Reply #88: My parents live in Arizona, and almost all are Republican ...

[InformedSource]

...conservatives. They are all good people by most standards. They treat each other decently and are nice and courteous ... until you begin to disagree with them politically. Then they all become like Bill O'Reilly. I have tried calmly saying, "Can we discuss these things without the hostility?" And basically, the answer is no. They can't do it. They feel truly and deeply that no one has a right to disagree with them, and that they have a God given right to be angrilly affronted whenever anyone challenges their point of view, which is really the party line that comes from the Republican attack machine.

But aside from that, they are pleasant people to be around. I don't think experiencing them would be as pleasant for someone from the underclass, or with an openly different sexual orientation.

But aside from that, they're quite good.

I keep my opinions to myself when I visit over there because arguing with them only hardens their positions.

I keep waiting for the communications genious who finds a way to get through to them.