Yes, I’m Mississippian. And yes, I am living in Germany

So, today I experienced something that really shocked me.
During an exercise we were doing at language camp, we had to get in groups of 7 and create “a perfect country to live in.” Me and Tori, the other girl from Mississippi, were basically the only “Southerners” in the group. When it came to talking about gun control, we were all for it. In the South, almost everyone has a gun, and everybody is totally in support for gun rights. After presenting our project and mentioning the guns, everyone was in shock. “Why would you want guns?” “Your opinion is wrong.” “Guns kill people.” “Mississippian’s are trashy.”
Hold up, what? 
After everyone had completed their presentations, the teamers told us that the countries we made reflected the culture we grew up in.
Sounds about right. Guns, Mississippi… It’s our culture.
That is, after all, where I grew up. That is my culture. It is in my blood. 
Now, I can understand where people may not agree with my choices, but Mississippian’s are trashy because we support gun rights? That is like me saying that Yankee’s are atheists because they support abortion.
As a CBYX-er, it is my duty and every other CBYX-er’s duty to not stereotype. To not make judgments based on opinions. And after hearing everyone’s response, I am in complete shock that someone would make such a judgement. Being country does NOT make you “trashy.”
Yes, I am from Mississippi. No, I am not stupid. No, I am not fat. No, I am not trashy because of my belief’s or because of where I am from. Clearly, I have something because I am one of 50 American’s chosen for this prestigious scholarship.
Not only does it hurt being judged by my belief’s, it upsets me to know that my state, my home, is stereotyped in such a way, especially by other CBYX-er’s (who have very little knowledge on Mississippi in the first place). That is where I was born. That is where I grew up. That is home. It is not trashy. Nor does it make me trashy because I am from there. 
To think that these stereotypes even exist within this group is upsetting. To even make such a judgement about a state that you barely know anything about is sickening. I hope that no one will make judgments against any other state, or country in such a negative manner ever again. And hopefully everyone will learn a lot about that during their exchange.