xxx3

But Mick, she didn't say precipitation, she said cold and snow, and you can't deny that Bismarck has more of those. And, really, I wouldn't boast about having more days above 90 degrees, either. Also, being farther north, Bismarck has less sun even on its sunny days.

mick

I don't want this to become a meteorlogical post, but the further north you are, the longer the days are in the summer. Therefore, you actually get more sun. And besides, how much sun does one need. If it is enough to get burnt to a crisp anyway, then the additional UV rays are really unnoticeable.

By the way, the average low temp in January in Bismarck is 22. In Charlotte it is 31. Not that big a diff, still both are coat weather. My point is that northern climates get a bad rap.

charles

Roger,

I totally agree with Liam. You are a truly frightening individual who thinks horrible thoughts. (as is your right). I equally have the right to be embarrassed and appalled by you. You seem very concerned about gays. Do you get a little excited looking at men in their underwear, and this is your way of dealing with it? You know what the studies show about homophobes, don't you?

And I am a gun owning republican, so don't try to pawn me off as some pc leftist. The thing is, I really do believe in that freedom stuff you seem to think is crap.

Candy

Most people would kill to live in a place like Bismark, ND but can't because the places with economic opportunity are diverse cities.

Though the life you describe in Bismark sounds great!

Dan

When vacationing I prefer a diverse area for the dining experience. For residing I definitely want a white area for the safety and cleanliness. To those who find my comments racist, let me ask why most of you have chosen to live in white neighborhoods? I didn't say all, so there is no need to chime in with "I live in a diverse neighborhood". For those of you who say diversity is better I say good news, lots of homes in diverse neighborhoods are available at much lower prices than your homes. However, I suspect many of you "non-racists" won't be moving soon.

Cindy

Find me a real diverse area where people speak a variety of languages that have good schools and I will move there.

Studies show diversity equals poor schools. Poor schools equals lower propert values.

Marco

Now that you mention it, I don't recall anyone ever saying, "Damn I wish my neighborhood had more blacks".

Ellen

When I decided to move from Boston to a suburb (seeking better schools), I found a suburb with very good schools and as much diversity as any suburb around here has: Milton, MA, which has had about 22 - 25% black enrollment in the public schools for many years (i.e., there's no apparent white flight because of it). My kids had gone to integrated schools and I just didn't want to live in a lily-white town.

cindy

Marco, you don't recall anybody ever saying they wished their neighbourhood had more blacks? I guess you don't know any black people, then, would that be correct?
I have several friends who come from white backgrounds who have formed "mixed" relationships or have adopted kids from other countries or backgrounds. They welcome the opportunity to live in culturally mixed neighbourhoods where their kids won't feel singled out. My own family is white, but we always made efforts to live in diverse neighbourhoods so that our kids wouldn't grow up with narrow attitudes. I remember driving my eldest daughter to school one morning -she was 5, and she's now 39 - and she commented "I bet everybody in this whole city has the airconditioning on in their car today!" It's that kind of assumption that we wanted our kids to grow up WITHOUT. And they have.
My parents moved to an affluent neighbourhood when I was a kid so that I could go to a high school where my classmates came from the same kind of background that I did. I was miserable there. My own kids grew up having friends from all over the place, and there was no xenophobia in our house. I think that was healthier.

Vince

From a somewhat open minded white man:

Diversity is great as long as the mixture includes asians. They are the model minority, work hard, quiet, study study study. We have Koreans living on our street, love them.

Though when blacks and hispanics moved in everyone locks their doors 3 times.

Racistnut

I am surprised at the number of comments against diversity. With big business looking for cheap labor the Madison Avenue advertising promoting the glories of diversity has gone into overdrive. They have made anyone who is not for diversity appear to be a racist nut. Especially the Fodorites!

Jim

I know what you mean. I was on the Survivor- Marquesas site and typed that I thought Sean was lazy and a black racist. My reward was to be called a racist myself. It's a silly world- bedlam.