There are definite economic and cultural reasons why these regional differences occur. Sports actually may let off the steam, that is why the Olympics was first played. People who live in industrial or highly urban settings often have different agendas about where and what government "should" do. The rich, powerful, and more highly educated have always had more access and connections to manipulate society's rules to get what they want. It is the human condition. Economics- the study of the distribution of limited, finite resources. Few things are "fair." We can "all get along" by forgiving the perceived unfairness, and also sometimes the actual brutalities. We can not "all get along" by pretending that we are all identical- that we all want the same things, or even that we are all willing to contribute equally. Not so. The trouble is not the stereotypes as much as the negativity and judgement. You need to recognize a lion by it's fangs and fur and shape in order to not get bit. There is a stereotype "lion" in your brain- so that the next time you meet one, you don't go up and pet it. The simplistic answer of "can't we all just get along" doesn't begin to mean anything when what YOU need to get along, is what I hold dearest and what YOU seem to be taking from me. The major religions seem to find the answer as forgiving the trespasses against you, enough so that you are able to perceive your trespassers' viewpoints. This is done with much practice and means eventually having to pet a whole lot of lions.

Just two thoughts: you folks must be nuts to p*** off (that's piss off, for those of you lacking in imagination) Ms. Oyl ... she's the best, and also can put out the word and keep you out of Fla. And be very careful what you say about southerners ... my cats will take offense and they have contacts throughout the rest of the USA. What a wonderful thread. YOL

Hey GOL <BR> <BR>Maybe your <BR> <BR>&gt;&gt;&gt;Phrase in my rural county: "xxx county, where the men are men and so are the women." <BR> <BR>should meet the people at the college I went to. The phrase there was: "Uxxx where the women are women and the men are too." <BR> <BR>What an interested group of people we could create if we could get them to just date.

There is no feud between North and South Dakota. I think we sort of look out for each other. <BR> <BR>When an animal (sheep, I think) was molested at the zoo in Bismarck -- the cops arrested a guy from Montana. Does this mean those Montana jokes are true?? <BR>

There's a zoo in Bizmarck?