Reply #35: Me, too, ElectroPrincess.

[Heidi]

I have a southern Baptist dad and a lapsed Catholic mom, and I wish I'd challenged both of them more when I was younger, because my challenging them now would be less shocking to them. My parents aren't the least bit racist, but 9/11 has done a number on some in my family, so instead of challenging, I'm trying to talk reason. Keeping the family peace becomes more important to me as I get older (I'm 42), but the truth also becomes more important to me as I grow older. I know in my heart that it's fear, not genuine mean-spiritedness, guiding some of my relatives after 9/11, as we've all been good people and "good Democrats" for ages.