Last one for now. to your comment: "Frankly, I never paid attention to it. When these friends disowned me it was very painful. I wish I could have those relationships. I miss them." Well, Dennis same here, and I wish and hope that you can ease your pain, in time.
I spent more than 30 years in the South from where I had to travel the world. I lived in Southern California, Georgia and South Carolina. I love the South and its people, and I abhor what has happened and the rhetoric that divides us. I too mourn those "friendships" that have turned to derision and even hate for my outspokenness and my opinions gathered through a life of slow travel. I have spent more than 6 Months in 64 places on this earth. I revel in our differences and our similarities. I have been invited to sleep over and eat in Tien An Minh square (and have done so) as one exquisite example...there are so many. My home though was the South and its people... no more.
Where we seem to differ fundamentally is Trump. Definitely not Rudy, one of my heroes too. I mean Football Rudy, not Giuliani, scum that he is). I too have followed him for many years since 1972 when I entered Undergrad. Even then the con game turned me off, and it didn't get any better. Everything that he says he is, is a lie. (But more on that elsewhere if you like). I am/was very successful in business, never had to declare bankruptcy, never stiffed anyone, client or Supplier (and even forgave a couple of them their business sins against me). I, with my team grew our core business to $1.6 Billion. I know, nothing compared to many. I retired when I became very sick, started painting and created from the proceeds of those paintings a school for inner city kids, to let them experience succcess in something other than sports. Trump is a constant looser in business and an actor who is a brilliant purveyor of a non-existent brand.