Where I live makes me more pessimistic about many things than I'd otherwise be. I sometimes forget this. I then assume that the views I encounter in Mississippi are more representative than I hope they are. This has caused me the most trouble in two domains. The first involves secularism and the plight of atheists. The second is about the toxic form of Republicanism that now plagues our country (i.e., MAGA).
Both are easy to understand. I live in a place where atheists are scarce and reviled. Evangelical fundamentalist Christianity is the norm. If there's a position of power, you best believe a Southern Baptist holds it! Expressions of blatant bigotry against atheists are common. The bigots don't expect negative consequences and are right not to do so. They'll say awful things about queer people too, but they often lower their voice before doing so. They don't do this when it comes to atheists.
This leads me to see separation of church and state as something precarious. It is always under attack, and it isn't always evident that we even have it. When a judge forced us to sit through his evangelical prayers when we reported for jury duty, it had an impact. This sort of thing colors my perceptions of the world. Being surrounded by people who hate you tends to do that.
When I hear people talk about how most of the people they know are atheists, I am jolted back to reality. It may not be my reality, but it is great to hear that it is somebody's reality. If it isn't so bad elsewhere, it might not have to be so bad here either. Hearing such things gives me hope.
The political piece can be even more of a struggle. MAGA is everywhere. I'm sure that makes it seem more powerful than it is. Traditional conservatism and the Republican Party with which I was familiar are over. MAGA has replaced them. I hope that isn't true everywhere, but it is the case here. I never thought I'd miss principled conservatives or Reagan Republicans, but I do. Even the neo-cons don't seem so bad!
It was almost impossible for me to imagine President Biden winning a second term. I would have bet that the United States is about to take another ride on the Trump train. Can you imagine how depressing that is?
It is important that I remember that it may not seem this way to others who aren't in MAGA states. Some national polls suggested that Biden still had some support. I'm sure the same will be true for Harris. There is solid evidence that reproductive rights can boost Democratic voter turnout. That's encouraging. More people could decide to stand against Project 2025 than I'm expecting.
Some MAGA politicians in other states want to remake the United States in Mississippi's image. I hope that most voters in most states don't want that. I sure don't want that. I value the separation of church and state and human decency far too much. I'm also not interested in having anything like a dictator.
I will continue to go off the rails from time to time. I will need people to talk me down on occasion. I attribute much of that to my location. Like it or not, I know that it shapes how I see the world.
Image by Thomas G. from Pixabay
