Are people open-minded despite being mostly Republican? (Bakersfield, Orange: home, buying)

[Angel Bear]

The other thread about OC being the most Republican area in the U.S. made me start to think and ponder...

The times I've visited I've found people to be very friendly, helpful, and pleasant. I'm a Democrat and pretty liberal, but I found people as a whole to be more open-minded than where I live in the Midwest.

So, I am wondering...Are people in OC as a whole more open-minded than in the Midwest?

When I say open-minded, I'm talking about spiritual (NOT religious) consciousness and acceptance of ideas that are not mainstream or that may be different from one's worldview.

So...Do people accept intuitive or psychic people as a whole? Are people who do healing work such as massage, energywork, yoga, and other holistic modalities accepted or seen as weirdos?

I'm just wondering if there will be angry villagers with pitch-forks saying my work is of the devil? ROTFL...Probably not, but it's always good to ask, right?

Will people freak out if I tell them I do intuitive readings for a living? Or, are they used to the idea since Southern California is a bit of a "crunchy granola" spiritual type of place?

The thing is that Republicans here and well, people in general in my state are very close-minded. Also, there's an emphasis on religion here where I live. People seem to 'condemn' you here in the Midwest for not having 'All-American' values. My values are simple...work hard, play hard, and help others. I think my values are acceptable anywhere, but where I live now, people don't accept me for who I am. It doesn't really bother me, but it's kinda scary at times. I wonder about the pitchforked villagers at times and well, I abhor banjo music...just kidding, it's not THAT bad here, but it feels like it at times...*think Bakersfield as your entire state! LOL...no disrespect to Bakersfield or the residents there...sorry, my bad*

Okay enough rambling...

Thanks for the help in advance!

[Roma]

I want my reading done!!!!
I would have to ask you, are YOU open minded about other peoples religion or just what you practice (reading and all)?
I do not know where you come from but California is not like any other state I lived in or visited. Republicans are not what you are describing at all. You can not put everyone in one box. Just relax and enjoy yourself when you move to California. It is like no other place on earth. Be who you want to be. Don't judge other people and hopefully they will not judge you. Peace.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Originally Posted by Angel Bear

So...Do people accept intuitive or psychic people as a whole? Are people who do healing work such as massage, energywork, yoga, and other holistic modalities accepted or seen as weirdos?

Holistic modalities and yoga are very common anywhere in California. This county has 3 million people so it is nothing like a small-farm town. I think you ought to experience it before concluding that you will be an outcast.

[OCCASparky]

Yeah, they're pretty open-minded. After all, it's STILL California....

[Angel Bear]

Roma,
Anytime

So true and such a reminder I'm super open-minded to every spiritual practice or religion--even to fundamentalist Christians, even if they probably want to kill me LOL...sorry, my bad humor. My motto is to see the love inside of everyone 'cause it's there and the 'labels' are just, well, labels So, I know there's loving and wonderful people who just happen to vote Republican

Newport,
It is so refreshing to hear that. I guess I have felt like an outcast for so long...time to create a new reality for myself Each time I've visited OC and LA, I've felt at home and not like an outcast. But, I've also been there to take classes in healing modalities, so I wondered if it was just my spiritual vibration being higher in your guys' area, totally blinding me to other things. I would go around pinching myself as I would drive past metaphysical stores or even raw vegan restaurants...wow, people eat like me! LOL Also, I'd see entire office plazas dedicated to massage, acupuncture, herbs, etc., etc. It felt so wonderful I would have conversations with people in public about stuff like that and they were totally accepting! Whoaaa! It's funny 'cause I do live in a Metro area but it's been slow to embrace things...It's okay though 'cause at least I was a pioneer here in Detroit for a while

OCCA,
Thanks for the confirmation

Other note...

Just trying too to get over the idea that maybe there's enough spiritual folks in your guys' area and I should stay here LOL. I guess after a while I just tired of being the pioneer. I don't enjoy the struggling for acceptance here any more.

[Roma]

Well I hear ya Angle Bear,
I am living right now in a small town in Texas. It is a little different then I am use to after living in California.
I am a Republican, I am a Christian, I am also a Vegan, I am into all kinds of herbs and supplements, I love Yoga and when I move to the OC I will be doing Yoga, Also I am into Hybrid cars and will be buying a new Lexus Hybrid SUV later this summer (Al Gore drives the same lexus).
So I was just trying to say we are all different. No 2 people are alike.
I am glad you felt at home in Calif..... I do too.

[OCCASparky]

Now Benz, play nice.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Originally Posted by BENZBOY15

look at the individual person, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, for who they truly are.

^I couldn't of said it any better. Regardless of political party, you need to look at the individual. However Benz, the last sentence kinda doesn't help prove your points.

[Angel Bear]

Actually, it's the liberal democrat that is most likley to be closed minded. They are open to ideas that are the SAME ideas of themselves but if anyone disagrees on abortion, gun rights, global warming, illegal immigration or any other topic, they are the first to call them a bigot and, irony bursting at the seams, closed minded and not accepting of their opinions. (long run on sentence).

These sterotypes that Republicans are closed minded and Democrats are holy, open minded and perfect people are insane.

Angel Bear needs to stop the nonsense that she is spewing out of her keyboard. Ask yourself: Do you accept the fact that others have different opinions on abortion, global warming, illegal immigration, gun rights? Or are they just all closed minded bigots who don't know anything?

Angel Bear needs to look at the individual person, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, for who they truly are. But some how, I doubt that Angel Bear takes the time to get to know people and insteads writes off anyone who is a conservative as a closed minded bigot. But...wait....who's the closed minded one now?

Angel Bear: You are an idiot.

I am open-minded and appreciate every one's uniqueness. I guess when I was starting this thread I was dealing with the stereotype that Republicans are not open-minded--that is what is thought in the popular mass consciousness, so perhaps, I should have left out the word Republican and just asked if people in the OC are open-minded. Mea culpa.

I am a very loving person, so I won't take offense to the fact you called me an idiot, even though I think it's very uncalled for and well, not so respectable.

I guess I live in an area too that is very highly Republican and very close-minded. So, I've been super frustrated because it feels at times that people write me off as crazy or weirdo. But, of course, 'close-minded' is really a judgment on my part so I apologize. Really, anytime I have an issue with someone it's because I'm reacting to that part of me that is like that...I believe that we're all sacred mirrors.

And, I'm just super frustrated with President Bush--He's a Republican LOL. But, I still send love and prayers to him every day because he is the leader of our country.

Also, I didn't really mention anything about politics in my original post, did I? I was talking about spirituality and was interested in learning about whether people are open-minded. Demographically speaking, Republicans (looking at the data) tend to be Christian. So, the curious part of me wondered how this would look in a very open and free state such as California in a county like Orange County...It's Republican, but like someone else mentioned here, it's in California.

I enjoy the fact that everyone has different beliefs and values. Diversity makes the world go 'round and it makes life more fun I prefer to spend my life having fun.

By the way, I am not perfect or holy. I am a work in progress that is for sure. I have family and friends who are Republicans and I love them Actually, I think the terms or identities "Republican" and "Democrat" are so narrow because when I have talked to people there is a big variance of beliefs in each party affiliation. I prefer to see people as people first, not who they are politically.

So, my thread title was poorly worded. It was not my intention to create any hard feelings or insult anyone here. And, I do concur that some liberals and Democrats are very close-minded people

I also do take the time to get to know people. Actually, rarely do I even ask their political affiliations or religious preference. I just like to listen and get to know them. I enjoy meeting people of various backgrounds...I will talk to anyone who will talk to me, but I do prefer not to be called close-minded and an idiot. It's interesting that you make this assumption about me based on hardly knowing me...but, I like your energy and views--I agree with everything you said, except the part about me being an idiot and close-mided. I could do coffee with you, but you just write me off as being stupid. Oh well, I'll send you a hug any way--this is not said in a sarcastic way either...I truly mean it. Thank you for teaching more about myself...

Signing off a long-winded post....

[Angel Bear]

This is the thread that prompted my original thread...

http://www.city-data.com/forum/orang...ounty-u-s.html

By the way, I'm going to edit the title of this thread to be 'are people open-minded?' versus my original title which was 'are people open-minded despite being mostly Republican?' I think that labels are polarizing and I don't want to create that here. I wanted to get information on whether people are open to spiritually-minded things...that was my intention.

Thanks!