Liberals in Holland (Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor: homes, live in, moving)

[Wayland Woman]

Originally Posted by michigan83

Be careful with stereotyping and painting with a broad brush. Generalizations can be useful sometimes, but to say that all Christian Reformed people "wouldn't give a disabled person a second look" is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. That is no better than making a blanket statement about "all black people."

I totally agree. My husband is in a wheelchair and has been for years. West Michigan people as a whole bend over backwards to offer to help with doors, loading and unloading the wheelchair even offering to help with transfers. We can't go any where in the Grand Rapids/Rockford area without getting 3-5 offers of help per trip to the store or out for lunch, etc. More than a few times I've seen people get up from their meal to come rush to the door to help us get inside.

[michigan83]

You have to admit though that there are A LOT of Christian Reformed people who may not be as hostile, but look at all non-CRC, non-Christians and non-religious as "potential recruits" to the good word.

Yup, that is true. I can definitely understand why people would be annoyed by it. It's what the church teaches them to do, though, so it's not really that surprising I guess.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by michigan83

Yup, that is true. I can definitely understand why people would be annoyed by it. It's what the church teaches them to do, though, so it's not really that surprising I guess.

Well I guess they could be somewhat free thinkers and not follow their religion like a cult. Ya know, like we Catholics do.

[skyl4rk]

I used to live in Holland and don't anymore because it was a little too pious for me. But I would say it was at the level of a mild annoyance and not a major problem.

A tolerant person should have no problem with the Dutch people. But a pagan, atheist or someone who has a bad reaction to religion is not going to like it there.

I have seen a lot more bigotry against the Dutch people than by the Dutch people.

I find the culture somewhat interesting, similar to the way I find the Amish interesting. I think it would be sad if those two groups became homogenized yankees.

[michigan83]

I find the culture somewhat interesting, similar to the way I find the Amish interesting. I think it would be sad if those two groups became homogenized yankees.

That is an interesting take. The Dutch Reformed culture does add to the "cultural diversity" of West Michigan, even if it is a culture that some don't care for. It's a pretty unique thing.

[jackmccullough]

Originally Posted by michigan83

Hmmm...

If the rest of the country treated progressives like this... would they all leave?

Something to ponder.

Progressives and liberals are used to being treated like this, and we're not going anywhere. It's our country too.

[jackmccullough]

I lived in Grand Rapids for about four years in the early 80's and we left, in part because it was too conservative for us. We did have a solid corps of liberal friends, but the overall atmosphere was pretty conservative. We were friends with one couple who lived in Holland because the husband was a professor at Hope, but I suspect they didn't really mesh with the very conservative population of Holland.

To the extent the OP is still thinking about the move, there are plenty of nice places to live in Western Michigan, and I wouldn't steer you away from it, but I think you're likely to find GR more congenial than Holland. And if you're interested in the lake, even from GR it's a short drive to many beautiful beaches; sometimes we would drive over after work just for the decompression that a couple of hours on the beach provides.

[jackmccullough]

Originally Posted by topshop

That would be up to you depending on how judgemental you come across to others. In general, progressive liberals tend to be far more judgemental than the typical church goer. I know that it is spun the other way around...which only serves to prove my point.

No, the statement just proves that your perception is diametrically opposed to reality.

[suydam]

I find most people's statements about the intolerance of the Dutch Reform, CRC, etc offensive. Seriously. If we were having this discussion about those of the Jewish Faith, or people who are here as Sudanese refugees it would immediately labeled as bigotry.

At it's heart, it's not PC mumbo-jumbo... it's called making broad, negative generalizations about an entire group of people. Sorry, but I don't appreciate that.

[michigan83]

I find most people's statements about the intolerance of the Dutch Reform, CRC, etc offensive. Seriously. If we were having this discussion about those of the Jewish Faith, or people who are here as Sudanese refugees it would immediately labeled as bigotry.

At it's heart, it's not PC mumbo-jumbo... it's called making broad, negative generalizations about an entire group of people. Sorry, but I don't appreciate that.

So true. As a group, they are considered fair game for "dislike" because they are white protestants. The same folks that are being critical of the Dutch Reformed on this thread would cry foul if similar things were said about a different group of people.