towards a purple consciousness

from NYT:

Ms. Camhe explained the habits and beliefs of those dwelling in the heartland like an anthropologist.

"What's different about New York City is it tends to bring people together and so we can't ignore each others' dreams and values and it creates a much more inclusive consciousness," she said. "When you're in a more isolated environment, you're more susceptible to some ideology that's imposed on you."

As an example, Ms. Camhe offered the different attitudes New Yorkers may have about social issues like gay marriage.

"We live in this marvelous diversity where we actually have gay neighbors," she said. "They're not some vilified unknown. They're our neighbors."

But she said that a dichotomy of outlooks was bad for the country.

"If the heartland feels so alienated from us, then it behooves us to wrap our arms around the heartland," she said. "We need to bring our way of life, which is honoring diversity and having compassion for people with different lifestyles, on a trip around the country."

Instead of sending Paris Hilton to rural America, I think the next reality show should feature Blue State and Red State families in cultural exchanges. College students should be required to spend a semester "abroad" to get to know their fellow Americans. If intolerance is left unchecked, civil war is the inevitable outcome. There has been so much personal rancor on both sides that we cannot hope to find common ground unless we make an effort to put a human face on "the other".

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