Cultural Competency

There are certain things that establishes culture.  I'm not talking about race, religion, or gender.  I'm talking about what differentiates each city and unites the people despite their other characteristics.  Although I've only been here a short time, I've picked up on a few here in Indy.

1)  Corn pesticide commercials are commonplace during the news.
2)  John Cougar Mellencamp's birthday is regarded as an informal State holiday.  BTW, it was last Saturday.  If you do not like his music, do not listen to any of the radio stations in Indy because inevitably no matter if they are hip hop/jazz/rock/whatever, it is normal for "Shake Your Money Maker" by Ludacris to be followed by "Jack and Diane."
3)  School speed zone signs are just there as decorations.  No one actually follows them except the Utah native who has been flipped off numerous times as people zoomed passed.
4)  Teeth are optional
5)  The Pacer's shooting outside of a strip club coincided with their release of the "Its up to us," campaign to improve their image last week.  This story in one form or another was the lead headline for DAYS just because there wasn't any other news.
6)  Most everyone has worked for a factory or grew up on a farm
7)  Peyton Manning endorses everything and is regarded as a local hero.  (My husband did not know who this guy was in rounds and was made fun of until he called and asked me.)
8)  If you are really cool, you have an official pace car from one of the past years Indy 500.  People will stop you just to look at the car in parking lots.
9)  Republicans rule here.  Alas, I've moved to another Red State.