Is West Virginia Welcome in Your Democratic Party?

[Yael]

This is a phenomenal read. I HIGHLY recommend!!

It will take more than hope for West Virginia. It will take hard work and understanding. It will take urban city liberals getting off of their high horses and coming down to our level -- the level of ordinary folk who are ignorant, misinformed, maybe even, shall we say the word, bigoted. That's right I said our level. I'm an agnostic Democrat who votes on economic and social justice issues, but I'm still more like them than I am like you.

Over the last week or so, I've heard a lot of kossacks writing off West Virginia, making fun of West Virginia, and even saying West Virginia doesn't matter. Some have painted all of Appalachia as racist homophobes who will never change. Some even said that Obama is in mortal danger there. Some have suggested that we revert to Clinton-style "states that matter" campaigning, leaving West Virginia and Kentucky behind altogether.

Well, progress hasn't left us behind, and I hope that progressives won't either. If you think progress is impossible in my neck of the woods, follow me after the jump...

First, I'll clarify that I'm not from West Virginia. I grew up in the hills of Tennessee, and much of my family lives throughout the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio. I've spent a lot of time in those mountains with my family, and the culture of the small town where I grew up is much like those places.

If you want hillbilly, Song of the South, backwoods redneck credentials. I've got them.

--snip--

I've seen a lot of frustration expressed lately about what many kossacks consider to be willfully ignorant people. Some of you believe that information is as readily available to everyone as it is to you. Some of you believe that the cost of accessing available information is the same for everyone as it is for you. I've even seen comments from people exclaiming, "But golly gee, everyone has access to the Intertoobs!" I guess some of you have never heard of the digital divide.

--snip--

My best friend's little sister was the first person to "come out" at my hometown high school. Before her bravery, gay and lesbian kids were afraid to come out for fear of violence against them. I am so proud of her. She opened the door for so many other kids in that little Christian town. The same town that only started having proms in the 80s because dancing is a sin now has gay and lesbian students attending prom as same-sex couples. She and her high school sweetheart were the first. Against all odds, against everyone's best advice, she prevailed in our small-minded little town.

Full diary at: http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/12/114237/630/544/513035

[anonymous171]

1. I agree. Obama should do a tour of that area with prominent local dems.

[book_worm]

2. of course it is, so is SD, ND, KS, ID, NE and other red states Hillary said didn't count when she

lost them by huge margins.

[Yael]

4. I really recommend reading the whole thing. She makes a VERY good case

in explaining why the backlash -- and it isn't a racism issue.

[KSinTX]

3. Always has been

nt

[Yael]

5. Her title, not mine. Did you bother to read any of it?

[KSinTX]

8. Actually read it all

Being from MA and migrating through GA, IN, KY and finally TX, I don't read anything that I didn't already understand. I've been in parts of these states that are scarey regardless one's race and others that are friendly and welcoming. I've been castegated for having that Boston Brahmin accent and for just plain being a Yank'. I get that there are folks all over the country (WV holds no exclusive claim) that are racist, regionalist and nationalist. I get that. Does not mean that I exclude any of these good people from a party based on their beliefs. I don't have to understand how or why, I just have to do what I can when I can to offset them when I encounter them. I also need to do my part to put into national power those who would release them from their narrow beliefs and free them to greater horizons.

Oh, those narrow beliefs? They exist in San Francisco, NY City, Chicago, Atlanta and other major northern metropolitan areas. I promise you that I don't look down on WV or its people because they seem "back woods." On some level, we all are.

[McCamy Taylor]

6. This is a BEAUTIFUL diary, I thought nothing worth reading was being posted at Kos these days.

Fantastic!

:applause:

[cbayer]

7. The last paragraph is moving.

"You don't have to understand the ignorance. You don't have to be one of us. You don't even have to be anything like us. Just stand with us to change it. Facing the last vestiges of racism and homophobia and the worst illiteracy and poverty and all that we hoped was in the America's past may be hard for urban progressives, but those of us who call rural America home will stand with you, if you will only stand with us."

Absolutely beautiful diary. Thank you so much for posting.

[Jamastiene]

9. Of course not. No Democrats in red states are considered worthy enough.

No more water for me. I can have my Dr Pepper and drink it too. Goodbye Crest. Got 23 teeth left to lose so I can completely fit their stereotype of me.

I'm sure some would be completely happy to knock my teeth out, huh? Such lovely people, NOT!

[NaturalHigh]

10. Try being from Oklahoma.

We've gotten some of the nastiest comments over the past few years whenever we've had serious storm damage.

On edit: Actually, it was the wildfires that got the comments, although I would imagine there were also some nasty comments during some storms.

[theboss]

11. I am from West Virginia. All this stuff is water on a duck's back.

Do you think we can't handle insults at this point?