I live there now. I get called homophobic slurs while riding my bike to work. I get coal rolled. People swerve at me in their trucks attempting to assault me. And I live in a university city.
For what it's worth I am not gay, I just have the audacity to not always drive my car. And then there are the culture warriors in the state legislature, doing things like prohibiting municipalities from passing their own non-discrimination ordinances that include gender and sexuality.
And then there are the confederate battle flags plastering trucks and houses all over the rural areas that surround my city in this very northern state. And the wildly increased incidences of bias crimes.
No, I think there are plenty of issues that currently affect the Midwest, and while it may have certain redeeming aspects, we're not doing the region any favors by glossing over the ugliness.
Coal Rolling is an automotive subculture where people modify trucks to create large clouds of dark exhaust smoke under acceleration and then expel said smoke onto vehicles they deem inferior. Common targets include small cars, hybrid/electric vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles.
> ”Rolling coal is a form of conspicuous air pollution, for entertainment or for protest. Some drivers intentionally trigger coal rolling in the presence of hybrid vehicles (when it is nicknamed "Prius repellent") to taunt their drivers, who are perceived as being environmentally motivated in their vehicle choice. Coal rolling may also be directed at foreign cars, bicyclists, protesters, and pedestrians.”
For what it's worth I am not gay, I just have the audacity to not always drive my car. And then there are the culture warriors in the state legislature, doing things like prohibiting municipalities from passing their own non-discrimination ordinances that include gender and sexuality.
And then there are the confederate battle flags plastering trucks and houses all over the rural areas that surround my city in this very northern state. And the wildly increased incidences of bias crimes.
No, I think there are plenty of issues that currently affect the Midwest, and while it may have certain redeeming aspects, we're not doing the region any favors by glossing over the ugliness.