America: progressively more accepting … mostly

A new Pew survey brings to light some news that, whilst not exactly Earth-shattering in nature, does give us reason to hope: interracial marriages are becoming increasingly well-accepted in the U.S., and this, amongst all types of ethnicities.

While this is overall comforting news, it’s still disappointing (yet entirely expected) to note how of all the racial groups above, it’s consistently the Whites who show the least amounts of tolerance and acceptance towards other ethnicities and intermarriages. (Now, I wonder what percentage of those non-accepting Whites are conservatives …?)

More displeasing still, is this little tidbit of information:

The survey finds that most Americans also are ready to accept intermarriage in their family if the new spouse is Hispanic or Asian. But there is one new spouse that most Americans would have trouble accepting into their families: someone who does not believe in God. Seven-in-ten people who are affiliated with a religion say they either would not accept such as marriage (27%) or be bothered before coming to accept it (42%).

*Sigh* Well, better than before, I suppose. These numbers are why we have to keep working at supporting progressives, liberal notions and moderate conservatives.

(via Pharyngula)