Greenville/Upstate = Bible Belt?

[gman430]

The perception that the Upstate is the most conservative part of S.C. is very strong. More evidence is the current debate on legalizing poker and raffles. As reported in this article in the Post & Courier, members of the legislature and supporters of the bill say it probably won't pass because of the opposition by the powers-that-be from the Upstate. Here is the article:

http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/mar/24/a_long_shot76232/

The most telling quotes, I think, are "Opponents in the Legislature, especially Upstate conservatives, already have killed previous efforts to legalize "kitchen-table" poker and don't seem inclined to change their stance." and "McConnell said a telling forecast on the bill's future will come Monday when a public hearing on the two bills is held in Greenville, the heart of the state's Bible Belt. Ford called on pro-poker forces to attend that meeting, as well. "Y'all get a couple of buses," he said, adding, "I'm always afraid of Greenville on these kinds of issues."" (Underlining is mine.)

In my opinion, the Upstate is DEFinitely more conservative. One example of my experience with this: whenever I visit the Upstate, which I love to do for many reasons, I attempt to find good modern rock or anything close to it on the radio. No cigar . . . the only stations my radio seeks and stops at have ultra right-wing talk shows, church, gospel, or other religious music, and maybe a country music or adult contemporary music station, and that's it. The pop music stations are usually Charlotte stations, and maybe a classic rock station or two might be based in the Upstate. This is just my experience, and one I don't have in other parts of the state. I do get a lot of this same thing when I travel to eastern N.C. (except the Triangle, of course!), which is frustrating but not surprising.

[digital_sandlapper]

Your post sounds like a bashing of the upstate more than anything else. Perception? It's a fact the upstate is the most conservative part of the state. Just look at how the counties in South Carolina voted in the last election for proof of that. Some people seem to think that being conservative is a bad thing and I have yet to see any proof that it actually is. Same goes with being liberal. Everybody will have different opinions on issues. We wouldn't have a good political system if we didn't. I agree that the radio stations here do suck and that's why I stick with cd's and a mp3 player.

[gman430]

Bashing? I am just reporting what the newspaper printed in support of my opinion that the Upstate is the most conservative part of the state (the subject of the forum). I also never equated being conservative as good, bad, or anything else. The radio stations are of minor importance, just an example that I chose to give of my experience with its conservatism.

I love the Upstate, conservatism and all, but also for its progressive stance on a lot of other things like attracting industry, conserving its natural beauty, and good urban development.

[gs3]

The perception that the Upstate is the most conservative part of S.C. is very strong. More evidence is the current debate on legalizing poker and raffles. As reported in this article in the Post & Courier, members of the legislature and supporters of the bill say it probably won't pass because of the opposition by the powers-that-be from the Upstate. Here is the article:

http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/mar/24/a_long_shot76232/

The most telling quotes, I think, are "Opponents in the Legislature, especially Upstate conservatives, already have killed previous efforts to legalize "kitchen-table" poker and don't seem inclined to change their stance." and "McConnell said a telling forecast on the bill's future will come Monday when a public hearing on the two bills is held in Greenville, the heart of the state's Bible Belt. Ford called on pro-poker forces to attend that meeting, as well. "Y'all get a couple of buses," he said, adding, "I'm always afraid of Greenville on these kinds of issues."" (Underlining is mine.)

In my opinion, the Upstate is DEFinitely more conservative. One example of my experience with this: whenever I visit the Upstate, which I love to do for many reasons, I attempt to find good modern rock or anything close to it on the radio. No cigar . . . the only stations my radio seeks and stops at have ultra right-wing talk shows, church, gospel, or other religious music, and maybe a country music or adult contemporary music station, and that's it. The pop music stations are usually Charlotte stations, and maybe a classic rock station or two might be based in the Upstate. This is just my experience, and one I don't have in other parts of the state. I do get a lot of this same thing when I travel to eastern N.C. (except the Triangle, of course!), which is frustrating but not surprising.

[digital_sandlapper]

Just a question.....who deemed liberals to be correct and conservatives to be wrong????

As a gay man, my Jewish partner and I have met and made friends with nothing but the nicest people in Upstate. We don't pull out our checklist and asked if they are conservative or liberal. We simply like and respect them for who they are and vice versa. We are moderate liberals and believe each person can be who and what they are......even if that means a conservative who likes Sarah Palin. GASP!

As a gay man, I don't want people judging me, so why should I make judgement on conservatives?

I, nor any of my work associates that have ever visited Greenville, see it as anything but, cute and progressive. If others want to call it the buckle of the Bible Belt, then give me a Bible and I'll wear it proudly as the buckle on my Gucci belt!

Oh yeah, if you can't find a radio station, get XM or Sirius, then you never have to worry again.

[digital_sandlapper]

Sorry for thinking you were bashing the upstate area if you weren't. I thought you were due to the parts of your post you underlined specifically targeting the Greenville area. People make misconceptions a lot on forums and I apologize for that.

[erm1981]

Again, I never said liberals were correct and conservatives wrong . . geesh. I also am not being judgemental--I have many conservative friends and family members, and I have been known to vote or be quite conservative in many ways.

Just remember, this forum calls for debate on whether the Upstate is the most conservative part of the state (again, not passing any judgement one way or the other). My new post was further argument that it is at least a perception, if not fact as citylife pointed out when mentioning voting history of the region. I think that Upstaters like yourself should be justifiable proud of the Upstate, but not try and deny its conservativism, or get so personally offended in the debate.

Don't worry, I don't fret about the radio stations as I have plenty of mp3s. That was just my example of Upstate conservatism from my personal experience (I have others). If you experience open acceptance where you live, that is wonderful of course. Just don't assume that's what everyone else is experiencing.

[Spartan]

In my opinion, the Upstate is DEFinitely more conservative. One example of my experience with this: whenever I visit the Upstate, which I love to do for many reasons, I attempt to find good modern rock or anything close to it on the radio. No cigar . . . the only stations my radio seeks and stops at have ultra right-wing talk shows, church, gospel, or other religious music, and maybe a country music or adult contemporary music station, and that's it.

[Greenville]

The Upstate does tend to be slightly more conservative than other parts of South Carolina. I don't think that is bad in and of itself. The problem lies in the fact that when some people hear "conservative," they equate that with intolerance, Bible thumpers, racism, rednecks, no fun, hypocrites, enforcement of morals, ignorance, etc. In fact, it is no different than the way some people hear "liberal" and think socialism, baby haters, morally bankrupt, hippies, etc. Neither characterizations are fair, yet I feel like many people paint the Upstate with broad strokes of the former.

If anything, my extensive experiences in Greenville (as well as in other parts of the state and nation) have led me to believe that people in the Upstate are some of the nicest, most genuine, and tolerant people to which I have ever been exposed. And, believe it or not, everyone gets along well, people are given a proper level of respect, and religion and politics are never really pervasive. I know I am not the only one who has had such positive experiences.

[krazeeboi]

The Upstate does tend to be slightly more conservative than other parts of South Carolina. I don't think that is bad in and of itself. The problem lies in the fact that when some people hear "conservative," they equate that with intolerance, Bible thumpers, racism, rednecks, no fun, hypocrites, enforcement of morals, ignorance, etc. In fact, it is no different than the way some people hear "liberal" and think socialism, baby haters, morally bankrupt, hippies, etc. Neither characterizations are fair, yet I feel like many people paint the Upstate with broad strokes of the former.

[motonenterprises]

Go to downtown Greenville on a weekend night and tell me if its conservative. Some of the best nightlife in this state!

[krazeeboi]

Go to downtown Greenville on a weekend night and tell me if its conservative. Some of the best nightlife in this state!

[digital_sandlapper]

Folks, all of this debate is good, but I was sort of hoping that the comments would be on the article from the Post and Courier that I sent a link to.

That is, do you all agree/disagree with the article's stance that the Upstate is so conservative that the poker laws are doomed? Do you agree with Sen. Ford that he should be "scared" of the Upstate's view on such issues? What do you think about the article's claims that other "lifestyle laws" (my term) have been killed off by Upstate legislators? Is this truth in reporting--which laws do they refer to having been killed off? (I'm thinking tattoo parlors?)

What I think is not important (I'm just the messenger)--what's your reaction to the newspaper article and it's assertions?

[Spartan]

I think there are several ways to look at it.

The article implies that social conservatives, which it later clarifies as the 'Bible Belt' portion of conservatives, may hold up the legislation.

The Upstate is socially conservative, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone wants to ban poker. Everyone I know in the Upstate has played card games at some point, so I think that the general populous would not want to. However, the politicians, being who they are, will represent what they believe is the majority opinion- in this case the Christian conservatives.

This situation leads to my main response to digital_sandlapper's question: Does the Upstate have so much political clout and/or representation that it could single-handedly hold up a piece of legislation?

[gman430]

Committee Chairman Robert Ford, D-Charleston made this comment last night at a meeting in Greenville regarding gambling:

"I guess since we

[Greenville]

Committee Chairman Robert Ford, D-Charleston made this comment last night at a meeting in Greenville regarding gambling:

"I guess since we

[krazeeboi]

^Ford is just an idiot on his own accord. You don't even have to bring Charleston into it.

Horry County is a traditionally red county--at least when it comes to national elections--but I could see some support for video poker there. Just goes to show that there are different strains of conservatism throughout the state.

[digital_sandlapper]

^Ford is just an idiot on his own accord. You don't even have to bring Charleston into it.

Horry County is a traditionally red county--at least when it comes to national elections--but I could see some support for video poker there. Just goes to show that there are different strains of conservatism throughout the state.

[digital_sandlapper]

Committee Chairman Robert Ford, D-Charleston made this comment last night at a meeting in Greenville regarding gambling:

"I guess since we

[CorgiMatt]

Parochialism (tribalism) -

[digital_sandlapper]

Parochialism (tribalism) -