The Left's War on Rednecks

Good post. I was careful with my vocabulary on purpose. I distinguish between the left and the Democratic party. The Democrats are a corporatist centrist party. By world standards they are center-right. Only by America's schemed standards are they even remotely left-wing. So I distinguished between the "left" and Democrats, because they are NOT synonymous in my mind. The left does represent the economic interests of working class and poor rural white people better than the right, but they do not represent their cultural interests. So I think the left should be more open to cultural differences, in order to focus on the more important(in my opinion) political and economic interests we share!!

 

.... and STILL waiting for that proof ....

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I agree with your definition of the political spectrum in America. While I know it insults conservatives Obama has ruled right of center. Personally the left VS right spectrum is not as important in my mind. As the other spectrum authoritarian VS libertarian. My example would be Stalin was far left, General Pinochet was far right, and Hitler was moderate on the left vs right spectrum.

The lack of jobs in rural areas has become the bane of small town USA. Manufacturing and general labor jobs are either disappearing or wages have stagnated. Neither party has done anything to help these issues. I wil not go in detail as to prevent drifting farther off topic.

I will admit that my knowledge of the world view of the left VS right is limited. In the US the parties are just slightly different in their respective dogma. The voters it seems make their minds up by the (D) or (R) that follows the candidates name. They fight over silly things that have no real bearing on the main issues. I would like to see them both abolished but know that will never happen. The only thing that appears fair is that the republican or democrats do not determine the president.

In my limited time on this forum I have noticed that some on the left and right are actual intelligent people. While the overwheming majority of both
sides seem narrow minded. That goes back to the A VS L spectrum being more important. I will look into the left spectrum a little deeper because I am not well versed in the idea. I do not see much hope in either party providing the leadership we need.

 

... still waiting ...


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I always think it's funny when the left makes fun of rednecks and talk about them as if only white people are.

 

Only the dead ones are white, you know. The living ones are a sort of pinky grey, turning red with sun and ranting racism sometimes.

 

Yeah, okay. Sure. We'll go with that. What I'm talking about how the left claims that rednecks are nothing but white stupid racists, when in reality rednecks come in all colors, can be extremely smart, and not give a (*)(*)(*)(*) about race.

 

Good post it is sad so many people who believe themselves progressive. Like to use stereotypes against people and act as if they are not prejudiced. There is little difference in them and the "racist" they claim to loath. Why is classism so much more acceptable to them. The bias against the lower class is strange when the only reason I believe crime rates are higher in minorities demographics is because a higher percentage are in poverty. Not because they are less civilized. They come off sounding rather elitist I suppose they are in denial about their loathing of the poor.

 

Well, aye, depends on your definition (I think I gave a sort of one above). If we are talking about any particular human population you are of course right. I just use it to mean 'stupid conservative racists in the backwoods'.

 

Redneck is a term embraced by mostly lower class individuals much like another insulting term I will not use as been embraced by another lower class group. Are some of them racist sure just like any other demographic. However to brand them all the same is stereotyping. I live in the "backwoods", I am not liberal or conservative. I have no feeling of superiority over any other race. I grew up in the inner city, I prefer to raise my children in a more rural setting. While some rednecks are racist so are some African Americans, Hispanics, Native American, Asians, Europeans, or any other group. Most people who are racist do not know much about the people they hate. They judge an entire race or class based on what they see on T.V. or a bad experience with a few individuals. Humans for some reason look at differences from themselves as reason to hate. Race is a visual difference that receives the most instant attention. In society's with little racial diversity they must look for either political or religious differences as a reason to hate. To judge someone based on differences is a agent for addressing ones own inferiority complex. I am proud of my "redneck" heritage just as I would expect anyone to feel pride in their heritage. It does not mean I respect the opinions of others with the same background. The label is actual derived from our tendency to sun-burn on the back of our necks. That is a result of performing hard labor outdoors I suppose some think the "white-man" should have evolved past performing such mundane task. Yet it actual should show we are like any poor hard working individuals. Some of us are stupid and racist that just further proves there is no superiority of the "white" race. Which is what I personal thinks insults some people who would like to believe they are superior.

 

I should add that Redwolf is correct in that not only "white" people have embraced the term. While I admit I have yet to meet a African American who would desribe themselves that way. I have known Hispanic and Native Americans that have adopted the term.

I put white in quotes because it is a general term that assumes all pale people are from similar ancestry.

 

Granny says, "Dat's right...

... dem lefty lib'ral yankee media types...

... is alla time on us red-necks back `bout sumpin'.

 

I think at the heart of these debates is the difference between branding a sub-culture which anyone can join or leave with certain attributes and branding a group by virtue of unalterable characteristics.

So, I do not think redneck is racist but it certainly could be derogatory and it is an open group in that you can choose to be a redneck or not (thinks for minute on the comic possibilities inherent in declaring oneself a "black redneck")

And this brings me to the comedic impact of stereotyping. Sometimes we do that as a way of defining not only what we may not want to be but also who we are. This is especially so with self depreciating humour

Blonde jokes are more racially stereotyping - even though I, as a blonde do enjoy them (Why do Blondes drive BMW's? It is the only car they can spell)

But I guess it is a difference in degree and where the people at the centre of this stand. I am very much against humour that targets those who already feel and are subject to the negative impacts of societal beliefs because we should not destroy what little self esteem they already have.

 

As I have said humor is not the same thing as insulting. I am not sure there is a lack of self-esteem with some it might be the opposite that might be why the insults are so common. It may be an attempt to point out what are seen as flaws. Yet to just use "redneck" as a insult and brand them all the same is wrong. It has cost the democrats the south in general elections. Most of my family for example was democrat as far back as I remember. I remember them being mad at my dad for voting for Reagan. That used to be the majority of rural people. My background is more varied than most so are my opinions.

 

I guess it really comes home when I see our own indigenous people - you think there was prejudice in the states? I have a colleague who remembers when she and her white husband started dating, back before the referendum - he had to apply for permission to date her under the "Flora and Fauna Act" because being Aboriginal she was not considered human

That sort of thing leaves a long long long legacy

 

Well you know what? Too (*)(*)(*)(*) bad. It's the modern day and people with victimology chips on their shoulder need to either change, or die off and let those with less acrimony take over.

 

From my limited knowledge of Australian history I knew the aboriginal people were treated poorly. Even hunted an killed like animals at one point. My country did the same to the native people of America as well. The injustice of the past are indeed horrific. I would like to think we learn from our mistakes but that is not always the case. I raise my children to respect all different peoples and cultures. I also warn them to think for themselves and not blindly trust anyone. I do not think evil is limited to any specific individual or creed. It is shamefully a very human quality. The "white" people have done far more than our share of misdeeds to other cultures. I can only not repeat the same mistakes. It just proves we are not superior to the other races.

 

... still waiting for proof that the left has an on going war on rednecks ...

 

And this is my wish too. One of the things I love about the internet is that I have no idea what colour the person I am talking to is. It is a great bridge for communication - unfortunately it has also allowed and even encouraged the growth of that evil little toe rag - the white supremacist

People who dismiss racism are blind to the hurt it can and does cause the subtle inhibition of freedom and the disadvantages when competing in a racist society

 

I will never dismiss the evil that act does to society. It creates a circle of events that simple continue the cycle. I grew up in a place where I was the minority. So I know that racism is not a one-sided issue. Yet in that area I would say a higher percentage of the "whites" became criminals than the Hispanic or African Americans. The largest cause of crime is poverty and the associated effects. Race is an extremely difficult subject to address even in a scientific setting. To have a meaningful conversation about it on a forum is next to impossible. I am suprised we have discussed it this long without the more crude opinions sharing their views. As I have said not all "rednecks" share the same views on race or most other issues. The ignorant ones just receive the most attention from most outside observers.

 

Why is there more expressed hatred toward white people today than there has every been before?

Is it because the unemployment rate in the black community is very high (14.5%) today and the blacks blame the white communtiy for these problems in the black community?

Why do they give Barack Obama and his no-growth policies a free-pass on this issue?

Hundreds of racist Black youths attack Whites at Wisconsin State Fair

[video=youtube;D4F8ob9nlfY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4F8ob9nlfY&feature=related[/video]

 

I, for one, am extremely intolerant.

I abhor idiocy. I can not, for the life of me, understand why rednecks prided themselves in their lack of education, world knowledge, and mental evolution.

I mean, her is a group of people that seemingly lives in a world of single wides and NASCAR who pride themselves on not having all of their teeth.

 

And then slang off at the British for having bad teeth

You have "Rednecks" we have "Boguns" both are caricatures of a type or rather sub-type within a society. These caricatures have common elements - lack of education, inherent laziness, overindulgence in phallic symbolism and usually lack of personal hygiene and at least in America a seemingly somewhat unique problem solving approach



But oh! Boy! do they afford a raft of material for jokes!!

 

oh please. What a load of sacrimonious self hate...(talk about a mixed up mindset!). Every race on the planet has committed atrocities...one isn't 'worse' than another. Talk to the victims of the Mongolian hordes, do they feel less dead because it wasn't Europeans killing them? Talk to the albinos in Africa, do their stubs hurt less because another African cut their arm off for use in 'magic'??

It is just as wrong to blame whites for all problems as it is to blame all blacks for all problems.

 

there ya go...see rednecks don't feel that other people have less value because they don't meet preconceived standards.

the old man that has lived his whole life on the river, catching fish and growing his own food is as valuable as the lawyer living in the big house downtown. True democracy, no one 'better' than anyone else and no one having to bow his head when the 'special class' rides by. We are all human.