The romanticism and the realism of rural life were both in
evidence in a recent study of rural, suburban and urban
residents' perceptions of rural America. The study is one of a
series to be done on rural America by the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation. The in-depth, qualitative study, conducted in eight
diverse regions across the country by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner
Research Inc., found that: Rural life represents traditional
American values, but is behind the times. Rural life is more
relaxed and slower than city life, but harder and more grueling.
Rural life is friendly, but intolerant of outsiders and
difference. Rural life is richer in community life, but
epitomized by individuals struggling independently to make ends
meet. “Overall we found that respondents hold overwhelmingly
positive views of rural life,” says Anna Greenberg, vice
president of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner. “But respondents'
admiration of rural Americans and romanticization of rural life
is tempered by their understanding that rural Americans face s