I mostly grew up in a very small town in the midwest (Mattoon, IL). Most of the people who lived in the town equated satanism and communism, but I'd say that Communists were better thought of than homosexuals. I mean, I didn't have friends who went out to truck stops looking to beat up Communists. Of course, it may be that no one knew where Communists hung out. I don't know.
Luckily, my family is a little more broad-minded. My mother studied economics at Eastern Illinois Univ. during the 70s and did her master's thesis on China's economy. My father didn't mind Communists so much as long as the hamburger stand he owned wouldn't be affected. I would say that both felt Communists were like people of some other religion. Their religion might not be as good as ours, but others' beliefs should still be respected. And I can remember both my parents saying how unfair the Red Scare was.
(And on a related issue, I don't think I've met anyone who disliked cops more than my father. I'm sure he would take Mumia's side of that other debate. He witnessed some ugly police brutality during "race riots" in Wichita KS in the 60s.)
James in Philly
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