Atheist Feminist Socialist here - AIBU to want to get under the skin of the US Bible Belt?

[seesawteddy]

I am just so fascinated by the image I have in my head of gun-wielding bible-loving immigrant-hating Trump-worshippers. I know it's probably all based on stereotypes... but then again maybe not?

I really want to go! Not to start any fights but just to be a fly on the wall and meet these people who in some ways I'm sure are similar to me but ideologically worlds apart. I want to go to church, get myself invited to a pot luck, talk to somebody in a MAGA cap... is this all crazy and a bit twisted?

And if not the second part of my question is- any ideas where I should go and how I can have a more immersive experience rather than just doing the tourist trail?

Op - you read young and rather naive. I say that because I really don’t think it would be safe for you to eg go into a remote country bar As a ‘wannabe Louis theroux’.
Calm down and grow up. Travel not to ogle people but to learn about yourself.

You do need to drop your superiority complex. It is oozing from your posts. Start here:

I chortle plenty about characters such as Rees-Mogg and their ilk (it's a case of laugh or cry tbh…)

People make fun of Rees-Mogg. He is not like people we meet every day, nor does he try to fake being what he isn't. He is an easy target. He clearly has strong moral beliefs, is intelligent and want to make a difference to the world as evidenced by the fact he has gone into politics and carries on despite people mocking him for being different.

What have you done to change the world? More than him? What if people gave you shit for what you say? Would you still do it if you thought it was right? Are you really better than him?

Here's an exercise. Go away and research Rees-Mogg as a decent intelligent well-meaning guy who gets stuff done. Leave behind chortling and imagining him as a Marvel Supervillain.

You don't need to go to the Tory Zoo. You only need to read and watch what is freely available with an open mind.

When you discover some good things about him and have some admiration despite still disagreeing with his conclusions (assuming you do) then see if you have the backbone to tell your chortling mates what you think. Go on. I dare you.

And what about all the other Trump supporters

The wealthy elite who voted for him to save on their taxes

Don’t forget they are also keen on guns and tend to have quite a few. The laws are different in the US you are allowed to shoot burglars

Watch Travels in Trumpland with Ed Balls. There are definitely the stereotypes you imagine but there are plenty of other types that support Trump too. It's an inciteful watch.

I agree with most responses to the op except that Rees mogg is a decent intelligent person. Sorry but he has no critical thinking skill front the things I have heard him say and he is not decent especially towards those poorer and different from him

Also to the poster who said about the American can do attitude, no it's not good thing to literally throw away any kid needing foster care, to throw people nd minorities away in prison and minorities go more because of racism, put and simple and to not bother to help their sick and sizable and elderly. Even vets who served and sacrifices for them get a bum deal if sick, elderly and disabled. This is not a good society, it's just a place of haves and have not. Then there's the chemical, pharmaceutical and other industries that have such power Incl political they literally can pollute at will, including selling crap food and having bad environmental practices.

The UK is heading there and we should all view the USA as a cautionary tale.

People make fun of Rees-Mogg. He is not like people we meet every day, nor does he try to fake being what he isn't. He is an easy target. He clearly has strong moral beliefs, is intelligent and want to make a difference to the world as evidenced by the fact he has gone into politics and carries on despite people mocking him for being different.

He has selective moral beliefs. Thinks abortion is an abomination, yet reaps millions investing in abortion drugs.

He wants to make a difference to the world, as long as that world is about people like him. He pushes Brexit like some utopian dream, in full knowledge it will make the majority worse off, and without mentioning the millions he is making from it.

He thinks food banks are "rather uplifting". For fuck's sake.

Going into politics does not automatically make you a good person. His motivations are very clear, and they're nothing to be applauded.

But back to the op, you sound far too simplistic and moking to make use of a visit there.

You need to leave your bias at home and talk to as many people as possible, could you do that?

I'm a leftie on some subjects but conservative on others, as I'm religious and my opinions are often formed from belief and faith. However I would not go to mock or view. People are not zoo animals. We all need to engage and challenge each other and talk.

For some reason, this thread has made me want to listen to 'Walking in Memphis' and 'Graceland'.

When I first joined MN there was a poster who had infiltrated the Trump right of the US just out of interest. Her insights were touching and, well, insightful! I wish I could remember her name. She ended up still in disagreement but having a lot more sympathy.

Yes, YABU. While I share none of the views you imagine these people to have, and even if the stereotype is 100% correct, which I doubt, what right have you got to mock them?
And not just mock them, but travel there, and inveigle yourself into their churches, their homes and their lives with the specific intention of mocking them
Who died and put you in charge?
Why not live and let live.
Or do you imagine that by looking down your nose and sniggering you will help them 'see the light'?

If you google Trump Evangelical Christians you get a load of articles from sources such as the Washington Post which have a good go at explaining the politicisation of conservative Christianity in the US. I find it odd that so many US ministers are conservative whereas us Brits tend to be further left than our congregations.

The US political system is one that makes little sense to the Brits. I suspect they feel,the same way about us at times.

OP I am a former Brit, now US citizen. I live in the whitest state (98.2%). I am a gun owning, libertarian. My family here are Trump supporters, and in law enforcement.

As others have said, it’s much more complex than your OP. I am sure you would find a US liberal quite conservative.

Feel free to AMA

Rees-Mogg has as a previous poster indicated, very selective and self serving morals. He is also prepared to line up with other with fascist tendencies to get Brexit - despite having his money heavily invested in Europe where he stands to make more millions!

I am not for a moment saying Rees-Mogg and his politics are brilliant. I was pointing out that the OP has not looked below the surface and seems to operate on accepted truths from within her echo chamber of right on people, which has her feeling both superior and bemused at why anyone would vote for Rees-Mogg.

Painting huge groups of people as baddies or goodies doesn't help build a better society. The vast majority of people in politics want to make the world a better place and are doing that in what they think is the right way. I prefer to start any analysis with that assumption about their motives.

I don't like the current trend for deciding a person's tribe and then assuming everything they say or believe must be in line with that and is thus either wholesome or evil.

My friend supports Trump, she owns a gun, thinks some are welfare scroungers, she's very Christian and she lives in the South. She's also a feminist, a Mexican by birth, and a teacher. She's helped many many children in poverty, abuse and desperate situations. When I lived there so many former pupils told me how she'd changed their lives. I think she could teach you a lot more than you could ever teach her. Life is far more complex. As someone else said, travel to learn about yourself.

Yeah, I'm not buying this idea of Rees-Mogg as an intelligent and earnest man trying to make a difference to the world.

There's a wide, wide grey area in the middle between cartoon villain, and a man with integrity making well-thought out decisions for the greater good.

Rees-Mogg is a misogynist who doesn't lose sleep over people struggling to feed their kids because he simply believes that being poor is a moral failing, the result of a character flaw like laziness.

The vast majority of people in politics want to make the world a better place and are doing that in what they think is the right way
Sadly the way politics is swinging to the right in the UK/US and Europe - I’m a tad more sceptical about that.

Actually, I think OP should take that attitude to the "bible belt"; experiencing some of the wonderful people there (and yes, even a few unpleasant ones) might just teach her that they're mostly regular folk, doing their best but not especially appreciative of being seen as an exhibit

Or maybe not ...

I live in Charleston, SC (also known as Holy City due to the number of churches) but originally from the UK. I go to church every weekend but I’ve yet to come across anyone like you’ve described. Instead I’m surrounded by the warmest, kindest, friendliest and open people I’ve ever met.

And actually the only run in with a MAGA hat that I’ve had has been an interesting experience in a guys truck at the end of the date. I laughed at the hat thinking he owned it as a joke... he did not and we didn’t see each other again