One of the personal consequences of Obama's presidency.

I live in a little town in a very red part of TX. I live in the district of one of the ignorant House Repubs, Joe Barton, and next to the district of the disrespectful Louie Gohmert, who had a sign in his lap at Obama's speech the other night saying "What Bill?". Those two are convinced that everyone in their districts agrees with their hateful obstructionist stance against Obama.

I am white and a lifelong Democrat.

I have no white friends here. All my white friends are people I left behind in Houston or Dallas.

As far as socializing, my friends are black, which is fine with me.

I don't go to a Christian church either, which is another reason I don't have any white friends. Around here your social life revolves around church, and our children are grown, so we don't socialize around school.

I have to drive 80 miles to the nearest UU fellowship which is the only church I feel comfortable with.

I don't think I'm missing anything, because I have nothing much in common with these Republican right wing fundy Christians. About all I can talk about is gardening. They all speak with terrible grammar, as well. They can't handle verb tenses. I constantly hear "I seen" and "I done". They will say rude things about Obama and expect you to agree with them.

The black people I know speak in proper sentences.

This is just an observation.

My black friends are all in the family of a lady who used to be my grandmother's maid.
So I've known this lady for decades. I have adopted her for my mom, as well.
She tells stories about my grandmother and we all laugh with the memories.

some sane people around you. I've also noticed that many peoples social lives are built around churches which I find strange. I am a church goer myself - but have always maintained a separate social life.

I'm in a very RED area in Texas as well. There were hardly any "Obama" signs in the yards here and I don't have political conversations with anyone in my neighborhood as there were McCain/Palin signs everywhere during the election. The other day I saw a McCain/Palin bumper sticker with McCain scratched off. WTH? LOL

As far as the race thing goes - we would all have a better appreciation for other races/cultures if we actually spent time with one another. Unfortunately - I don't see that happening in my life time.

I live in a very red/hopefully turning purple county. I will appreciate my short commute to my UU services this weekend all the more after reading your OP. The one time I worked for a large corporation, I found that those of darker skin acted a lot more humanely towards me and others than the majority of whites there. Strikingly different cultural understanding of the idea of 'team' and moral support between the races, that's for sure.

We elected a Black POTUS ... he needed and got a lot of white people to vote for him.

Just remember that.

And try your best to bear the fools you must deal with...

As they speak.

last nite i met a lady at the y who is a high school math teacher.

We told her we were unitarians. She thought that was the same as Unity (WRONG).
Unity is a bunch of new age space cadets. Positive thinking with a bit of Jesus on top.

So I gave her some of my UU propganda I carry around in case anybody wonders.

You are welcome to move to Greensboro, NC, where you will find black AND white friends who share your views, even though there are still plenty of white people who share the opinions of your current neighbors.

But Obama got 42% of the white vote in Guilford County NC last November...

Greensboro is a pleasant, pretty, medium-sized (pop. 257,000) city; job situation is poor right now (furniture and textiles manufacturing still reeling from NAFTA), but if you're retired, a very reasonable cost of living and friendly place.

let me guess, do you live near Tyler? From your description it sure sounds like it. I grew up in Paris, Tx and i now reside in Ft. Worth.

Have to drive to Tyler to do any serious shopping (i.e. Non-Wallyworld).

And find Unitarian-Universalists.

Fortunately she didn't have to drive 80 miles to get to them, either.

Hekate