Diversity of opinion in the South?

In the Sept. 29 front-page article “Drawing the line along Route 15,” Trish Davila was quoted saying, “People start to question other people’s patriotism if they don’t vote Republican.”On Sept. 25, a Reliable Source item included a comment by Mitt Romney that a Hollywood celebrity told him he keeps his political views quiet because “you really can’t get work unless you’re known as a liberal.”

As a first-time voter — I recently became a citizen after more than 30 years in this country — I find this mind-set disconcerting. In my country of birth, we have an appropriate word for this attitude: Meinungsterror, loosely translated as terrorizing the opinion of others. I believe that this is not the American way.

Ingrid Wrausmann, McLean

●

As a native South Carolinian and African American, I grew up with many of the stereotypes of the South. But contrary to what many may believe, the South always has been and continues to be an incredibly diverse and dynamic region. There are many Souths. My South was an African American South but was as valid as any other South.

While a romantic, “moonlight and magnolias” South does exist, so does the South of African Americans, Native Americans, moderates, progressives and, dare I say, liberals.

Keith June, Arlington