I live in the Sanford, Florida area....

[trumad]

Actually a neighboring town about 5 miles away called Oviedo.

Politically it's a leans heavily to Tea Bag ideology. We had a congressman here named Tom Feeney ---remember him--- he was one of Jack Abramoff's lapdogs.

Watching Juror B37 interview and listening to her rambling ignorance doesn't surprise me a bit. I see it here everyday. Darwin would have a field day in Sanford studying the inhabitants. In almost every establishment that I walk into that has a television, Fox news is on.

My own Mother who I haven't talked to in several years is a Sanford resident Tea Bag Moran. She was so bad that I delisted her on Facebook. My daughter who is 18 told me that she had to delist my Mom as well because she couldn't stand the racism posted by my Mom and her Facebook friends.

Selecting a jury in Sanford to convict a white guy who shot a black kid was just about impossible from the beginning. I believe they could have had a video of the crime and he still would have got off.

Juror B37---par for the course around here.

PS: Some of you may say---trumad, why the fuck do you live there? Well--- my job took me here 20 years ago and my 3 kids were little then. Started them in school here, they met friends, and we just settled. I have one teenage son left in High School, going in 10th grade, and once he's out...so am I.

[cantbeserious]

1. Sorry To Hear The Indignities That Must Be Endured Daily

eom

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Hugs of support sent your way...

[trumad]

4. I've become immune and pretty resilient to it all.

Most of my neighbors are pretty much Right Wing---Libertarians, etc. I like a lot of them--- and we have a pretty strict rule that we don't discuss politics when together. Thing is---I adhere to the rule and they always stretch it---simply because they can't help themselves. They are always angry about something.

My wife has less tolerance for these people and wants to get out of here quicker than I do.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

46. That describes 'em to a T

Always angry about something- I have a brother who is so far right politically it's hard to believe we are related. But the main impression you get when talking to him is anger. Therefore it's the liberals fault, the Presidents fault, it's someone's fault. But it's never the Repubs fault. Ever....

[kelliekat44]

57. Thank you for your courage. nt

[lark]

78. Feeling your pain

I live in Jax. where the teabagger mentality is alive and thriving quite well. I moved here from CA when my dad got sick 20 years ago and now am caring for my very elderly widowed mother. We want to move out of the country, but can't do that as long as mom's still with us. There are, however, some really good people here, smart, funny and progressive that have become great friends. I'm also sad to say that a lot of my friends from high school have taken such a hard right turn that I've had to change them to acquaintances on FB so I don't see their shit anymore.

While the people of FL. aren't all bad, the state legislature here is certainly majority stupid and wrong along with our criminal governor. We also have very high unemployment as well, funny how Scott's tax cuts for the rich haven't produced any increase in employment at all - gee I am so surprised!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

106. So you got to see the couple of weeks when they shut up about Iraq,...

...before returning to their usual, "We are never wrong" mindset.

[marlakay]

167. Describes my republican neighbors

we don't bring it up but they can't help but do so. Very angry too.

[handmade34]

3. I will be

moving down that way this fall (to take care of my dad)... the area where I will live is pretty much the same... doesn't mean there isn't good and that some aren't fighting for good... many can't just pick up and move, nor should they... we work always to make the community we are in better!

the insidious "boycott Florida" talk is akin to the old "Love it or Leave it" meme... not constructive, not healthy

[Bluenorthwest]

53. Boycott?

I just do not want to go there, you can't make me want to go there, do you understand how this works? Aside from the racist culture, Florida also allows discrimination in housing and employment against LGBT people. It is an entire culture of discrimination and bigotry of economic and actual violence against minority peoples.
You tell me why I would want to spend a dime in a State that discriminates against me and murders it's young?
Please be specific. Florida has a right to all of this bigotry with impunity?

[handmade34]

89. oh, I know how this works

I don't want anybody to go to Florida that doesn't want to...I said... "we work always to make the community we are in better!

the insidious "boycott Florida" talk is akin to the old "Love it or Leave it" meme... not constructive, not healthy"

my belief is that we in the United States are a community and we do what we can to help our neighbors, communities, states and everyone in them... a call to boycott Florida is not constructive and a better way is to help educate, help get out the vote in Florida, help liberal causes financially if possible, care for and love the people in Florida that need it and be a positive force for change...

I will not abandon good people just because I do not like their neighbors

[Zoeisright]

134. Good people, huh?

Then why do you "good people" keep electing assholes like Rick Scott and the fucking repukes in your House and Senate? Why do you send that idiot Rubio to the U.S. Senate? What a joke.

[DonCoquixote]

152. as far as Rubio

ask the folks at DU that allowed people to campaign for Charlie Crist. I can tell you I have voted straight democratic for years, and even converted a few GOP, but of course, it is easy to simply hate everyone because they cannot wave magic wands.

[Crunchy Frog]

73. Just FYI, my decision to boycott Florida

is based on purely pragmatic concerns and not on politics.

The fucked up "self-defense"and gun laws there simply make it unsafe and impractical to spend time there. I care more about my family and their safety than I do about the economic wellbeing of a bunch of people who can't be bothered with fixing their own communities.

Best wishes for your own safety. I wouldn't risk going down there for anything.

[handmade34]

93. sad to casually dismiss

all the good people in Florida... there are many people working and fighting to make changes... Florida has sent a number of good people to Congress and voted for Democratic Presidents... (remember it was the Supreme Court that choose Bush, not Florida)


"a bunch of people who can't be bothered with fixing their own communities" certainly dismisses the many who work diligently...

don't go to Florida if you don't want... I don't mind, but to call for an organized boycott of the state is nonsense

[Crunchy Frog]

125. There are good people in Florida

but there are bad, dangerous, deadly laws in Florida, and I am not willing to subject myself or my family to the risk.

The good people in Florida can and should work to clean up their state. When and if they are successful, I will happily travel there.

As for an organized boycott, maybe it will be helpful as a kick in the pants. Since you're in Florida, maybe you could do what you can to make the best of it.

[Not Me]

5. Same here

I relocated to Orlando for my job. Me neighborhood is not quite that bad...hell, we elected Alan Grayson TWICE! But I have about 2-3 more years to work before I take an early retirement and we are planning on selling the house and moving back to Toronto. Perhaps pick up a small condo here for the coldest of the winter months, but this place is batshit crazy.

[JoePhilly]

6. I wonder if B37, and the others, decided to find the town, not guilty.

If the predominant view in Sanford is that black men should be viewed as suspects, finding Zimmerman innocent makes sense. The entire town goes free.

But if you find Zimmerman guilty, its an indictment of the entire town, and all of those who see black men as suspects first.

[HardTimes99]

24. This is a seriously profound idea. I wish you would fashion an OP out of this and

build upon its themes. Alternatively, your reply deserves to be rec'ed for its insight.

[2theleft]

43. +1 Very insightful. n/t

[GreedIsGood]

159. Please forgive my ignorance...

Whats is n/t??

[TahitiNut]

163. "no text"

It's a grace note to indicate that the body of the post contains nothing more.

[GreedIsGood]

166. Thanks..

Gracious of you for taking the time to tell it!

[valerief]

49. Yes, that's how racism works. Us against them. nt

[Grey]

64. I believe you are correct.

I am surrounded by people like that. There is a lot of anger when I raise any question because they don't want to have to think about what they call "common knowledge". "Cause everybody know this to be true" and I ask "What proof do you have?" or the big one, "Why?"

Lots of anger....

[JoePhilly]

68. It occurred to me when I'd ask people this question ...

Zimmerman repeatedly refers to Martin as "the suspect". What was the crime that Zimmerman believed Martin had committed?

There had been no crime that night. In his call to police, Zimmerman refers to crimes that occurred days or even weeks earlier. And so those wanting to give Zimmerman a pass, always mention those other crimes.

Martin has not done anything that night to be suspected of those earlier crimes ... nothing other than be a black teenager in that neighborhood at night.

The jurors thought that was sufficient reason to follow Martin. And so do many others it seems.

[PsychGrad]

96. Well, don't ya know...

He was just walking around all "leisurely"!!!! I mean, that HAS to mean something doesn't it? It was raining, why wasn't he running in from the rain????

Zimmerman also made the comment about something like, "I don't know what this guy's problem/deal is, he must be on drugs or something"...

Weird what some people find weird or indicative of drug use... I sometimes stand in the rain bc I like the way it feels... Hope I don't get stalked and shot for it.

[Blue_Tires]

124. +1

[Lifelong Protester]

94. I wish I could rec your reply

as I think you nailed it. When I listened to part of the interview this morning, the interview of the one juror, I literally did a facepalm. Of course Zimmy walks free, the whole town is infected.

This case was tried before a jury of Zimmy's peers, not Trayvon's peers.

[JoePhilly]

115. Exactly.

[Enthusiast]

160. Well said, Joe! I suspect they don't even see their view as racist. nt

[JoePhilly]

162. You have to hope that some people will lower their defenses long enough

to consider the possibility that they, or some of those around them, have a blind spot here that has just been exposed.

Unfortunately, some when confronted with this potential, will harden themselves. The right wing certainly seems to have chosen the latter position so far.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. It's sad you'll be leaving Trumad.

That's why they keep getting away with these things. I just never seem to find a committed group of progressives in the area that understand the problem as well as you have stated it.

[ancianita]

8. It's important that you posted this. People need to disabuse themselves of the notion

that DU is somehow 'seeing' this area of Florida in some distorted way.

I lived in Gainesville, Ocala, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Augusta, GA over a six year period, and I can attest that, aside from the tempering effects of Gainesville's and Tallahassee's university populations, the people of these towns are suckers for the authoritarian politics of FOX News and Southern white 'holier than thou' culture.

Only the insecure need someone to feel 'better than.' And authoritarian followers are the most insecure, fearful people in America.

[BellaKos]

11. I grew up in Augusta and have in-laws there.

The thing is that while the rest of the world moved on, racism is still embedded in the South. It's not just about the Right Wing propaganda machine that spews out its bile every hour of every day, it's also about the fact that racism is alive and well behind the facade of "Southern Charm." Paula Deen, for instance, is typical of the what I'm talking about.
Interestingly, Obama's election in '08 seemed to give them "permission" to be more overtly racist. That event seemed to irritate and upset people so much that they began to *say* things that they had closeted away for years for fear of reprisal. But after the election, first came the jokes. Then, the Tea Party. And now we have people supporting the murder of an innocent child.
It's very much 1858 in this nation. A polarization so severe that ... And I, who have lived in the West since 1985, feel like an abolitionist from the "Nawth" while the rest of my family are Southern Plantation owners. Never the t'wain shall meet.

By the way, I disowned them a few years ago. But that means that I don't have a home-place anymore, because I won't go back.

[ancianita]

66. I truly appreciate your situation, because this culture leaves a liberal with no choice

BUT to leave. Because they barely tolerate your existence or two-way give and take on religious, social or political issues. They are hard line believers in all authoritarian values that keep blacks, women, homosexuals and minorities down. They will vote in leaders who impoverish them just so they can all remain "redeemed," "chosen," "the good guys." Unless they turn out to have a family connection with someone of those 'persuasions.' Then they move a little toward moderate politics.

Your home can be you. It can be where you decide to put down roots, just as your ancestors did there. Giving up toxic ancestry is what improves humanity's descendants. Wishing you the best in your new place and space.

[LarryNM]

157. Authoritarians Anywhere

no matter how low on the Social Food Chain, will always seek out someone to put down and hammer-down on, and someone to kiss-up to.

[BellaKos]

158. ancianita, thanx so much for your understanding

[Mojorabbit]

67. I live in Orlando

and we are a blue county. Yes there are right wind nutbags here but there is a large movement of local food, transitional community, permaculture, bartering for services etc underneath the regular economy.
They are my hope for the future.
Oveido is a beautiful town but it is pretty much a lost cause for now.

[hlthe2b]

9. Thanks for adding the missing perspective...How hard it must be...

It may be Florida, but it is still the heart of the South and it does echo a lot of other small communities in the Region (and outside). Racism never died in some of these areas. And, unfortunately, being ignorant for some of the populace, comes with a perverse pride in being so.

[ancianita]

69. Right. There still are two Floridas. Hopefully Grayson and Dems can still keep it blue.

[onehandle]

10. Yep. I predicted that an unbiased jury was impossible there.

And yes, if you are established somewhere, and are happy, nothing wrong with staying.

After my mother died, we had nothing else keeping us in Georgia.

We left.

[breathe peace]

12. one BIG shining light

let's not forget, you do have Alan Grayson...no small gift to that tea bag area...and to our country! A shining light in the darkness. I know you want to get away...so understandable...but I am grateful that you are there fighting the good fight!

[Baitball Blogger]

80. Alan Grayson will not fight against good ole boys.

It's just not what politicians tend to do around here.

[druidity33]

131. Alan Grayson is a fighter.

He relishes it. Give me specific incidents/instances and i'll give your "Alan Grayson will not fight against good ole boys." credence... otherwise i don't really believe you.

[Baitball Blogger]

132. Well for one thing, I sent information to him that involved a community issue and

never received a response.

But, I can understand that. He's a busy man and the fight would have brought him face to face with people in Central Florida who tend to be very generous with campaign donations. It's just the way politics works these days. A candidate has to be careful with who they slight.

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. I lived in Oviedo

when I attended Florida Technological University now known as UCF.

I attended a black church a few times there with a friend. It was a small town back then.The rent was cheap

There were reports of cross burnings around the area when I lived there.

Thanks for the update

[TBF]

14. I know - I am surrounded here in the coastal area

south of Houston. Here for my husband's job. I thank the goddesses for forced retirement at 65 (his firm policy) and then we are outta here. Hang in there!

[southernyankeebelle]

15. I know how you feel. I moved here in the south because of my in-laws who were

elderly and my husband was the only child. It took me a long time to get use to it. If you are an outsider you feel it. My in-laws are dead and we have a son who lives right next door to us but you never see him until he wants something LOL. Now am here because we have a granddaughter that we love very much. If I could take her I would move in a heartbeat. I'd go back to Maryland. In the land of liberalism and always moving forward. Plus my family lives there.

[ReasonableToo]

86. Maryland seems to be an oasis of Sanity. n/t

[southernyankeebelle]

118. It is. We moved there when my dad got retired from the military. There is so much

to see and do in Maryland and the surrounding areas. You can get on the train and go to NYC for the day and return. You can go to DC and VA within an hour or so and still not see everything. It has wonderful history if you just look around.

[Nay]

116. I'm in the same position. In Richmond, VA, for 20 years, came here for Mr Nay's job, and

now have son and grandchild living 3 blocks away. Despite the fact that I hate it here, I don't think I can leave them, although Mr Nay wants out of here yesterday.

I do take pleasure in the beauty of the countryside, but the people -- don't get me started. I have friends, sure, but that doesn't make up for the overwhelming number of idiots who live here.

[southernyankeebelle]

119. Richmond is lovely to visit. But it's alot like the area I live in rural Tn. Have you driven

to St Anna's Lake area?

[Nay]

121. Yes, I have. It's lovely, like most of VA. I used to live in Chattanooga, and TN is

gorgeous as well. My friends in Knoxville tell me it's gotten very teabaggy, too, unfortunately. I used to live at the foot of Lookout Mt.

[southernyankeebelle]

123. Yep I agree. The good thing is am retired and I don't have to listen to them thank god.

[Nay]

126. I retired last year and I find it much more tolerable as well, since I can basically pick and

choose who to deal with. It does make a big difference.

[southernyankeebelle]

127. Tolerable is the right word. I am very much a home body person. If I never had to go

any place I'd be happy to stay home all the time. But sadly I have doctor appointments I must keep so I have to go out and also go to the grocery store. But I'd be happy to be home.

[raccoon]

16. I'm sorry. nt

[formercia]

17. It's not just the South

I lived for several Years in a small coastal community in Southern Maine. People there are just as racist as anywhere in the South. During the Depression, the KKK had hundreds of members there and they used to openly parade down Rt. 1 in full-dress Klan attire.

It's changing slowly, but my Family is a lost cause. Growing up in that environment has left them permanently warped. You should have seen the look on their faces when I invited Dragon Lady, who is Black, from DC, openly Gay and in-your Face if you say shit about it, to a 4th of July Party where my Family had their racist friends as guests. For a while, I thought she was going to have to kick everybody's ass. We laughed about it for a long time...

[RBInMaine]

32. Southern Maine is now very blue overall. The Klan was a pretty short-lived thing as there was a

national resurgence of the Klan around the nation for awhile during that period. Didn't last too long.

What we need to do now in Maine is get rid of that rotten TeaBag 2010 governor next year. He is just horrid.

[formercia]

38. Agreed

Good riddance...

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. So, what you're confirming for us is that Trayvon never had a chance.

[trumad]

26. Yep---I sincerely believe that.

remember---without public outcry from the African American community, he would have walked the first day.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

77. Yep! You and I both know that. :(

[leftstreet]

90. ...and the Prosecution knew this n/t

[Atman]

19. My in-laws live in Oviede...I can attest to everything you said.

They live in one of those communies, which are everywhere down there. And they freely spew n****r jokes as if they the were talking about going to church...which they also do. Supposedly religious people. My FIL even attended the seminary as a young man. But they're as racist as anyone I've ever seen.

Another of my good friends of more than 30 years just posted on my FB page that I must have a "racial bias" because I thought Zimmerman was guilty. He's a hard-core gunner. Owns AKs, handguns, you name it. It is a different world down there. I moved up to New England in 1984, and go "home" frequently. But I could never, ever move back. The place freaks me out now.

[PsychGrad]

100. I never know what to do on FB

in these situations. I'm always torn - bc I don't want to cause "undue drama", but some of the people that post, I just can't see them as "good" people any longer. I hate that shit bc I feel so stressed about it (I know, I need to calm down, just my nature). I always fear that I am the one in the wrong, that I'm being "too political" or "too emotional" even though I feel/think that I'm not.

How do you handle that? I mean, do you defriend them? I've tried making the lists - and that helped a little, but sometimes, I forget to set it and people get something not intended for them - and they respond. I just don't respond on "friend's" pages when I disagree - there's really no point on most of them. But, seems they ALWAYS respond to mine... and I'm outnumbered where I live and where I grew up.

I would LOVE some practical advice on how to handle this - it would sure ease my stress level. I question whether I should sever old friendships and family relationships based on this stuff - but gotta admit, it feels right to do so.

[LuckyLib]

112. Life is short. Who needs toxic folks entering their lives every day via Facebook or whatever?

Dump 'em. If they inquire, tell them you are choosing to communicate with folks to like to keep themselves informed and interesting, thereby enriching your life.

[PsychGrad]

117. Yeah - it's ridiculous...

how much FB stresses me out... lol. I am doing that now... culling the herd... long overdue.... bygones. Thanks!

[coeur_de_lion]

20. I'm about an hour south of you I think

Fox news is on everywhere, even at my gym.

I've learned to develop a set of close friends who feel the same way I do and I ignore the rest of them best I can.

My husband has friends who are lovable in every other way but are gun nuts. I didn't unfriend them on facebook but I did make it so I don't see their posts. It was a compromise.

I don't spend too much time with them anymore, just dinner a few times a year and we don't talk politics.

I feel for ya.

[Thinkingabout]

21. I have difficulty wrapping my arms around the TP who profess to be anit-abortion and thinks it is

just fine a child is killed. How is the life of a 17 year old any less important than an unborn child if life is so important. I hear Trayvon has used marijuana has had fights in the past and this was reason enough for Zimmerman to kill him. Zimmerman has his abusive problems in the past also so does this mean the next time someone might encounter Zimmerman on the street it would be okay to kill him. As Zimmerman said "they always get away", he should be looking at himself with this on this issue. I did not think after I learned how conservative the Sanford area is that Zimmerman would be convicted.

[Mira]

22. Here are a couple of photos I took on Main St in Sanford, last year

You can probably verify this - it was on the Main street through town. I stopped, parked, and walked back after passing this building that was all gutted.
The photographer in me was intrigued.

I struck up a conversation with a black man in his mid thirties, he was tinkering with his car. Asked his opinion of the Zimmerman situation, asked him what it was like to live in Sanford. We got on so well, after his initial reluctance to talk to me openly, that my visiting 86 year old Mom, sitting in the hot car, really got put out with me for the long wait. This man told me what you said; he knew I would be rolling on and not be a threat to him.

Mom lives in Germany, and I've been telling her about the trial, and reminded her of our stop in Sanford. She says the young people in Germany are upset by the racism in the US of A evidenced to them by an unjust verdict.
And then, so am I.

Thank you for your post. I think it is illuminating and gives valuable first person insights to many about how entrenched and like breathing the racism is there, and frankly, elsewhere in America.

[trumad]

29. I haven't seen that building

Downtown Sanford is actually kind of nice. antique shops, restaurants, etc. Very quaint and not that bad.

[Mira]

33. Never got to downtown - I was going through on the main drag.

The building, with the name of the store, and the Obama Hope graffiti, was and is telling. It may be torn down by now.

[sinkingfeeling]

23. My sister and BIL live in Deland, so I think you nailed it.

[trumad]

30. Don't get me started on Deland.

[muntrv]

56. My uncle and cousins live in DeLand too. That's north of Sanford so

it is probably like Sanford.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

88. DeLand's not all that bad.

It's a university town, so that managers to temper some of the surrounding uber-conservatism.

It reminds me of a miniature Gainesville in that regard.

[sinkingfeeling]

91. It's a very expensive private university town. Stetson's students are 82.5% caucasian and

3.4% black.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

97. But the student body isn't all that racist.

At least not from my experience.

From my experience, it was a pretty open minded student body in terms of a former (and no longer) Baptist college.

[sinkingfeeling]

98. There's a whole neighborhood of Tea Partiers next to my sister.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

99. It's not to be confused with San Francisco.

But compared with some neighboring towns, DeLand isn't nearly as ultra conservative, and I think the college plays a part of it.

[sinkingfeeling]

101. I enjoy the Quilt shop.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

102. Don't forget the Old Spanish Sugar Mill at DeLeon Springs State Park.

Best pancakes you'll ever have. And all you can eat.

[sinkingfeeling]

113. It's make your own pancakes.

[rppper]

136. Indeed they are !!!

Daytona beach here....I love the 72 degree water on days like today! Blue springs is nice too....

Deland's ok....nice downtown area

Daytona is about a 50/50 mix of holly hill/south daytona/Daytona beach liberals and Ormond/pt orange conservatives, but all the New York/new jersey retirees keeps it pretty moderate....we have our share of horses asses though...

[MrScorpio]

25. Thank for the insight nt

[stonecutter357]

27. K&R

You have not seen anything until you live in Shelby CO. Alabama it is a shit hole of hate.

[stranger81]

81. Ah, yes. The county we have to thank for gutting the VRA (along with the SCOTUS, of course).

THAT county.

[stonecutter357]

83. The county we have to thank for gutting the VRA

Right outside my front door.

[Bluzmann57]

28. I am very sorry that you and your mother don't get along

I suppose it's understandable, but it's still kind of sad when a mother and son can't, or won't talk to each other. Good luck to you in the future and I imagine we'll talk smack in the sports forum sometime.

[NightWatcher]

31. You're so lucky, it's only a few minute drive to The Holyland Experience

Then you can swing by ikea for particleboard furniture and meatballs that may or not be horsey.

All you need to say to people is that you live near Bible Land Theme Park and we'll feel sorry for ya.

[trumad]

34. My Brother services the Holy Land telephone and Data system

He says its the weirdest place he's ever been to.

[femmocrat]

35. They couldn't have found ONE black juror?

I heard somewhere that the housing plan where Zim lived was 20% African American. I still think it was rigged from the start.

And I know I shouldn't make assumptions, but I'm betting that the juror who voted for Manslaughter 2 was the one of mixed heritage.

[Patiod]

61. I'd like to know the stats on reporting for jury duty by race

Whenever I've reported for jury duty, the jury pool was 99% white, even though the county is 9% black. All-white juries can't be good for justice.

I got randomly picked (by juror number) for an (all white) jury where the defendant was black, and the defendant pleaded as soon as he saw the jury.

The person in charge told us that "often when defendants see the jury file in, the reality hits them and they're ready to plead".

I was thinking "often when defendants see the all-white jury file in, the reality hits them and they're ready to plead."

Seminole County is 10% black, and I wonder how closely the jury pool reflected that racial makeup. But you're not going to get a balanced jury if only white people are showing up for jury duty.

I don't know why jury pools, in my area at least, are so white - whether it reflects differing attitude about jury service, the ability to get a time off work (without losing pay), transportation issues, the frequency with which people move, less frequent car/home/voter registrations or what. (In our county, they issue based on a wider range of sources beyond driver's licenses and voter registration, but I'm not sure what they use)

[handmade34]

70. another repercussion

of the outrageous changes tightening voting rights... juries are picked from checklists...

just another way to disenfranchise the poor and people of color

[WCLinolVir]

36. Thanks for the heads up.

I was considering Florida as a possible retirement choice. A liberal area of course. I am from the west coast, Bay Area to be exact, and have property in Arizona, another conservative area, which I am selling.
I live in Rich, Va., and was surprised by how much old hostility still lingers. For years the text books reflected a southern version of events, and some was just downright lies. The monuments all around are a statement to the mentality that predominated here. This town is mostly AA so the politics have changed. Up until the thirties, the KKK was still quite active in large numbers in this state. I think WW2 helped break them up as they were sent overseas and "minorities" were enlisted to move and fuel the war machine. My ancestors were originally from Virginia and were driven out for educating slaves. But we do not talk a lot about the role that type of persecution played in shaping the south, but it is an integral part of the history here. It was ugly and vicious.

[Lars39]

40. KKK just went underground a bit, I think.

Family member who was a cop in western FL town was approached by fellow cops to join the KKK in the '70s.

[ancianita]

104. If you buy along the coastal areas, you'll not be exposed to Southern casual racists.

[bigdarryl]

37. You need to be interviewed by the major networks

To tell your story

[K Gardner]

54. ^^^ Agreed. n/t

[DainBramaged]

39. My friend

do what you have to to keep your head out of the tea.


At least you have DU

[mountain grammy]

41. We took a vacation in Sarasota last year and loved it.. thought about buying something..

no more.
I'm surrounded by teabaggers here. There are some businesses where I won't spend a dime, and, as for facebook, most of them keep their crazy to themselves because it might hurt their business.
In 2008, I discovered the County Dems. I knew almost everyone there, including several of my daughter's teachers. We are definitely the minority here, but we get together and work for candidates and, whenever I can attend a meeting, I notice a few more people there. Luckily our district includes Boulder, so Jared Polis is our Congressman, something that drives the teabaggers even crazier, if that's possible. They lobbied hard for a district change, but with a Dem majority in the legislature it didn't happen. They're still whining about how we're not represented, but I just smile and say "I am!" which, of course, makes them crazier.

As I get older, I find I just don't have the patience for these racist fools.

[kalli007]

42. I feel your pain brotha - I live in Ron Paul's home district

Hometown actually. This place voted him in every year with over 90% of the vote.........like you I ended up here on a job transfer, I am out next summer come hell or high water.

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. Seminole County is not deep-red Tea Pary country. President Obama actually won there

by a narrow margin.

[O-Town Blue]

47. Actually, Rmoney won Seminole County

Although we did manage to narrowly elect Mike Clelland.

[Freddie Stubbs]

50. I stand corrected

[O-Town Blue]

133. Seminole County is shading purple.

I find I encouraging we elected a Dem to the state House. I find it discouraging that he narrowly won over Chris Dorworth, who is as useless and corrupt as they come. Baby steps, I guess.

[jwirr]

45. You mention your three children. They are the future and it is them who can change this

scenario if you give them the info to do it. There is hope even for these communities. My family on my father's side were kKK members but the one on my mother's side taught us all a lesson one night when there was a knock on the door. They were eating dinner. The man at the door was a black man traveling alone and asked if he could camp out in our orchard for the night. My wonderful grandfather asked him in to eat and let him sleep in the house. My mother has taught all of us that lesson and there is NO kkk in our lives.

[abelenkpe]

48. Dear Trumad

Come to California when you're free! And thank you for the explanation.

[hunter]

60. Parts of California are not any better.

Racist Republican communities in California are as toxic as any in the USA. Just look at some of the people our state sends to Congress.

There are plenty of places where a kid like Trayvon Martin wouldn't be safe.

[abelenkpe]

65. Very true unfortunately

probably should have been more specific about welcoming Trumad to a nice liberal neighborhood in CA.

[trumad]

84. Lived in San Fran in the eighties--- I miss it.

[noiretextatique]

76. simi valley, for example

and anywhere south of the bay area and north of los angeles. also orange county and further south to fallbrook, which used to be the home of tom metzger. california is not as liberal as some people think.

[Piedras]

143. Central Coast of California leans liberal, environmentally aware.

anywhere south of the bay area and north of los angeles. also orange county and further south to fallbrook, which used to be the home of tom metzger. california is not as liberal as some people think.

Sorry to get off topic. But its incorrect to label the California Central Coast as a hot bed of conservatism. San Luis Obispo County, which is south of the Bay Area and north of Los Angeles is pretty mixed politically. Lois Capps (D) Santa Barbara, a good liberal, is our U. S. Congressperson. This coastal part of California leans liberal. It's an area where people are environmentally aware.

[noiretextatique]

165. thanks for the correction

i was thinking more of central california, but point taken

[BobbyBoring]

51. Thanks for this trumad

I thought Zimmie got a pretty good draw with all white women. White woman wingers, to be known as WWWs in the future explains why he walked~

[mstinamotorcity2]

55. You are like a lot

of people who did not have to be hit over the head to get it. Maybe you can educate some of these strange voices round this place. Infiltration is a mothrf----r

[apples and oranges]

58. Did anyone attempt to change the venue?

[totodeinhere]

62. Only the defense can bring a change of venue motion. And I'm sure the defense

was quite happy to have the trial right where it was.

[apples and oranges]

63. I see... That doesn't sound fair

[totodeinhere]

103. Much in our criminal justice system is not fair. n/t

[muntrv]

59. It's not just Florida or the South. I live in Washtenaw County, MI, 40 miles east of Detroit.

North of us is Livingston county which has its share of teabaggers.

[olddots]

71. It used to be you couldn't fight city hall

Now it's you can't fight Fox , Fox and right wing media are like a portable Klan that comes thru cable and sat poisoning reason .Naturally the right wing media flies flags and crosses behind all it's propagandists .

[arely staircase]

72. thanks, trumad

I live in a similar place. So, I get it.

[noiretextatique]

74. funny that she called zimmerman george

i found that really, really, really odd. it was almost as if she knew him. i wonder what else is going on with that jury.

[mrs_p]

75. I'm seriously considering taking UGA

off my list of places where I will apply for residencies. I'm supposed to go to Athens this Fall and check it out, but I just don't know if I want to expose my family to a place where homophobia and racism is the norm. We are from the Pacific Northwest where both definitely exist, but if openly expressed, someone (myself included) usually speaks up and says something. But, then again, it could be a learning experience for my daughter, and our time there would be temporary. I guess the best thing is to go there and see for myself.

[KamaAina]

82. Athens is a tiny blue island in that deep red sea

and Atlanta, a much bigger one, isn't that far away.

[mrs_p]

87. true - and it is good to experience new things...

[CottonBear]

111. Athens is a wonderful & diverse blue place! Do come & visit!

You will love it!

There is a huge music, theater, art and food/fine dining scene. There are farmers markets, festivals of all sorts all year round, public transit, numerous outdoor events, the state botanical garden, historic districts, a real downtown, UGA, UGA sporting events, a zoo, many parks with all kinds of facilities, a green way trail system, rafting & kayaking, lakes, rivers, tons of events, places and activities for kids. Plus it is only a few hours to Atlanta or the mountains and only four hours to the GA or SC coast.

I love Athens, GA!

[mrs_p]

122. I'll be there in September

The Indigo Girls (my fav band) are from there and my hubby's aunt (very progressive liberal) lives in Albany - so I know there are like-minded people.

Thanks for the response!

[eridani]

148. PNW racism is a lot like our rain

Sometimes it's hard to be sure whether or not it's raining, but stay out long enough and you'll definitely get wet.

[mrs_p]

156. very true

[zentrum]

79. All the lawyers I know are saying...

...they knew that GZ would get off as soon as they learned about the Sanford jury. They say it was over before it began.

The DA did not go to bat for Trayvon or justice. His first fight should have been to get a change of venue. What happened to the AA's who showed up in the jury pool. Not one of them was acceptable? We at least could have gotten a hung jury and a retrial.

Would really like some research done on the whole process of this trial from the start of day one and going forward.

[Doctor_J]

85. Conservatism is a terminal illness for the US

It's getting to where you can't even stand in line at the grocery store without hearing these morons upchuck the latest lies.

Congrats on getting out. I have cut ties with all the teabaggers in my life as well. Being partisan is tolerable. Being stupid and hateful is not. I am in my fifties and have done all of what a man really needs to do in life. My last hope is that before I go we rain hell down upon them.

[WilliamPitt]

92. "...and once he's out...so am I."

[PsychGrad]

95. I have a friend from college that actually lives in Sanford...

And she locked her and her two children in their house and got her shotgun out. She was just SURE that the black folks were coming for her and her little white children after this. She posted on FB that she got up and turned on the news (Fox, no doubt) and said, "It's already starting, riots everywhere, how do I keep my family safe?". Wtf? What riots? Oh, later it came out that she saw "some black people busting up cop cars in LA" or something of that nature, no riots in Sanford. But, she remained in her house with her loaded shotgun - just in case. Oh, and all of our mutual friends, and her friends and family, were sending her prayers and "Be safe!" and "get out of there now! Come stay with us until this blows over!". I wanted to vomit. I have NO idea why we are even FB friends - but I loved her back in the day. But in college, we weren't situated yet, grown into our own skins yet - now we are, and I am saddened and disappointed - and thinking that there is another "old friend" that I need to not be in touch with.

[zeeland]

108. Get the toxicity out of your life.

I had to end a 20 yr. friendship for the same reasons. It hurts, but when
you reflect back later you realize any less is enabling that mentality.
Good luck.

[PsychGrad]

109. Yeah - I figured.

Honestly though, it wouldn't really hurt with her - we are just old college roomies, we haven't seen each other in years (although I was in her wedding). Her husband is an admitted teabagger and he and I stopped "chatting' years ago bc of it.

I just always worry that I'm the one that is "wrong"... or that I'm overreacting.

But I was pretty icked out by her outright lying - and she tried to pretend she didn't say there were riots, but I saw the damn post so whatever.

I should probably just defriend her and move on - we don't really talk, and we obviously don't have a lot in common anyway. But heck if I start doing that, most of my family would be defriended too... those are the ones I would feel somewhat sad about...

[trumad]

110. That will be soon.

My next move will be to a very politically progressive city. Not sure which one yet. And from then on I will not associate myself with tea bag type people.

[Puglover]

144. Well you are welcome to join us in

Minneapolis and MN. Very progressive and blue. IF you can stand the fucked up weather.

[Warren Stupidity]

105. yeah that was my take on where this trial was going and why.

The cultural divide in this country is worse than at anytime since the end of the civil war.

[ewagner]

107. I was raised in Sanford in the 50's and 60's

and yes, I was as racist as every one of my family and friends during that era.....

Things started to change in the early 60s...among some...not all the residents...I truly think that progress was made in the late sixties and up until I left there in 74....

I still have family there and honestly don't know where they stand now because I haven't been in touch with them for years.. I have facebook contact with some of my high school and college friends and while they claim to be color-blind, open-minded, constitution-loving "Mericans" (how's that for a dog-whistle), I think there is an element of what I have to call "righteous racism" in their comments and positions on this case.

Why "righteous racism"? Because they feel that all the stereotypes justify a righteous indignation that minorities of all stripes are not committed to their version of American Values... and, therefore worthy of our "proper" scorn, neglect and derision.

Up north, where I have lived since 74...has a pretty good strain of racism in it...usually targeted toward native Americans in the far north and Blacks and Latinos in in the southern, more urbanized sections of the state...It wasn't always like that...things changed dramatically in the early '80s...as a good friend of mine told me then, Reagan "taught us how to be comfortable with our prejudices."

In short, I think race relations have been "back-sliding" since the 80s and the south is just slightly worse than the north...and...Sanford is "about average" .

[Nay]

114. Are your kids getting out, too, or are they staying around Sanford? I'd love to get out of

Richmond, but my one kid is staying here -- I just can't leave him and Grandbaby Nay! Wish I could get them to move!

[trumad]

130. Oh no---they are out as soon as they can afford it on their own.

I told each one of them that if they don't get out and see the world---IE: other parts the country, I'd wouldn't be to happy. It amazes me to visit the hometown I grew up in--Miami---and still see people living on the same block when I was a kid---and I'm 55.

[steve2470]

120. I feel your pain, Trumad. I've been here forever

I've lived in Oviedo, Orlando and a few other burbs of Orlando. I'm moving back to Winter Park, which seems more blue than Oviedo.

I was going to move to San Francisco or a burb of it, but it's too expensive for me. LA is too expensive. I'd have to go move far into the desert. I wish you much good luck.

When I saw the jury for Trayvon was 5/6th white, I was afraid this would happen. I was right.

[countryken]

128. Living here in Jacksonville

I would recommend boycotting the tourist industry in Florida in order to make a statement (and maybe to make The Much Reviled Rick Scott look a little worse than he already looks.)

However, the cities are populated with as many 'yankee transplants' as natives, and progressives are here - just hang out with Unitarians and folk musicians. Life in Jax is fine. I joust with right wingers at work and on the golf course as a matter of choice.

However, this state is a swing state and I would encourage progressives to not spend tourist money, but to move here to make it bluer. Stay out of the Sanfords, but life can be good in Jax or Orlando or Tampa or West Palm or points south.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

129. Normally, I'd want the black population to get the hell out of there.

But since that would be just fine and dandy with racists, I say more minorities should move into Sanford. Make it a Mecca for tolerance by being neighborly and demonstrating how living with compassion is the healthier way of life.

[Auggie]

135. Hang in there trumad

[Taverner]

137. Come to California when you are free!

We need to suck the red states' talent away

[glowing]

138. In was a but surprised they didn't get a pool from

outside the area because of the tea bagging idiots that live around there and were probably freaking out when all those blacks came in and matched in their town.

[JDPriestly]

139. That juror sounded like one of the bigoted women from "The Help."

She was trying, oh, so carefully, not to sound racist, but to other racists, the message was clear.

[Scurrilous]

140. Get the @#$% out! LOL

K & R

[Joey Liberal]

141. Sanford sounds a lot like Oklahoma

I feel your pain....

[Sheldon Cooper]

142. Being very sick of the northern winters, I'm planning to move to a warmer clime

within the next few years. FL is out of the question and always has been (what an icky state, no offense intended) but it doesn't sound like there are any places in the sub-tropic US that aren't batshit crazy.

[avebury]

146. You might consider Costa Rica, I am.

As long as you don't need to the life as an ex-pat in an American community and want to live a more simple life, cost of living isn't bad there. At this time I have heard that you can make it on $1,500 a month. I know someone who spent 7 weeks there having a series of cosmetic surgeries at a fraction of what it would cost in the US and she loved it there. The people were great, the climate was wonderful, costs were less then in the US. I hope to vista CR to decide if this is the place that I want to retire to. I know I will want to be down sizing my lifestyle by that point in my life so CR is sounding pretty good.

[Sheldon Cooper]

147. Thank you for the advice and I hope it works out for you.

I plan to stay in America, come what may.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

145. I feel your pain

[leveymg]

149. Isn't that the same area in Central FL where I saw the big Dubya sign, "Our Leader"? in 2005?

[steve2470]

151. that sign was about 15 miles west of Oviedo nt

[Cha]

150. Bless your heart, trumad..

Mahalo for telling us your story.

Sorry, they got your mom.

[David Zephyr]

153. Rec #180 here for trumad's OP and trumad, too

What a sterling human being you are.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

154. I used to know someone from Sanford back when I was a grad student

He hated going back during the summer, because, as he said, "The temperature and the relative humidity and the average IQ are all around 90."

[Liberal_in_LA]

155. we live where we live. no need to explain it

[nolabels]

161. I wouldn't even travel into Florida if Jesus was there and i was a Leper

I would rather die first (pun intended)

[quaker bill]

164. considered moving to Oviedo / Geneva once

then I met the neighbors at a POA meeting... Sold the property immediately. I liked the land, but it was not large enough to provide the needed buffer.