I live in Virginia for 17 plus years...

[MrScorpio]

My entire time there, I always felt safe and secure as a person of color. The state really is a place where all kinds of cultures and races are welcome and can live together in peace. It's a state with open arms all of the time.

It's home to one of the largest immigrant communities in the country, it's unofficial motto is "Virginia is for lovers," it's a place where anyone, no matter who you are, can find a home. All of this is possible because Virginia has the largest population of Federal employees in the entire country and is also home to one the largest population of military members in the country.

It has prestigious universities and a well educated population. It's a state with a high livability factor, both culturally and economically.

All in all, I still consider Virginia my second home. And in spite of the fact of its Confederate history, attitude wise, collectively it's about as far away from a Confederate mindset as you can get. It's far from backward. When I spent a few months in Alabama for temporary duty, the comparisons weren't hard to see.

I just saw the vid the racist rally organizer being ran out of town... THAT is the Virginia that I know and love. They have no time for this bullshit. The racists fucksticks miscalculated and they lost badly. I'm so very sorry that lives were lost because of them. From the anti-racist protester, Heather Heyer, to the two VA State Troopers Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen & Berke Bates, it was a shame that they all lost their lives because of those racist fucksticks.

I'm proud of how all Virginians, from Gov. McAuliffe on down to ordinary citizens, fought hard and held out against white supremacist terrorism. They all deserve our gratitude and support.

May the rest of us follow their example.

FDT.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Thank you, my dear MrScorpio, for your beautiful, thoughtful post. It helps ease our pain. n/t

[underpants]

2. Moved to the Commonwealth at age 7 from Ohio

"Grew up" in Hampton Roads. A weird mixture of military and Deadheads.

Yes The Commonwealth is a good place with an interesting mix.

Charlottesville has always been seen as the intellectual Mecca of the sate. Sorry Blacksburg Williamsburg and Lexington.


The people of Charlottesville said NO! Not in my town. Good for them. The Nazis thought it was a soft target but clearly it wasn't.

[Glorfindel]

3. Thanks, MrScorpio. I have beloved relatives who live in Virginia.

Your post makes me breathe easier about them, even though they don't live close to Charlottesville. Some of them are Jewish, however, and the horrible stuff we saw yesterday and Friday night sends shivers down my spine.

[mcar]

4. That video showed him for the miserable coward he is

Thanks for this, MrScorpio.

[m-lekktor]

5. yes I spent a 4 excellents years in Norfolk/Va Beach while in the navy.

I am white so i can't speak from that angle but i am gay and had fun there leading an "underground" life for back in those day when i couldn't be "out". I never personally observed any racism and had friends of many different backgrounds and we never had problems out and about. On the other hand I observed much more blatant racism the few years I lived in Boston.

[Jersey Devil]

6. Doesn't it trouble you to still see such things as the "Stonewall Jackson Shrine"

on I-95 near Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania as you are traveling through Virginia? As far as I am concerned, as long as such things still exist and people visit them there is the danger that racist sentiments are still harbored by many. I want to see it and all other such symbols torn down.

[Duppers]

16. Agree.

Progress is slow but at least we are moving in the right direction. Here's wishing the pace will increase.

[cornball 24]

7. Thank you for your wisdom. My incredible grandfather, a gentleman of color, grew up in

Lynchburg, an hour from Charlottesville. He would be heartbroken to know that these horrific acts were taking place almost 150 years after his birth. I am sickened by this and fear for our country. I believe that Virginia was purposely chosen because of its welcoming and embracing of all cultures and races as you have so aptly pointed out. These evil factions prey on the places that have made the greatest strides in advancing the cause of justice and freedom for all-Virginia.

[Yonnie3]

8. Many, many more years a Virginian than you.

Last edited Sun Aug 13, 2017, 09:38 PM - Edit history (1)

I been one my whole life and I'm a senior now. Thank you for your kind words about Virginia. There is much improvement that can be made and people like you being here, even if you have moved on, help make it happen.

I was just at 4th and Water street in Charlottesville where Heather lost her life. There was a crowd and lots of flowers. There was a sadness there that settled heavily on me. Your post made me feel better.

[cvoogt]

9. Nine years here.

Family history here goes back generations. NoVA / Charlottesville != the rest of the state, that's for sure. Glad NoVA and Charlottesville are filled with smart, diverse people because it more than balances out the racist idiots that inhabit parts of (not all of!) the rest of the Commonwealth!

[DFW]

10. I was born there and lived there for a while

I can only second Mr. Scorpio's words.

[Skittles]

11. anyone else reminded of this clip?

yes indeed

[CatWoman]

12. I hate Illinois nazis!!

[Skittles]

13. heh

yes INDEED

[kwassa]

14. But where did you live? There are multiple Virginias.

NoVa, the northern Virginia area around DC is as liberal as any place in the US. Richmond and the Norfolk/Hampton Roads area will run blue. College towns will be blue. Most of the state is red, however. Very red.

There are factions among the Republicans that can't stand each other. There is the Tea Party group that ousted Kantor and replaced him with Dave Brat.

There are the business Republicans that fight with the Tea Party Republicans in the legislature, all the time.

Some parts of Virginia are prosperous, others are dirt poor. Extreme rural poverty. Southwestern Virginia.

The black woman I am married to, although she lived in Alexandria when she first moved here, refuses to live south of the Potomac. The history sucks, like Prince William County, which closed the public schools rather than integrate. There is a wildly racist legacy in Virginia.

[MrScorpio]

15. NoVa for seven years and Hampton Roads for the other ten.

[Duppers]

17. Lived here 40 years.

It beats the hell out of most states, despite some RW portions.