Breaking apart stereotypes

[Clark2008]

I have a story I just want to share.

My parents separated when I was six. They didn't bother divorcing until I was grown and out of the house, though. However, about six years ago, my mother met and married a very country man.

We live in East Tennessee - home of the Republican Party. My step-father is the epitome of what one would consider "redneck." He's country, he likes NASCAR and beer and he's not very well-traveled. BUT, he's a better grandfather to my son than my own father is: my father who raised me to be a progressive thinker disowned me when I married "a damn A-rab" and has NEVER seen his 5-year-old grandson.

To move on, my step-Dad, the "redneck," works in a predominately "black" part of town (we're all "white") and is highly loved and respected in that community. He is always helping the little old ladies in that part of town with their yard work and cars.

He'd never - EVER - voted until this year, when I registered him. He voted for Clark in the primaries and Kerry in the general because "that Bush character is a big ole hot-dog weinie who wouldn't know hard work if it bit him on the ass. He ain't for the working people."

And, you know what else? I made quiche for breakfast this morning - eggs, cheese, spinach, turkey bacon and onions - and he ate it and loved it.

Which proves that Real Men DO Eat Quiche. :)

[Bouncy Ball]

1. I know a lot of people like your stepfather

unfortunately the idiot right winger ones get more press.

Cheers to your stepfather.

[beam me up scottie]

2. Kudos to you

for not prejudging your stepfather. I am a native Vermonter transplanted to Kentucky and I've met a few of these diamonds in the rough. It just goes to show what you can learn about people if you take the time to know them.

[NightTrain]

3. Great story, my friend!

:thumbsup:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Now THAT is a damn good Christmas story!

[Clark2008]

6. Heh! Mayberry Machiavelli

Don't you think that Andy Taylor was a "liberal?"

I mean, the guy was a single Dad in the 50s and took a LONG time decidin' who to marry (yeah, he had help from Aunt Bea, but that was what was good for the "youngin'!"), he kept the peace without wearing a gun AND he was wise without being reactionary!

There's the kind of guy my step-Dad is like: Andy Taylor - without the badge. ;)

[Celeborn Skywalker]

5. Kick! n/t

:kick:

[Mike Niendorff]

7. thank you for posting this.

I get real tired of the general "redneck" bashing that some people seem determined to inject here onto DU. No one can sustain a movement of working people while simultaneously treating a good part of the working class with contempt. Bush and his people have made a MAJOR propaganda effort to misrepresent the disagreements between "blue America" and "red America" as being about urban vs. rural "culture", because they'd much rather have people fighting over pickup trucks and country music than talking about how Bush and his gang are robbing *everybody* blind. Howard Dean was absolutely spot-on on this point. Everybody wants good schools for their kids. Everybody wants decent healthcare for their families. Whether you wear your hair in a ponytail or a crewcut, whether you drive a pickup truck or hybrid car, our interests are still the same. It is the genius of the right-wing's *massive* propaganda effort that they have managed to blind so many people to this fact by ginning up "cultural wars" that keep us fighting over trivia when we should be uniting against our common enemy.


MDN

[HuskiesHowls]

8. A great post!!!

I've been thinking along these same lines, but you put it so well!!

[beam me up scottie]

9. I agree completely. Everyone at my office is a republican but

when I discuss single issues with any of them, (like health care, taxes or education) we are all in agreement. What I don't understand is how come every single one of them voted for * ? Do they really believe he cares about any of that?

[Clark2008]

11. We are a working-class family

and my step-Dad knows the "score" since he regularly gets his news from me over the several dinners I still share with my "Mom n' dem" a week (I live less than a mile from my Mom and she watches my son for me after school).

I have a college degree, but, in this economy and being a female, I'm not a raging success in the financial department and I struggle to keep my home. I cannot save for retirement or my son's college education because it takes all I have to live. It's working-class dilemma - one paycheck away from ruin.

BUT, I do have a family who loves me and listens to me. I feel so sad for the many DUers who's families have bought into propaganda and disown them because they don't support the Fuhrer.

Dean wasn't very popular down here - because of that cultural thing (I will admit I don't think he got the issue with the Confederate Flag thing, I know where he was going, but he went by the station, just a touch), but I respect him. I am a Clarkie, of course, you can tell by my handle. However, what I witnessed done to Dean and Clark in the primaries made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

BOTH were PURE grassroots and BOTH were done in by the corporate media! Dean was put under such a microscope that a yell over the din of a crowd was considered a fit of mania and Clark was virtually ignored.

So - I agree with you. What the Republican Party has done is taken over the working class's beliefs simply because the working class mostly doesn't have time to digest much more than a few clips from the news and the GOPhers have dominated that.

The Dems shouldn't be "liberal," per se. They should be "populist." But, how we get that word out in today's corporate media is beyond me. I just don't know.

[JI7]

10. the worst Republicans are not the "redneck" stereotype ones

and as you say, many of them turn out to really be liberals or at least not right wing. i was listening to the radio once and this one guy with a very southern accent called in. many would assume he was a republican just based on his southern accent but then he started talking about politics and defending Kerry and talking about how Bush is a liar , a fake, doesn't care about the people etc.

the worst Republicans turn out to be the ones who don't always talk politics and try to come across as kind or fair but you find out in the end they always side with the bigots. they try to be reasonable and talk about how accepting and tolerant they are. but in the end it's always "i don't like gay bashing but i don't agree with their lifestyle", "i have many black friends but i don't think anyone deserves special preference", "i wont criticize the president or the war because i support the troops", "the french are weenies and i totally support this war, but i'm not going to join because i think i can be of more help here" etc.

[Solly Mack]

12. You step-father sounds wonderful!

I'm from Georgia. I know plenty of people just like your step-father.