If I may be allowed to extrapolate for my enigmatic friend I think she meant "They're all plumb crazy and wrong-headed in the bible belt so if they disagree with something (eg, Darwin, spherical earth, or any other Commie infiltrations of the American Way), then ipso facto it must command our attention!"

and thanks E - I shall be pleased to look it up. and btw, if anyone is tempted to dismiss Pullman because of the youth tag, don't. He is the most deeply intelligent and philosophically insightful person I have ever heard speak about their own work. His themes are massive and intricate at the same time; after reading him you may understand my reservation about Harry Potter being essentailly Bunter on Broomsticks - I know for sure which will still be around in 100 years.