I live in a deeply conservative state, but I spend most of my online time on HN. This puts me in the middle of two vastly different cultures with vastly different sets of values. I have listened to both sides explain their sincerely held views. I have listened to both sides talk about the other side.
Each group will tell me "but those other guys are evil and only want to ____!" Each group then explains their own views, and you know what? Each group's views are rational. Each group's views are compassionate. Both groups really believe that they want what's best for the world, and neither group has thought through their ideas better than the other. Both have severe flaws in their reasoning, but both also really care.
In a word: both groups are human.
I think it would do us all good to assume that most people are acting out of sincerely held beliefs, and that most people really do want to do good. I know there are exceptions, but the world would be a better place if we didn't treat those exceptions as though they were the rule.