(The following is a response to Andrew Sullivan's recent comments on the American election and the "red state blue state divide." Among other things, Sullivan is critical of red staters who purport to uphold morality while not living up to its demands. Andrew Sullivans comments can be found at andrewsullivan.com. )

I love the Brits pontificating on American culture! Andrew Sullivan is always provocative and raises some good points. I think the "morality" factor is a little more complicated than he makes it, however. I remember that at my 25th reunion at Williams, the college did a survey of the divorce rate of our class (mostly blue-staters) and it turned out to be 8% No doubt this group was a little rarefied, being comprised of mostly, stable and well-educated folk, for the most part. Nevertheless, "blue-staters" often possess a certain stability that suggests morality.

My view is that much of the red state morality gap has to do with mobility, stress and lack of family support and tradition. In New England, where I come from, it is not uncommon to find three generations living in the same town or nearby. Without solid statistics to back me up, I believe this does contribute to a lower divorce rate. There is a tradition of stable marriages and lots of help in tough times nearby. In contrast, red state people are often new arrivals, moving away from family, with less support. Also, many of our military bases are located in red states and we know what the divorce rate is there.

Hypocrisy is a human thing, not a "red state" thing. After all, the left has its moral standards on environmentalism and racial equality, ones it continually violates on the personal level. As far as moral "hypocrisy" goes, it would be easy to point out the lack of charitable giving on the part of people like Al Gore and John Kerry, (check out their tax returns!), or the drumbeat of "I support the troops," while opposing all military action. The truth is we all fall short.

What Sullivan does not understand is that the truth of Christianity (or morality) is not diminished by the misbehavior of Christians or moralists. After all, the second most famous Christian in history said, "I am the chief of sinners." Those who seek the truth of Christianity in the behavior of Christians will be bitterly disappointed. If Andrew Sullivan is shocked by this, he misunderstands both human nature and history. I am as distressed as anyone about the similar divorce rate among Christians, but that is not the issue here and he knows it. Why the left feigns shock when people fall is beyond me. It is entirely predictable.

The issue here is whose values are going to be upheld in culture and, to a lesser extent, in law. In this struggle, the issue is not red state-blue state, but secular urban, developed America versus rural, suburban, developing America. Right now, the latter is winning.

When Aleksandr Solzhenitsen quoted one of his cell mates who when his communist torturers would accuse him of all kinds of evil deeds, always responded. "You don't know the half of it!" In so doing, he disarmed them. Moreover, if the misbehavior of "red staters" disqualifies them from any cultural influence, then wouldn't liberals be glad? The fact that they are not indicates the battle lies elsewhere, not in behavior, but in cultural values and influence over public policy.

  John Pendleton