Question for liberal Kentuckians

[hyphenate]

Since I'm in Massachusetts, I have no idea of how liberal or Democratic (as in party) Kentucky is overall. I assume it's well represented here at DU, though, and I hope that if the whacko right has its claws into the state government that you manage to reclaim it as well as in its federal government representatives.

But I have a few questions that I hope someone can be patient with me and answer. The reason I'm asking these questions at this time is because my former best friend is going there to live with her new fundie "husband" and I wonder how much of an impact they will have--if any--on the culture there, and if the sub-culture is more liable to be on their side than on our side.

A little background: the idiot she married is a prison guard, though I don't know what prison. He lives near Lexington, though, if that helps. Evidently, he's created his own ministry and counsels prisoners at the prison with his "holier than thou" rantings. They're fundies, if that helps.

I can't help but think that these people--including my ex-friend--are nutcases, because anyone who is a proseletyzing evangelical, hellfire and brimstone spewing hypocrite is a crazy right off the bat. And now, my friend, who was once an intelligent compassionate woman, is now just another brainwashed cultist who ignores reason and rational behavior in favor of the "passion" of "loving god" but pretty much hating everyone else.

How much influence do these kinds of zealots have in your state? I hope I am not in any way antagonizing anyone by asking these questions. My ex friend has lived here in Massachusetts all her life, and while she got attached to the fundies here, I know that they don't have a lot of power simply because Massachusetts is very liberal and doesn't have the mindset to become that involved with the mashed brains that make up the fundie sect. And if it's the same there, I apologize for thinking otherwise, but I just don't know. I hope someone will enlighten me without feeling like I am in any way being an asshole, because my curiosity just wants to know the extent to which my ex-friend's misguided behavior is going to be "rewarded" or not rewarded in a different atmosphere.

While I have said "goodbye" to this friend, I still care for her to the extent that if this guy is an abuser or worse (he's been married three times already), that she can get the hell out of there without getting killed or beaten to a pulp. But it's always important to know the climate in the area insofar as this kind of abuse is condoned, or if there is a chance that she would be stuck in something that destroys her independent voice as a result of that kind of fundie cult being common and thus accepted, regardless.

I appreciate whatever info anyone can give me--thanks.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

1. I've lived in Kentucky my whole life. I love it here but I have watched

is evolve from a fun, lively, interesting place to one that is full of judgmental, closed-minded, bible thumper people who, along with many other states, have corrupted religion for power. This all came about when it started swinging red (once upon a time Kentucky was a true blue state - Mitch McConnell used any leverage he could find to seize the power) with bigotry and division the norm rather than the exception. This truly all started about the time the religious right started their holier-than-thou movements back in the 80s. For sometime you could actually feel the hesitation of anyone daring to speak out - it was that bad in my small town. The churches in this area are very, very strong and have an inordinate amount of power of their congregation. If you wanted a job, a home loan, etc. it was necessary for you to "fit in." Mitch McConnell led the parade. That man is no more religious than I am but he, like Chucklenuts, isn't above using any group of people for his own evil means. He and the GOP has done an excellent job of turning people against each other over a variety of issues.

As to you friend, I don't think they will have any trouble finding people just like themselves, sorry to say, but I also, feel that change is in the air. There are more people speaking out where once they were afraid to even admit they were a Democratic voter or even a liberal. Only five years ago a local businessman was actually ran out of town because he dared to head up a local referendum to allow restaurants to serve alcoholic drinks. Once the boycott hit his business he had no choice but to close down and moved his family to Florida. True story...and one that was right here in middle America in the 21st century.

I am finding the mood shifting, lifting, and people are angry and ready to take back their state and their government. I just hope that I am reading this correctly.

The Lexington area of the state is beautiful, the rolling hills, the horse farms, the Spring and Fall seasons are outstanding. I hope they come to love my state and are interested in working to make it a better place and not one rife with people trying to pull it apart.

[hyphenate]

2. Thanks for answering my questions

The guy is a native, as far as I know. There's a chance he came from out of state, too, but he's been there for quite some time already. Evidently, his bible thumping is well tolerated, so perhaps by her new, warped sense of priorities, my ex friend now has a willing "congregation" to which to preach. It is always sad to me to see people falling for that kind of narrow-minded, hypocritical shit without exploring the truth and the endless possibilities. I already told my ex friend that I didn't hate her, but what she has come to believe in. She claims to "love god" but anyone who chooses a hateful, legalistic church and faith is not honoring any god, and certainly not preaching the true beliefs of their supposed "savior."

Thanks again. I hope for the future of all of us, that once this asshole in the wh is gone, some semblance of reality is brought back and that those who boldly try to usurp our first amendment rights are the ones who are stifled instead, or at the very least, told to back off and let us ALL maintain the right to worship--or not worship--as we choose.

[iamthebandfanman]

3. it all depends

i think you'll find the over all mood of people in kentucky different from county to county and city to city.

i know my county tends to vote democrat pretty consistantly, but the county directly beside us votes republican almost without fail every election.

*shrugs*

just depends on where ya go ;)

[alfredo]

4. Lexington has a very lively arts scene. That should disgust

them no end. We also have some excellent libraries and book stores, other signs of our degenerate nature. But we do have some mega churches and a Southern Baptist Seminary school here. So they won't feel completely terrorized.

[kymar57]

5. about KY

I'm not sure I quite understand your question. Is your friend falling into some backward fundie hellhole? No. Will she find people who agree with fundie beliefs if she is looking for them? Yes. Are there progressive minded people who are more than willing to debate those fundamentalist beliefs with her if she chooses to engage them? Absolutely.

As to her being in some sort of danger relocating here. I can only say the dangers here are certainly no worse than those in the "liberal" state of Mass. Despite rumors to the contrary we here in KY as a rule take a dim view of abuse in any form. Statistically I would guess we fall somewhere in the middle ie domestic violence. (Just a guess,if you wish to dispute that, you do the research)

Finally, as to her "independent voice" being destroyed. Your ex-friend "chose" this fellow & "chose" to follow him to KY while still nestled in the bosom of liberal Mass.

If I seem slightly annoyed by your post, well, it is because I am.
One thing I don't hear about here in the KY is a "former best friend" unless they stole yer wife/husband/dog.

I would encourage you to try and maintain contact with your "ex" and try to support her in her transition. Ya never know,you might be the one to bring her back from the edge.

[SKKY]

6. I've been in the Military for 14 years, so I haven't lived there...

...in quite a while, but my family still lives there and I visit at least every year or so. From what I gather, and the impression I get when I'm there is that, aside from Louisville and Lexington, yes, Kentucky is moving to the right. Now, having said that, I know Dukakis, Clinton, Clinton, Gore, and Kerry carried Lousville and Lexington, so that should tell you something. Louisville also has a very popular and exceptionally successful Mayor, Jerry Abramson, who's a Democrat and is very well respected. I guess the answer to your question would be dependent upon where you'll live. If you're living in Louisville or Lexington, you will enjoy it. Outside of that, and it can be like the movie Deliverance.

[Roland99]

7. Outside the urban areas it's rather conservative and even in some urban...

areas (esp. around Louisville which is home to Six Flags Over Jesus - otherwise known as Southeast Christian Church, a huge complex of buildings that's probably hit the $250 million mark in construction costs)

But, they don't have much of a stranglehold over politics, just overall attitudes.

As for abusive relationships, Louisville is home to the VINE service (http://www.appriss.com or http://www.marybyronfoundation.org).

Not sure how helpful that is but....