beaveristired t1_j393c1e wrote on January 6, 2023 at 9:52 PM

Reply to comment by TheTowerBard in I need some opinions by That1FcknGuy

I see BLM and Pride flags all over New England and NYC. (Well, I’m not in Maine or NH much, so idk about up there.) Tbh, the less diverse an area is, the more you see those flags IME. In NYC, i see them in gentrifying neighborhoods that are changing from white working class to middle/ upper class. In my urban, actually diverse city in CT, you see them, but not nearly like you do in say, rural / small town western Mass. I think the perception of more BLM or Pride flags can give one a false sense of security. I’m not trying to be a “flatliner” jerk, but OP says his wife is Hispanic, so I think it’s a point I’m willing to get downvoted for.

TheTowerBard t1_j39azom wrote on January 6, 2023 at 10:41 PM

No no, you make a great and important point. Don’t tell anyone in this sub, but I actually split my time between VT and CT. I have an apartment in a smaller town near New Haven. I rarely, almost never see pride or BLM stuff down there. Pride more, but still not much. Then you hit a small rural town up here and it can seem like every other house has something on display. It is only comforting for me because I’m very aware of the reality underneath that welcoming veneer. I do also see far more Trump flags and stuff in VT. Hell, there’s one house along route 4 by Killington flying a confederate flag. Imagine being a Vermonter and flying that shit… believe me, I’m very aware what the message under the “real Vermonter” dog whistle discourse is about. I’m from there and they’ve been telling me I’m not a real Vermonter my entire life 🤷‍♂️ so, please know my prior message was not intended to suggest safety, but the presence of community within an often ignorant and hateful society.