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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe dark rigidity of fundamentalist rural America: a view from the inside
The dark rigidity of fundamentalist rural America: a view from the inside
Forsetti
Forsetti's Justice, AlterNet
22 Nov 2016 at 23:59 ET
As the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump is being sorted out, a common theme keeps cropping up from all sides: Democrats failed to understand white, working-class, fly-over America.
Trump supporters are saying this. Progressive pundits are saying this. Talking heads across all forms of the media are saying this. Even some Democratic leaders are saying this. It doesnt matter how many people say it, it is complete bullshit. It is an intellectual/linguistic sleight of hand meant to throw attention away from the real problem. The real problem isnt east coast elites who dont understand or care about rural America. The real problem is rural America doesnt understand the causes of their own situations and fears and they have shown no interest in finding out. They dont want to know why they feel the way they do or why they are struggling because they dont want to admit it is in large part because of choices theyve made and horrible things theyve allowed themselves to believe.
I grew up in rural, Christian, white America. Youd be hard-pressed to find an area in the country that has a higher percentage of Christians or whites. I spent most of the first 24 years of my life deeply embedded in this culture. I religiously (pun intended) attended their Christian services. I worked off and on, on their rural farms. I dated their calico skirted daughters. I camped, hunted, and fished with their sons. I listened to their political rants at the local diner and truck stop. I winced at their racist/bigoted jokes and epithets that were said more out of ignorance than animosity. I have also watched the town I grew up in go from a robust economy with well-kept homes and infrastructure turn into a struggling economy with shuttered businesses, dilapidated homes, and a broken down infrastructure over the past 30 years. The problem isnt that I dont understand these people. The problem is they dont understand themselves, the reasons for their anger/frustrations, and dont seem to care to know why.
In deep-red white America, the white Christian God is king, figuratively and literally. Religious fundamentalism is what has shaped most of their belief systems. Systems built on a fundamentalist framework are not conducive to introspection, questioning, learning, change. When you have a belief system that is built on fundamentalism, it isnt open to outside criticism, especially by anyone not a member of your tribe and in a position of power. The problem isnt coastal elites dont understand rural Americans. The problem is rural America doesnt understand itself and will NEVER listen to anyone outside their bubble. It doesnt matter how understanding you are, how well you listen, what language you use
if you are viewed as an outsider, your views are automatically discounted. Ive had hundreds of discussions with rural white Americans and whenever I present them any information that contradicts their entrenched beliefs, no matter how sound, how unquestionable, how obvious, they WILL NOT even entertain the possibility it might be true. Their refusal is a result of the nature of their fundamentalist belief system and the fact Im the enemy because Im an educated liberal.
more...
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/11/the-dark-rigidity-of-fundamentalist-rural-america-a-view-from-the-inside/#.WDh0vOK28io.facebook
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)Wish we could avoid these multi postings somehow.
I'm fairly new here so if that is possible let me know? Thanks.
brer cat
(24,565 posts)but it's easy to miss. For example, your OP had a very different title so unless someone clicked on your thread, it would not be apparent that the two contained the same information.
babylonsister
(171,066 posts)titles.
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)pbmus
(12,422 posts)That this country always shoots itself in the head every once in a while
renate
(13,776 posts)I'm on DU all the time and miss stuff that's only on the front page of a forum for half a day or whatever, but I think this article is really, really worth a read, so I'm happy to see this again.
Abq_Sarah
(2,883 posts)I find this to be true no matter if the subject is religion or politics.
babylonsister
(171,066 posts)What a shame.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)They may not have an ounce of malice in their hearts... But critical thinking has to be TAUGHT, early and often.
spooky3
(34,454 posts)mountain grammy
(26,621 posts)I hope everyone reads this again and again. There is so much truth here, I'll rec this every time I see it.
Thanks for posting.
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)they didn't want outsiders even then...and it was before the economy left them behind.
We got shit because we spoke funny: we spoke english with an accent.
We were blonde and blue eyed...and got abuse for being foreign.
And this was before fox news and the internet and thousands of radio stations catering to the political splinter that made you happy.
So when I see the voting results in rural counties like mine, I know it isn't what Obama did or what Clinton did or anything other than their own sense that they are worthy....and other people (whether they came from another country or from an urban area) are not worthy.
Its not new, its always been there.
ileus
(15,396 posts)BSdetect
(8,998 posts)etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)No rules against duplicates in GD