I am a southern man. I was born and raised here. Not all people in the southeast are "stupid". I for one am vaccinated and wear a mask. I know plenty of folks up north that are antivax, anti mask, believe it is a hoax, and the list goes on. They all went full conspiracy theorists and say that it will alter your dna and it has a microchip in it... Hell, I have even heard it is a sterilizing agent meant to stop people from reproducing... i have many friends down here that believe in science and are quite progressive. Most of the republicans are the ones who down play the virus, call it a hoax, and mislead people en mass through religious dogma. Even Pat McCrory "the bathroom bill" former governor of NC is attacking Afghanistan veterans as he bids for a senate seat. There is not short supply of stupidity or complacency in the nation as a whole. The south gets a bad wrap from the institutionalized religious indoctrination and the republican race bating and fear mongering. Most folks here in the south are laid back, easy going and very compassionate. The idiots and bigots seem to make it on to TV and the news ruining the overall image.

@Ceaselessmind I was born and raised in the rural south. The vast majority of the rural southerners I know are indoctrinated Republicans and evangelicals. They are nice to people who think like they do or who do not express different opinions on social and political issues. But, they they do act obediently to a culture filled with racism, xenophobia, and ethnocentirm. If they would act with more honestly, with greater true morality, and with independent beliefs and actions, the south could change. But, as of yet, they will not.

@wordywalt I am 42 and have lived here in NC my entire life. I have visited most every state east of the Mississippi so far except for some of the upper New England states above New York. I have found ignorant assholes in every one of them. I have also found very decent people in all of them also. I am a progressive homosexual Athiest. I assure you I do not have much in common with the ideology of a good bit of the population. That being said I have found kindness where least expected and hatered where none should be. I have seen the people here change. Yes, of course there are always going to be those who remain ignorant. No matter where you go. Churches are really starting to dwindle here, much to my delight, but there again there will be those whose minds are made up in stone and not going to change. The younger generations are really leading this charge in much needed change. I applaud them! It is through them, that change is happening. They have not sat back and allowed it to be washed over with dogma as much as previous generations. They are getting active in politics, social issues, civil rights, the economy, and many other fronts. My 15 year old nephew is a great example of how things are changing. His mom and her family are staunch Catholics. My brother and I were raised southern Baptist. My brother is not a church going man but he is a believer. My nephew started asking critical thinking questions and became agnostic. He refuses church. He is a great humanist. He also cares a lot about climate change. He has shaped the way his family thinks. His mom no longer goes to church. She used to think the world would end if she did not go. She saw it was not so. She also sees the passion in my nephews interest. She has become a great supporter to his interests. My brother has stopped trying to convert me back to Baptist faith even. He has admitted that he now has doubts in a god. Things I never thought I would see are coming around. I know that the country as a whole has a lot of issues to work out but we are getting there. Now if we can just get these damn crooked and greedy politicians out of offices that make the decisions and laws I believe we can finally get in to a place of enlightenment.

@Ceaselessmind Nlorth Csarolina is no longer completely a "southern state. The educational level is too high in comparison to most southern states. In creasing number of high tech firms in the Research Traiangle Park and in other cities are significantly changing the culture of the state.

What you describe is not true of almost all of South Carolina, rrual Georgia and major parts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and rural TRexas.

To carry one a reasonable written dialogue, I would appreciate it if you would write in much shorter, single topic paragreaphs. With my failing vision, your conglomerated writing is unpleasant to try to read.

@wordywalt Hahaha my bad! I guess I am somewhat "wordier" than you

NC is still a very southern state. However I will not sit here and argue this any farther. Athiest can be just as narrow minded as theologians. I have stated what I meant to state. I do hope you have a wonderful day though. I just woke up and have a very busy day ahead. I appreciate the conversation. It was fun! However I digress.

I'm trying to sound incredibly sarcastic. Mississippi is threatening to jail people. Dumb shits locking up dumbshits after ignoring everything.

@Beowulfsfriend I got it.