Our Private Idaho

[MachineGhost]

While the population of whites in the US has fallen over the last two decades, the town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho remains a predominately white town, with 95% of its residents identifying as white in 2012. What are the challenges faced by those living in this homogenous community? Find out in this episode of AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2365345800/

[Pointedstick]

Clearly it's all racism! 100% racism! Racism! Racism! Racism! White people are Neo-Nazi sympathizers! They see race relations as a zero-sum game! They hate black people!



I am continuously flabbergasted by the liberal elite's inability to comprehend why people might want to live among people who share their culture, ideals, morals, etc, as if this impulse is not completely universal. Even those same liberals cloister themselves in a handful of politically homogenous affluent left-leaning neighborhoods in a handful of politically homogenous affluent left-leaning urban areas, terrified to step out into "flyover country" for fear of being lynched by rednecks or something. And supposedly everyone else is prejudiced?

Ironically, the former police officer who was interviewed told a personal story that had him being the victim of institutional racism against whites, not the perpetrator of it against anyone else. Not wanting to live in an area where you are the victim of systemic racism seems like a pretty darn good reason to leave.

I also though that it was interesting how the black firefighter complained about affirmative action cheapening the value of his labor. Almost like it's a policy that denigrates minority achievement and stokes racial tensions... Almost like the critics have been right all along...

[moda0306]

It's only racism to the extent that all-things-being-equal, race would change a person's interaction with that situation.  I'm sure there is plenty of this that goes on... I have no doubt in my mind... there's studies that prove it.

However, many seemingly racist acts are far more about culture than race.  Far more about subjective moral values than subjective skin color preferences.

Also, I do tend to think there is a vein of classism that also gets misinterpreted as racism, but then again, much of that is cultural, too.

I have no problem at all with someone who makes $30k per year working a relatively "low-class" job.  However, when they spend 20% of their budget on cigs and booze, and claim they can't afford certain things for their kids or maintaining their home/vehicles, I realize there is a cultural breech that simply can't be defined as "classism."  The two breed each other, of couse (lower income and excuse-making bullsh!t), but they are two separate items that have an intertwined cause/effect.

I think we'd all be better off if 1) we acknowledged the large amount of racially-motivated bias in ourselves or at least a vast majority of the population... and 2) that many of our motivations that may seem racially motivated to liberals have far-more cultural/moral aspects than they are trying to bring into the analysis that uses color as the only recognized variable.

[Early Cuyler]

I recently moved to southeast Idaho from Texas, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this thread! Southeast Idaho is an interesting mix of people, with the aforementioned community dynamics all present: You have Mormons and everyone else. The Mormons seem to spend all of their time together (at least in part because the average family size makes traditional get-togethers very hard) with everyone else doing the same. The end result is a huge amount of mistrust between the two groups, to the point where spending time with people who are not a member of your "team" can lead to serious social consequences.

[barrett]

The end result is a huge amount of mistrust between the two groups, to the point where spending time with people who are not a member of your "team" can lead to serious social consequences.

Early C, Can you give an example of this? What were the consequences for you or others who have associated with the wrong team? Thanks.

[Early Cuyler]

I recently moved to southeast Idaho from Texas

So we know it wasn't the weather that prompted this move. May I inquire what did?

I am an avid fly fisherman and Idaho is home to some of the very best trout fishing on the planet.

[Pointedstick]

Personally, I would prefer Idaho's climate to that of Texas any day of the week, month of the year, and year of my life. Well, east Texas, at least. The heat and humidity make me feel like I'm drowning just walking around!

[Early Cuyler]

The end result is a huge amount of mistrust between the two groups, to the point where spending time with people who are not a member of your "team" can lead to serious social consequences.

Early C, Can you give an example of this? What were the consequences for you or others who have associated with the wrong team? Thanks.

Barrett,

The best (worst?) example I have for you is a friend of mine who is more or less blacklisted by potential employers because he laughed  when the wife of a prominent LDS member said she wanted twelve children because he thought she was joking; she wasn't.

[Pointedstick]

You only say that because you are still relatively young. Try spending 50+ years in cold Chicago winters and you may have a different opinion. That said, I would never relocate to a humidity zone like east Texas, AL, MS, LA either.

No, I'm just weird! I actually grew up in Illinois and went to college in NY so I know what brutal winters are like. But I actually like them. I really love shoveling snow. I'm bizarre, I know. Who knows what the future holds, of course.

[MachineGhost]

No, I'm just weird! I actually grew up in Illinois and went to college in NY so I know what brutal winters are like. But I actually like them. I really love shoveling snow. I'm bizarre, I know. Who knows what the future holds, of course.

Not so weird.  I prefer the Northwest's grey and cool climate to SoCA"s eternally sunnily hot and dry climate that obliterates the four seasons 11 months out of 12.  I can't imagine what a hellhole this place will be in another 10+ years due to global warming.  It's about as stupid as living in Phoenix, AZ where it already reaches 130 and crime goes up due to temper's flaring.  I'm already volatile, I need to chill out, literally!

[Reub]

No, I'm just weird! I actually grew up in Illinois and went to college in NY so I know what brutal winters are like. But I actually like them. I really love shoveling snow. I'm bizarre, I know. Who knows what the future holds, of course.

Not so weird.  I prefer the Northwest's grey and cool climate to SoCA"s eternally sunnily hot and dry climate that obliterates the four seasons 11 months out of 12.  I can't imagine what a hellhole this place will be in another 10+ years due to global warming.  It's about as stupid as living in Phoenix, AZ where it already reaches 130 and crime goes up due to temper's flaring.  I'm already volatile, I need to chill out, literally!

"Almost 9000 Daily record cold temps in November alone"

http://iceagenow.info/2014/12/9000-dail ... -november/

[MachineGhost]

"Almost 9000 Daily record cold temps in November alone"

http://iceagenow.info/2014/12/9000-dail ... -november/

That sure as hell isn't happening here!  Besides, the daily temperature is a red herring; its the nighttime temperatures where you see (and feel!) the global warming actually occuring.  The Earth can't cool down enough to offset all the cumulative solar heat collected during the daytime.

As a former skeptic for over two decades, I reserve my right to be proven wrong without getting egg on my face.  But I believe in the scientific process and I feel it's been long enough now for the issue to have been tortured by everyone.