Journal #2

"We are not a divided nation.  We are a cafeteria nation."  This quote caught my attention because of how true it is.  I know many other students can relate to this because we were all in high school at one point in time and we know how the little cliques work.  For example, like the article stated, there are the nerds, the jocks, the punks, bikers, and techies.  The cliques are all still around today everywhere.  We often time assume we know everything about everyone in these little cliques, but usually that case isn't true.  We don't really know anything about anyone in the cliques unless we are a part of them.  So therefore, "We are not a divided nation.  We are a cafeteria nation", made up of many cliques running, trying to find their way.  Also another quote that caught my attention was the very last sentence of the article.  "There may be cracks, but there is no chasm.  Rather, there is a common love for this nation-one-nation in the end."


Red:  churches, guns, farms, trucks, closer family ties, self-disciplined and patriotic, more racist

Blue:  uses motors, cities, modern, secular, self-expressive

(Red sail, Blue powerboat, Red cross-country ski, Blue snowmobile, Red hike, Blue ATV, Red have vineyard tours, Blue have tractor pulls, when it comes to yard work, Red have illegal aliens, Blue have riding mowers)

What does where you're from say about who you are?

Where you are from plays a big role and has a big impact as to who you are and what other people think of you.  The places you grew up, the people you hung out with, the schools you previously attended, etc.  Your culture and practices help define who you are, too as a person.  Your upbringing from previous generations and how your family reacts to certain things all contribute to who you are.  All struggles and past experiences define who you are. 

I agree and disagree with the author.  I find some of his points spot on and I can relate to them, but others are more difficult to get a clear understanding of.  I recognize these places and where he is coming from in his article.  The author makes many distinctive assumptions about people who live in these "Red" and "Blue" places and he has his own opinions on them.  Many people probably have a number of different views and opinions as to the differences between the people living in the "Red" and "Blue" societies.