Both my parents were born and grew up in Alabama in the 50s and 60s, and I spoke with them at length today. Both seem sort of stoic and reserved about the whole situation. Not at all despairing, my mom told me, "Yep. This is the most America thing that could have happened." then my little sister tweeted me:
Bonus quote from dad:
"I'm taking a few days off to whoop everyone in North Carolina's ass, then driving down to Florida to whoop everybody's ass down there too. Boy, I'm in an ass-whooping mood."
I think my folks are taking this all in stride because, well, they've seen it all before.