If You Grew up in MD, Would you ever move to VA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a nonsoutherner who lived in the deep south for some years, I agree with the above statement relating to racial issues being out in the open in the south. I have never seen racism worse than up north in places like New Jersey.

I hear your point. People don't make much effort to hide their racism in the deep south. In the north, social mores dictate otherwise. And I agree that there are northern areas where--hidden or not--racism is pervasive. But with that said, you will *never* convince me that prejudice and racism in New Jersey (or any point north) are worse than what I have seen in Mississippi. Mississippi truly frightens me.

But Mississippi is not Richmond VA or northern VA. I have never lived in N VA but did live in Richmond for a few years, and it's pretty diverse and there are a good number of educated people there, same with N VA. It's not like you are going to go to N VA and find a bunch of hicks with confederate flags. We live in MD BTW but I don't see huge differences in the demographics....our priority is living close in and having decent commutes, decent schools and a nice neighborhood with lots of families. I imagine you can find that in both parts of MD and parts of N VA. It's funny to me that people draw such lines in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a nonsoutherner who lived in the deep south for some years, I agree with the above statement relating to racial issues being out in the open in the south. I have never seen racism worse than up north in places like New Jersey.

I hear your point. People don't make much effort to hide their racism in the deep south. In the north, social mores dictate otherwise. And I agree that there are northern areas where--hidden or not--racism is pervasive. But with that said, you will *never* convince me that prejudice and racism in New Jersey (or any point north) are worse than what I have seen in Mississippi. Mississippi truly frightens me.

But Mississippi is not Richmond VA or northern VA. I have never lived in N VA but did live in Richmond for a few years, and it's pretty diverse and there are a good number of educated people there, same with N VA. It's not like you are going to go to N VA and find a bunch of hicks with confederate flags. We live in MD BTW but I don't see huge differences in the demographics....our priority is living close in and having decent commutes, decent schools and a nice neighborhood with lots of families. I imagine you can find that in both parts of MD and parts of N VA. It's funny to me that people draw such lines in the sand.

I am the PP you quoted and, just to clarify, I was not in any way trying to equate N VA with Mississippi. I agree wholeheartedly with the PPs who are uncomfortable with the politics and the degree of racism you often see in southern areas, but to talk about N VA as though it has anything more in common with those areas than the MD suburbs is patently ridiculous, IMO. Anyone who thinks N VA is racist, clearly hasn't spent much time in the deep south.

[Anonymous]

Virginia and Maryland are almost identical in terms of geography and demographics. The only difference is Maryland has a slightly larger african american population (few percentage points), which alone pushes MD to a more liberal political break-down and Virginia is slightly more conservative.

[Anonymous]

I live in D.C. But I think I would be fine anywhere inside the Beltway (Arlington/Bethesda/Silver Spring/gasp...even PG County). Give me any neighborhood that's walkable, close to metro and parks and I'll be happy.

My issue is more with the exurban hicks that bash this area because of all the traffic, or high cost of living or unfriendly people, etc.

If you don't like it here you can move.

[Anonymous]

Maryland is where people who give orders live
Virginia is where people who take orders live

[Anonymous]

But Mississippi is not Richmond VA or northern VA. I have never lived in N VA but did live in Richmond for a few years, and it's pretty diverse and there are a good number of educated people there, same with N VA. It's not like you are going to go to N VA and find a bunch of hicks with confederate flags. We live in MD BTW but I don't see huge differences in the demographics....our priority is living close in and having decent commutes, decent schools and a nice neighborhood with lots of families. I imagine you can find that in both parts of MD and parts of N VA. It's funny to me that people draw such lines in the sand.

I'm the PP Virginia girl who has lived in various metro areas of NVa as well as MD. Sorry, but Richmond is (or at least was when I attended college there not that long ago) still very proud of their confederate heritage (flags, statues, etc.). I remember the controversy protesting the Arthur Ashe statue that was supposed to defy the racist history of that city and state of when he was not allowed to play on the whites-only tennis courts of Richmond. We're talking the 20th century here, not slavery.

I realize that although I had experienced mostly covert racism throughout life growing up in NoVa (except for a cross burning and the occasional racist flyer being passed around in school) I tried my best to ignore it. I couldn't understand why so many were still holding on to this heritage of hatred during the Arthur Ashe controversy, when we should have been light years away from slavery and segregation.

And having a black/white governor or black/white senator is not the determining factor for whether the place you reside is progressive or not, so I don't believe that's even valid. I could care less what color you are as long as you are advancing the causes that allow everyone the same equal opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maryland is where people who give orders live
Virginia is where people who take orders live

hahaha! Yep, dumbest thing I've read on DCUM in at least a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But Mississippi is not Richmond VA or northern VA. I have never lived in N VA but did live in Richmond for a few years, and it's pretty diverse and there are a good number of educated people there, same with N VA. It's not like you are going to go to N VA and find a bunch of hicks with confederate flags. We live in MD BTW but I don't see huge differences in the demographics....our priority is living close in and having decent commutes, decent schools and a nice neighborhood with lots of families. I imagine you can find that in both parts of MD and parts of N VA. It's funny to me that people draw such lines in the sand.

I'm the PP Virginia girl who has lived in various metro areas of NVa as well as MD. Sorry, but Richmond is (or at least was when I attended college there not that long ago) still very proud of their confederate heritage (flags, statues, etc.). I remember the controversy protesting the Arthur Ashe statue that was supposed to defy the racist history of that city and state of when he was not allowed to play on the whites-only tennis courts of Richmond. We're talking the 20th century here, not slavery.

I realize that although I had experienced mostly covert racism throughout life growing up in NoVa (except for a cross burning and the occasional racist flyer being passed around in school) I tried my best to ignore it. I couldn't understand why so many were still holding on to this heritage of hatred during the Arthur Ashe controversy, when we should have been light years away from slavery and segregation.

And having a black/white governor or black/white senator is not the determining factor for whether the place you reside is progressive or not, so I don't believe that's even valid. I could care less what color you are as long as you are advancing the causes that allow everyone the same equal opportunity.

Yes, but there are still plenty of educated more liberal thinking folks in Richmond. VCU is a big university, Richmond has a large and active gay community or at least they did years ago, and a big arts community. U of R is there, etc. I'm just saying it is likely easier to find more progessive and educated folks there than in MI but to be fair I've never been to MI so maybe someone can correct me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But Mississippi is not Richmond VA or northern VA. I have never lived in N VA but did live in Richmond for a few years, and it's pretty diverse and there are a good number of educated people there, same with N VA. It's not like you are going to go to N VA and find a bunch of hicks with confederate flags. We live in MD BTW but I don't see huge differences in the demographics....our priority is living close in and having decent commutes, decent schools and a nice neighborhood with lots of families. I imagine you can find that in both parts of MD and parts of N VA. It's funny to me that people draw such lines in the sand.

I'm the PP Virginia girl who has lived in various metro areas of NVa as well as MD. Sorry, but Richmond is (or at least was when I attended college there not that long ago) still very proud of their confederate heritage (flags, statues, etc.). I remember the controversy protesting the Arthur Ashe statue that was supposed to defy the racist history of that city and state of when he was not allowed to play on the whites-only tennis courts of Richmond. We're talking the 20th century here, not slavery.

I realize that although I had experienced mostly covert racism throughout life growing up in NoVa (except for a cross burning and the occasional racist flyer being passed around in school) I tried my best to ignore it. I couldn't understand why so many were still holding on to this heritage of hatred during the Arthur Ashe controversy, when we should have been light years away from slavery and segregation.

And having a black/white governor or black/white senator is not the determining factor for whether the place you reside is progressive or not, so I don't believe that's even valid. I could care less what color you are as long as you are advancing the causes that allow everyone the same equal opportunity.

A cross-burning in NoVA?? I assume we're talking about something that occurred in the 60's? It seems a bit unfair to compare the NoVA of 50 years ago to modern-day MD.

[Anonymous]

A cross-burning in NoVA?? I assume we're talking about something that occurred in the 60's? It seems a bit unfair to compare the NoVA of 50 years ago to modern-day MD.

Cross burning. That's my point. I was sorta young, but it wasn't lost on me how big of a deal THAT was. This wasn't the 50's (more like the 80's) and granted, Prince William County may not have necessarily been the most diverse place in the metro area at the time and had a certain level of ruralness about it, but one would've assumed being so close to the naton's capital, people would've moved beyond the "obvious" racism. So living in NoVa did not give me warm and fuzzy feelings while growing up there.

I'm glad to see that there is more diversity, but having moved to MD 14 years ago, I wonder how much has changed since?

[Anonymous]

Truly not bright. The institution of Slavery in Maryland lasted around 200 years, and initially it developed along very similar lines to neighbouring Virginia. Maryland was a slave state. Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line. Maryland was segregated (remember PP's remark about Glen Echo Park?).

FWIW, I don't live in MD or VA, I live in DC. I just think you're mind numbingly unintelligent. And not because you have a different opinion. It's because you say things like whether my opinion is founded or not, blah blah.

Good grief.

Your attempt to "school" me is laughable. I can have an OPINION about whatever I want. The way I feel about VA is more about my gut-reaction and personal feeling of comfort while I'm there rather than being sexually molested in an alley by some white guy. As such, while my reasons for feeling the way I do about VA are not supported by any concrete experiences of racism (except the N word shout), it is still HOW I FEEL. Is it that hard to understand? If so, that's your hang-up, not mine. Perhaps you should look up the meaning of OPINION. Your inability to distinguish between opinion and fact is a real shame.

BTW, I'm aware of slavery in MD. However, MD is a more liberal place, IMO. While Maryland's past is indeed important, I base my opinion on the climate today. And I find MD to be a better and more comfortable place to live. YMMV, but honestly, I could care less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Have you had people break into your house, rob you and/or steal from you while in Maryland? If not, you are not drawing an equal comparison. My opinions are based on my experiences, not hypothetical scenarios. Many people do feel that PG Co is crime-infested....the only problem is that most haven't even been in the County...they get their info from the sensationalized news stories.

Okay, let me make this more clear to you. The people who were CONVICTED of robbing my house (in broad daylight) and stealing my car lived in PG County. They are from Maryland. My experience is JUST as real as yours. All b/c I don't *live* in MD doesn't make my experience about people *from* Maryland any less valid.

For all you know, the people who called you N (which is absolutely horrible) could have NOT been from Virginia. Seriously, did you then *ask* them where they grew up? They could have ironically been from Maryland.

But even so, my point is that you are taking ISOLATED events and proscribing them to HUGE populations. That is ignorant - plain and simple.

Wow; it's rare when a poster proves my point for me. You are guilty of the same thing that you are claiming I've done. You feel PG is unsafe because someone from the County robbed your home and as such, PG is unsafe. Can you not see the irony of your post?

[Anonymous]

grew up in silver spring. lived in DC. married a NOVA guy and moved to VA. after 10 years, don't notice the difference as much.

at first, i missed the liberals and the Jews (people like me) but NOVA has become more liberal, and i found the Jewish community.

probably wish I was in DC though.