Older DUers - did rednecks think they were cool years ago?

[HEyHEY]

ALl these "proud to be redneck" tunes are getting under my skin.

Like that one "I'm a redneck woman" It should be called I'm a "White Trash piece of garbage"

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I don't know

I avoided them like the plague.

[Left Is Write]

2. Redneck used to be a pejorative. I guess they "took back" the term.

That "Redneck Woman" song makes me want to vomit.

[bahrbearian]

3. Of course we where, ask any of my buddies.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. red neck and white trash are ugly terms to use.

[arcane1]

5. racist, too

if you are poor, rural & white, you are 'white' trash

otherwise you are just plain trash

keeps other whites from having to acknowledge the trash within them

[HEyHEY]

13. I use it the same way ganstas use "Nigga"

"Yo word up white trash"

[arcane1]

15. and where did the term 'nigga' come from?

same source- racist white people

[HEyHEY]

18. Yeah, so I'm reclaiming it

[HEyHEY]

9. It's okay I'm white

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. but by saying white trash isnt it kinda implying that the rest of us

are just normally trash...like female doctor assumes that doctors in general are male,

[HEyHEY]

16. Nah, it's become a word that has been bred in as lingo

[KG]

6. they never were and still aren't

[moggie12]

7. You are playing right into Karl's hands

Did you notice that Fox News was the biggest proponent of the theory that Bush won because hordes of "moral values" voters descended on the polls? The Bush camp thrives on divisive tactics. Columnists like Maureen Dowd fell right into their hands after the election, resorting to not-so-well disguised Baptist-bashing and Redneck-bashing in her first two post-election columns. Next thing you know, there's the fatheads on Fox, crowing about how the "eastern liberals" mock the rest of the country and "disparage people of faith" (those Fox guys have a clever way with words, don't they?).

Sorry to sound preachy, but calling potential voters names doesn't help our cause (which is, at least I believe, winning elections). "Redneck" was the derisive term used to disparage Southerners. If they want to refer to themselves proudly as that, let them. I just want them to listen to Democratic candidates so they'll realize Bush & Co. are manipulating them, ripping them off economically by pandering to their basest instincts and inflaming their prejudices.

Sorry again about sounding preachy. Losing to Bush has severely affected my sense of humor.

[HEyHEY]

10. I don't get fox news.

And I livein Canada..and I'll always hate redencks :-)

[OhioBlue]

32. what is your definition of redneck?

[HEyHEY]

33. A slobby racist freeper

[JVS]

36. Not quite accurate

[EstimatedProphet]

17. I'm realy beginning to wonder about that

I agree that Rove has made the "red-state" voter issue into a huge deal, and the whole moral values thing was smokescreen. But I do wonder now whether we are better off trying to court red-state voters. I think we've been making an assumption that we should be concerned about winning elections, as you said, but at what cost? Should we be so concerned about it that we become Republicans? I don't think so. I think we might be better off by saying "this is what we stand for, because we think it's right. Period." Our critics that say we're spineless wouldn't have anything to say then, and after all, isn't this really how we feel anyway?
The fact is, rednecks do represent a minority, and a predominantly bigoted one, in our society. I just don't think we should let them get away with redneck statements without calling them on it.

[moggie12]

22. Calling Names Is the Problem

1) I'm not saying we should change our positions to pander to Southern/rural voters. I'm saying we shouldn't call them names -- they won't listen to us if we do.

2) "Redneck" doesn't mean "red-state" and vice versa. We're losing the red states because we're losing voters in the rapidly-growing suburbs down there (I lived in suburbs in Kentucky and Virginia for 5 and 3 years, respectively. Believe me, my neighbors were not what people think of when they hear "redneck". Everybody was college-educated and wealthy -- I was the only one not driving a BMW or Lexus!)

3) I just don't like the term "redneck" when used as an insult. I think it came about because people who worked the fields had "red necks". Nothing wrong with hard work. That white trash remark just rubbed me the wrong way.

[EstimatedProphet]

29. I agree on all points-in theory

1) Name-calling can be beneficial if it is done right-not indiscriminantly. Face it, the Republicans have been name calling now for a long time, and they are getting away with it, even making people think that we are elitist and they aren't because of the way they call names. Redneck is still a stigma at some level-although some people carry it as a badge of honor, like blue collar, it still has the connotation of bigotry and mean-spiritedness. What I think we should do is find a way to reframe the issue to bring up the inherent bigotry that is there. Our problem isn't that we called people rednecks, it's that we we haven't specified the difference between rednecks and blue-collar.
2) I've lived in what are now red states just about all of my life. I agree that redneck and red-state aren't the same thing at all. However, what I do see is large portions of the population of red states adopting a "redneck" persona. They may drive BMWs but it's important to them that the Joneses know they are deep down "good old boys". We need to work on splitting this part of the redneck persona away, and try to reframe the mean-spirited aspects in the negative light they deserve. this is the way we will change the idea that Republican=real man.
3) I don't blame you at all. My point is that we shouldn't be afraid to single the negative aspects out as negative when it is indeed appropriate to do so.

[hickman1937]

20. Excuse me, but in I've heard the term redneck ,

since I was a child in Michigan in the 50's and 60's. It had nothing to do with the south. It meant anyone living out in the country, who discouraged reading and education in their kids. Lee Atwater co-opted that phrase in the 80's when he needed to give southerners a false sense of victim-hood.

[ClintonTyree]

23. These "potential voters" will never vote Democratic anyway.........

and along with the "moral values" voters that helped "*", a great majority of people without an education (even a high school education) really pushed him to the top. Usually they go hand in hand. The "moral" and the "ignorant" are "*"s go to voters.
These people will never vote Democratic. They're too stupid and too superstitious to vote for anyone that doesn't tell them what to do and prey upon their fears. Democrats would rather have people think for themselves.
Sorry, but I'm feeling very pissed off at ignorant moralists since the last election.

[moggie12]

28. Education level didn't influence voting much

Educational levels wasn't a big factor in voting decision, at least according to exit polls. Bush did pretty well with "educated" voters: He beat Kerry among HS-only grads (52% vs Kerry 47), people with some college (54/46), and college graduates (52/46). Kerry actually got a few more votes than Bush among high-school dropouts (Kerry 50%, Bush 49%). Biggest difference was among those with post-graduate educations, where Kerry beat Bush 55/44%.


I hope this link works (I'm new at this):
http://us.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html

[hickman1937]

30. All of CNN's polls were 'adjusted' on Nov. 3.

Post any exit polls by zogby. I don't have links, but if you go to GD politics, ask. Someone will have saved the conflicting results.

[amazona]

8. no it wasn't cool

They knew they weren't cool, they had very low self esteem. Although I was of hillbilly background, I was always different and I well remember talking to a couple of guys and trying to tell them that they could get out and have a real life when we grew up and it was really sad how negatively they reacted. They were like, "no we can't, you have to be so smart to get away from your background, not everyone is like you." They were only 14!

A lot of booze and a lot of drugs were taken to kill the pain of being a redneck in those days, maybe still are.

[Jose Diablo]

12. Naw, James Dean wasn't all that big in the south n/t

[Astrochimp]

14. well if 1978 is years ago,...........

just watch Smokey and the Bandit.

When you get to 'sub groups' most think they are cool- think Punks, goths, preppys,Mods, headbangers(ok, we were/are cool!) hippies, flappers,the English......

But when it gets mainsteem, the true belivers drop out, and let the wannabee's look like fools. So a rich girl who grew up in a subdivision CAN sing ""I'm a redneck woman"- but it is a joke.

[democracyindanger]

19. For a while, they were

The Dukes of Hazzard...BJ and the Bear...Sheriff Lobo...Convoy...

[roguevalley]

21. No. they were in the woodwork. Redneck was code for racist

knuckle walker. You didn't celebrate it. Honkey tonk music joked about it and I grew up with working men who LOOKED like rednecks but being called that meant a fight followed.

[OhioBlue]

24. "I was country when country wasn't cool"

-Barbara Mandrell

I like Country Music, NASCAR, used to play Dukes of Hazzard and BJ and the Bear when I was a kid, b/f, dad, brother, etc. drive pick up trucks and wear flannels. We never thought we were cool b/c of it - if that is what the definition of RedNeck is. Anyway, until this year it never meant a political affiliation either. Not all "RedNecks" are republicans. My Boyfriend comes from a long line of West Virginia (RedNeck) Democrats.

[pink-o]

25. All right, Children under 40, listen up!

The term "redneck" comes from the guys in the 60s and 70s who didn't have long hair. Everyone knew you were a liberal back then if you wore low-rise flares, had (what Europeans depict) as Jesus hair and ran around barefoot. But those short-haired-yellow-bellied-sons-of-Tricky-Dicky (to quote John Lennon) would go around in their uncool republican buzz-cuts and their necks would get all sunburned because there weren't no hair covering 'em up.

And yes, they've always been arrogant assholes. My monikker comes from all those "rednecks" calling me a pinko commie when they'd see my peace signs and impeach Nixon bumper stickers on my VW Bug. They have always said: "America: Love it or Leave it". To hear that today, 35 years later, is too depressing to describe. I thought we'd be past that by now.

As for the songs, Gretchen Wilson has nothing on Merle Haggard's "Okie from Meskogee". Check the lyrics to that (a hit in 1969) and see how little that stupid pride, confederate flag-waving, us-against-them crap has been modified!

[OhioBlue]

27. There are a lot of theories of the origination

but, i think the common term refers to laborers who work outside and get sun burned necks - (usually of Irish decent b/c we burn fast) I wasn't around in the '60's and I'm sorry you experienced such hateful stereotyping to call you a pinko - commie. ( I would probably have had the peace signs right along with you) I have heard it today also, but to stereotype people as rednecks and categorize them - isn't it kinda doing the same thing?

[u4ic]

40. This is what I've always understood

the origins to be. Ranchers and farmers, who worked off the land and hence had 'red necks'. Hardworking, simple people - definitely not stupid, but not 'book smart', and small c conservative in their views.

[JVS]

26. When we go drinking together I'll tell you my theory

It is too bold, too controversial, too explosive to be unleashed in this forum

[HEyHEY]

31. like my theory on women?

[JVS]

34. I'd have to hear it first to know

Perhaps we need to organize the "First Ecumenical Council of Drunken Bastards"

[HEyHEY]

35. well,

I think it's a sound theory, but most people say I'm just being a dick. Go figure.

Good idea for a club, but can we work the word "Curmudgeon" in there somehow?

[JVS]

39. Usually people telling you you're being a dick is a sign that you're right

"First Ecumenical Council of Curmudgeonly Bastards" sound good? Prepare papers and presentations for this.

[RagingInMiami]

37. Back in Miami during the 70s

When the city was still considered a "southern city", many of my classmates wore t-shirts with the confederate flag on the front. They were the same kids who wore cowboy boots and skoal trucker caps. We called them rednecks and they didn't mind.

[ragin_acadian]

41. apparently, redneck is cool now.

there is a new fad out, that can only be labeled as one thing:

Prep-neck

How to spot them -
Ethnicity: white
Age: teen to twentysomething
Class: upper middle to upper
As consumers: gap, skoal, mossimo, timberland, bass-pro, real-tree, ford, chevy, monster trucks, nascar, and any kind of obnoxious speaker brand that can alternately blast hee-haw or hip hop out of the mustang or excursion their parents bought them, while looking for date rape candidates.

Identifying marks: multiple bush/confederate flag bumperstickers, spinny wheel things on pickup truck, lift kit on pickup truck, possible dog box in bed of pickup truck along with discarded skoal boxes and natural light cans. camoflage hat w/confederate flag, cowboy boots, or immaculately clean work boots, neatly pressed shirt w/collar, tight jeans.

Origin: their parents are rich, conservative northeasterners, atlantans, or birminghammers.

What they do: "talk" about hunting, "talk" tough; buy, buy, buy; hunt women; consume, obey, consume; end up in Starke after being convicted for multiple counts of date rape, then move into trailer after being cut off from mommy and daddy's cash. Start meth lab in said trailer. This is the much vaunted "18 to 30" portion of the 2004 vote that went for Bush.

What they don't do: oil their own cornbread pans, hold a job, be responsible, ENLIST.

[Pepperbelly]

38. the people who were into it thought they were cool ...

Of course, people generally do think they are cool in what they do. People's opinions of what's cool seems to be a matter POV.

I think the CW/redneck shit looks funny, the music sucks, and ignorance, even feigned, annoys me.