Red State/Blue State
Remember how during the Cold War Conservatives would
rather be “Dead than Red?” When did that
change?
When it comes to symbolism, the whole Red State/Blue State concept is ridiculous.
Red ink and Red tape. They are hardly conservative values. Wikipedia says the color “Red is used as a symbol of guilt, sin, passion, and anger, often as connected with blood or sex.” It makes one wonder what happens at the Republican National Convention when the TV camera lights are off.
There are Red Blooded Americans but if the Conservatives get that one, then Liberals are our country’s new Blue Bloods.
Red is the first color in the old Red, White, and Blue. Then again, 9 of the original 13 colonies are currently Blue States.
While it is true that many people in conservative-leaning states are Seeing Red these days, one has to stretch all the way to Feng Shui to find a positive connection between Conservative values and the color of Red. Yes, we are now importing our political symbolism from China as well.
In Feng Shui, Red still represents passion but it also represents luck, richness, and luxury. These good Conservative vibes come with a warning, however. Too much Red can bring on restlessness, bursts of anger, and over stimulation.
Painting Liberals Blue also has its ridiculous side. It is true that Blue is the color of depression and sadness, a theme conservatives are hitting hard in the economy. But in the fine Red State of North Carolina they proclaim that God made the sky Carolina Blue. Intelligent Design, anyone?
Using our new Made in China political symbolism, Blue is a refreshing color of calm, ease, purity, and abundance. Those aren't the first words most people associate with Liberal values.
The real absurdity here isn’t that the Red/Blue symbolism fails to line-up with the political ideology of Conservatives and Liberals. What’s really absurd is that the media, including public radio, has turned Red and Blue into the new Black and White.
Our democracy isn't that simple.
When it comes to symbolism, the whole Red State/Blue State concept is ridiculous.
Red ink and Red tape. They are hardly conservative values. Wikipedia says the color “Red is used as a symbol of guilt, sin, passion, and anger, often as connected with blood or sex.” It makes one wonder what happens at the Republican National Convention when the TV camera lights are off.
There are Red Blooded Americans but if the Conservatives get that one, then Liberals are our country’s new Blue Bloods.
Red is the first color in the old Red, White, and Blue. Then again, 9 of the original 13 colonies are currently Blue States.
While it is true that many people in conservative-leaning states are Seeing Red these days, one has to stretch all the way to Feng Shui to find a positive connection between Conservative values and the color of Red. Yes, we are now importing our political symbolism from China as well.
In Feng Shui, Red still represents passion but it also represents luck, richness, and luxury. These good Conservative vibes come with a warning, however. Too much Red can bring on restlessness, bursts of anger, and over stimulation.
Painting Liberals Blue also has its ridiculous side. It is true that Blue is the color of depression and sadness, a theme conservatives are hitting hard in the economy. But in the fine Red State of North Carolina they proclaim that God made the sky Carolina Blue. Intelligent Design, anyone?
Using our new Made in China political symbolism, Blue is a refreshing color of calm, ease, purity, and abundance. Those aren't the first words most people associate with Liberal values.
The real absurdity here isn’t that the Red/Blue symbolism fails to line-up with the political ideology of Conservatives and Liberals. What’s really absurd is that the media, including public radio, has turned Red and Blue into the new Black and White.
Our democracy isn't that simple.
posted by RadioSutton at 11:19 AM
2 Comments:
In Canada, the conservative leaning parties - the current Conservative Party, and it's historical antecedents, the Canadian Alliance, Reform , and the Progressive Conservative parties have, for decades, always been identified with the colour blue. Similarly the Liberal Party has always been red.
I think a lot of people obsessed with Red and Blue States are more about the 50 Shades of Grey when the lights are out.
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