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Oct. 1, 2005 I was advised that my recent article about bigotry in West Virginia was an indication of my own bigotry toward Rednecks and Southerners. Granted there are some bible belt attitudes that I can't stand. If that makes me a bigot, so mote it be. I was also enlightened to the fact that my native state of California is one of the most bigoted places because anything that doesn't fit their social structure is subject to ridicule. In the article, I wrote about an incident in West Virginia, with my teenage son and his friends which including an assortment of redneck kids, two young Mormon missionary men, a biracial teen and his younger sister. They were in our backyard minding their own business. A drunk neighbor started ranting racial slurs directed toward the girl. This spurs the girl's brother and the kids exchanging "Yo Mama" jokes. The drunk calls the police who threaten to take the kids to jail. The incident becomes a topic of discussion at the city council meeting. So What would California do? If the girl's brother had been a member of the Compton Crips ( a predominately black gang in Los Angeles) that drunk would have endured more than a few "Yo Mama" jokes for calling his little sister names. A Compton Crip would be not be roasting marshmallows with redneck teens and Mormon missionaries. It would have taken more that one small town cop to deal with the consequences of that situation which would have ended up on the last page of the Los Angeles Times instead of being the main topic of a small town counsel meeting. Indeed, Bigotry is alive and well in California. The problem is there are so many different social structures in California that it is difficult to figure out which one to ridicule. The social groups I gravitated toward were usually as anti-establishment as I am. My type of people are Unitarians, twelve-steppers , bikers , and nudists. I never could fit in the "hoity toity" groups even in California. It is not necessarily bigotry. The interests and priorities are different. I ended up relocated to West Virginia when my now ex-hubby retired because of health problems. Life would be so much simpler in West Virginia if I could make myself into Christian conservative. I simply can't make myself believe something that makes absolutely no sense to me. Nevertheless, Conservative Christians has a constitutional right to be who they are and believe what they do. Bigots have a right to be bigots as long as they don't break the law. How often do we label others bigots or racists because of different opinions or viewpoints. . The major grievance that a lot Californian has is with undocumented Mexican aliens. They are hurting the economy some Californians bewail. I remember feeling a little bit irritated because a Spanish speaking co-worker would get paid more than I would. This is for services to people who are not even here legally. But I have to remember that if I was a Mexican Mom dealing with the situations that she does, I would do the same thing she is. There was a time when California and several states in the Southwest belonged to Mexico. The United States took it away from them. So do we really have a right to get ticked off when they try to sneak back in. The Mexicans are reclaiming California by bring forth Mexican-American children. The grievance is more about economics than it is skin color. All a Californian has to do is move to Oregon or Washington State to experience disdain from the locals. They say that Californians hike up the price of real estate and push the locals out of the possibility of home ownership. There are so many things I miss about California. I miss bookstores with fancy coffeeshop and poetry workshops. In West Virginia I order books on-line and make my own gourmet coffee. I miss the sweatlodges and the magnificent hiking trails with wild sage growing everywhere. There is an old quarry behind my house, and I frequently hike in the wooded areas surrounding the quarry. My girlfriend in California sends sage in the mail. I miss the clothing optional beaches. It is unnatural to be in water with clothes on. I used to love putting on dark glassing and watching the men play volleyball with their magnificent whoppers flopping around in the sea breeze. I don't think the locals would be happy if I were to go skinny dipping in the Greenbrier River. There are snakes in that river. Yuck! I could just visualize being arrested by the local redneck cops who find my double DD's offensive. Nope! The West Virginia justice system is one that I would rather stay away from. Next year, all three of my boys will be moving back to California. My older son will be going to Berkley University. This is my conservative son who is at frequently at odds with his liberal mom. He is too young to remember the history of Berkley University in the sixty. His mom is delighted. My younger son and his step-brother will be in the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) apprenticeship program in California. At that time, I should be able to relocate. I am not sure where. I can be happy anywhere in the United States in if I have love, community and the ability to make a living. When I do decide where to relocate, I will be asking where are the Unitarians, twelve-stepping and nudists. I am going out with a Georgia Biker. Southern Men with on Harleys. Woo Hoo, I wonder if they have a clothing optional beach in Atlanta. ------------ About the author: Bonijean Isaacs is a freelance writer and Astrologer in West Virginia. Email: inez4liberty@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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