to dislike people of another religion, to be disgusted with cultures that differ from his own, or to think that someone else is strange, and he should have as much right to express his opinions as anyone else. In other words, someone of another race has a right to move next door to me but I am not required to like them if I were inclined to dislike someone on the basis of race. If I believe that my own religion is right, then it is to be expected that I will believe that others are wrong, and I have a right to express that too. People in some cultures may find dog meat to be a delicacy but, not only should I not be required to try it, if the prevailing culture in my city, state or country is that it is wrong to eat dog meat, then the majority has the right to prohibit the slaughter of dogs as meat. If I believe that homosexuality is an abomination to the God whom I worship, I should not be required to embrace homosexuality, or if I simply think that they are strange, I shouldn't have to pretend otherwise. I am not suggesting that I believe all of these things but, as an American, I have the right to. In actuality, I don't make judgments about someone on the basis of their race and anyone of any race is welcome to move next door to me. As I do believe in a God who has established certain requirements that are necessary in order for someone to claim the gift of salvation, another person's salvation is between that person and God. Given an opportunity to evangelize, I believe that I am required by God to do so, but God has not called me to hate those who have not met the requirements of salvation, to refuse to live next door to them or to employ them, so I would not object to a person of another religion moving next door to me, and as long as their culture doesn't clash with my own, they are welcome to that as well. Disagreement does not necessarily lead to hatred, and hatred is not required. When I moved to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, I was in the minority on the basis of race, religion, culture and language, and I didn't feel that everyone there had to change what they were doing in order to accommodate me. For the sake of convenience, of course, I was more likely to do business in places where someone spoke English, but I didn't insist that everyone speak English everywhere. Most of the people around me were Catholic and, at the root of it, many of them also practiced Santeria. I made sure that my black cats remained indoors. As for sexual identity, if I were a parent raising a young boy, I would not want them spending time with a gay man, whether as a boy scout leader, teacher or any other capacity. I understand that not every gay man is a pedophile but some of them are and, more importantly, I wouldn't want my son to grow up thinking that homosexuality is normal and acceptable, largely because that comes into conflict with Scripture. For this reason, and many more, I would not enroll a child in the public school system. However, I have had no problem working with someone who is gay, and I have employed people who were gay, and found that their sexual identity was largely irrelevant. My daughter was gay and, although she was actually my wife's daughter from another marriage, she referred to me as her father and I loved her very much. Except for her sexual identity, we had very much in common, and enjoyed being with one another. Neither my wife or I had any trouble whatsoever expressing our opinions whenever it came up, but it didn't come up that often. Her sexual identity was but one part of who she was. She was also a daughter, a mother, a soldier, a friend, and a very intelligent person who had a good sense of humor. Besides being gay, she was outspoken about it. As a founder of SPARTA, the primary organization that brought about the end of the don't ask, don't tell policies of the United States military, she did demand that she have the right to serve in the military without pretending that she was someone she wasn't, but she didn't demand that everyone in her life embrace her sexuality. Despite the fact that I disagreed with that part of her lifestyle, I was proud of her willingness and ability to effectively stand up for herself in a manner that did require courage and determination. In other words, while I didn't necessarily agree with what she was doing, I was proud of her ability to do it well. As a gay person, she should be able to serve in the military and am pleased that she lived long enough to have seen success in this area. When it comes to someone moving to the United States from another country, bringing cultures, religions, and languages with them, I am far less tolerant. If someone is unwilling or unable to adapt to living in the United States, they shouldn't come here. We should not have to adapt to them. If they don't like crosses or any of the other entrapments of Christianity, then they shouldn't move to a Christian country, state, city or neighborhood. If they can't tolerate our way of life, then they shouldn't have left their third-world country.
Just a food for thought on that discrimination issue. When I was young, I remember that people in greater Manila have their own tags. Original urban people like us speak straight Filipino unlike those coming from the rural area would have difficulty in pronunciation. For example the toilet, in the northern provinces, they pronounce it as twe-let. And most of greater Manilans have somewhat fair skin. So the looks and the way of speaking separates people that was an accepted norm even if it is discrimination. In fact, there is even a moniker for them - promdi which is a coined term from the words From The (province). And those Promdi gladly accept their position in society... during those times in the 1960s. But now, society had changed a lot and acceptance is getting to be in fashion. The tag of Promdi is still existing but it;more for fun and not for discrimination anymore. Where before it is taboo to be cross-dressing, now gays are wearing women's clothes on tv shows. I don't know in America but here in the Philippines it is beginning to look like a free country with no barriers, no tags.