Feds to Investigate "Redneck Day" at School

[Dougward5]

First -full disclosure I am from the rural south ..the very center of the rural south ,central Alabama ....I am very well traveled , involved in a high tech field of work , a HEATHEN by belief . I have good friends of many religions and races...I am also a bit of a redneck. For those who do not really understand the meaning or the people it usually brings up a thoughts of racists and Jeff Foxworthy moments . For those who do understand it means a much different thing. Rednecks as a rule are hard working down to earth people who will go out of their way to help you out. They are also big on honor and do not back down much. they will be the first to call you on B.S. We also still open the door for women - say yes ma'mm and yes sir -( btw that is a term of respect and not a " submissive action " as a few folks from up north I have talked to seem to think) . Lay a hand on a woman in the presence of most from the rural south and you can expect to soon be picking yourself up off the floor ..a far cry from the " wife beater " image the media loves to show.

We try to be as self reliant as possible - Rednecks as a rule feel that how we live our lives is " none of anybodies damn business"

The racial issues from 50 years ago seem to come up a lot ...mostly by people who have never set foot in the south..or who have something to gain from it.

You are more likely to be judged by your actions in the rural south than the color of your skin. A person who works hard and takes care of his family gets respect.

We have the real versions of the sterotypes down here(, the drunks - methheads - violent crazy people-) just like the urban areas have their own... but to us the term for people like that we have used for many many years is " white trash" . ( Yes the term itself sounds racist but it is widespread in use).

With that being said there are several sites listing racial slurs and this is what most of them have to say about the word redneck

" Redneck - Previously referred only to the rural prejudice whites, mostly farmers, who have reddish necks (or a "farmer's tan"). However, its usage has become a lot looser and now includes any racist white. See: Peckerwood"

How WE use it and how outsiders use it is not the same..kinda like the " N-word" ..some people use it and it is fine ( Kanye West - Jay-Z-Chris rock) but if you are not from that culture ( Paula Dean) and speak the word it proves you are indeed a racist. At least in the eyes of the media .

We can call ourselves rednecks but because of the sterotypes and way the media uses it I suggest a NONE-Redneck not use the word unless you know the rednecks you are around VERY well.

NOW me feeling the need to give my thoughts on the term REDNECK leads us back into the topic. From my understanding the issue " civil rights activists " have with Redneck day has nothing to do with the idea that a good portion of the world views " Redneck "as a slur. It is over a confederate flag t-shirt a kid was wearing. . Am I the only one who sees how ironic that is?

[redhen]

The confed flag is racially hostile most everywhere. The fact that many here and in AZ don't know that is very sad.

Brownshirts are offensive.

Yet Macey's are still selling them !

[Dougward5]

Oh yeah..and the idea that rednecks are like " travelers or gypsies " Well , Rednecks kinda like to pass down land from generation to generation ...chances are a rural redneck will live on the same property his or her grandparents did..This is by choice..With people in the south leaving the cities and suburbs ..development in rural areas has some property values pretty high..I know of one farmer a lil southeast of Birmingham ( AL) that did sell out...made millions a few years back selling 80 acres near the Galleria mall area for more development but I hear parts of his family are no longer speaking to him.

[Glorfindel]

There is no connection between rednecks and gypsies/travellers. None whatsoever. Where did that even come from? There are no cultural similarities or lifestyle similiarties, at all.

[Dougward5]

I think Danielost was thinking that to be the case.. not sure why,,,might come from the constant jokes about " trailers" in the south ...I suspect people do not mean what they think they mean when they speak off the modern south and trailers ....YEs we have a few single wides from the 70s down here....Modern double wides and triple wides however are not the same thing as a " trailer " is to people from other lands I suspect......

the pics I added are more like what we are talking about when we say " trailers " down here...

[ninjadude]

Brownshirts are offensive.

Good job at godwining a thread.

[Jeremiah65]

Here's another image....does it p!ss you off?

What is bugging me is the exploitation of the mountain/country folks. "Hatfield and McCoy white lightning...Mountain Monsters and a ton of other stupid UN-reality shows....it's disgusting. I get it, they are poor and are trying to pull some revenue into their community....but most mountaineers and rednecks I know have pride and would never do this thing.....

Oh well....God bless them....they are just playing the system as they see fit....

[ninjadude]

Here's another image....does it p!ss you off?

No, it shows an unfamiliarity with Godwin's law.

[redhen]

Good job at godwining a thread.

You missed the point, context, everything has to be taken in context.

Sometimes a Brown shirt is just a brown shirt. If someone's attending a KKK rally while branishing a Confederate flag, well that's different from a person with the same flag at Halloween, a NASCAR event or at a "Redneck Days" party.

[Jeremiah65]

Whatever...Godwin was a moron.

[Dougward5]

AHhhem....." white lightning ' Is a time honored tradition ...and the good stuff you can not buy...it is an art..just like you might be able to buy a " quilt" for $100.00 at some knockoff store it is nowhere near the quality of a $20,000.00 quilt from over in Gee's Bend. A lack of conspicuous consumption does not make someone poor. Yeah you can go to the store and but a nice bottle of whiskey ...but GOOD shine has something about it nothing store bought can touch...

[redhen]

Whatever...Godwin was a moron.

Well it's certainly illogical to pooh pooh an argument just because it uses an analogy. There are good analogies and bad analogies. Since the whole thread is about right-wing symbols, I thought it was pertinent.

And again, context is everything.

Edited August 3, 2013 by redhen

[Beckys_Mom]

I think Danielost was thinking that to be the case.. not sure why,,,might come from the constant jokes about " trailers" in the south ...I suspect people do not mean what they think they mean when they speak off the modern south and trailers ....YEs we have a few single wides from the 70s down here....Modern double wides and triple wides however are not the same thing as a " trailer " is to people from other lands I suspect......

the pics I added are more like what we are talking about when we say " trailers " down here...

Actress Minnie Driver lives in a double wide trailer, as does Pamela Anderson..Minnie spoke about her double wide on a a UK talk show - Chatty Man.. We have trailer parks over here, but they are only ever opened as a seasonal thing.. People go down to their caravan ( trailer ) in the summer, as the trailer park is right next to a beach..When the holiday is over, they just go back home...

Trailers ( really good ones ) can be expensive...

[Dougward5]

Do the ones you are speaking of have wheels on them?

[Bavarian Raven]

Godwin's law.

I've noticed that Godwin's law is only brought up when someone has lost an argument and cannot support their side/cause with actual facts.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Bavarian Raven

[Skep B]

I don't get the whole "racial investigation thingy" going on over a kid wearing a confed- flag.

conversely, I don't get why people still wear the confederate flag to this day.

it's the loosing side.

I don't see anyone wearing a Bill's superbowl t-shirt

[Wickian]

I don't get the whole "racial investigation thingy" going on over a kid wearing a confed- flag.

conversely, I don't get why people still wear the confederate flag to this day.

it's the loosing side.

I don't see anyone wearing a Bill's superbowl t-shirt

Even if the Confederates lost, people still believe they were right in their revolt. There's a reason why the war literally turned brother against brother.

[danielost]

There is no connection between rednecks and gypsies/travellers. None whatsoever. Where did that even come from? There are no cultural similarities or lifestyle similiarties, at all.

I did not say there was a connection to the gypsies, except that they both hold on to tradition like it will die if they didn't, and they are correct in thinking that way.

[Taun]

Well... To be a bit picky (and to stir the pot just a wee bit ) It wasn't the Confederate Flag he was wearing... it was the Confederate BATTLE flag... The national flag looked totally different and to many THAT flag

represents the worst of the Confederate culture... While to many the BATTLE flag represents the resistance to being dominated by an outside culture...

While slavery and racial differences were a major divisive point at the time (and since) there were other issues - purely political and economic...

To many in the south the battle flag is the symbol of regional pride - not a longing to 'go back to the way it was'...

Edited August 4, 2013 by Taun

[No Censorship]

There is no connection between rednecks and gypsies/travellers. None whatsoever. Where did that even come from? There are no cultural similarities or lifestyle similiarties, at all.

Someone wanted to know if there were Irish versions of "rednecks". That's when travelers were introduced to the discussion. Yeah, both the American and Irish versions have never been synonymous with American rednecks. We just tried to find cultural outliers.

[No Censorship]

I don't get the whole "racial investigation thingy" going on over a kid wearing a confed- flag.

conversely, I don't get why people still wear the confederate flag to this day.

it's the loosing side.

I don't see anyone wearing a Bill's superbowl t-shirt

They must be on the tightening side. Sorry.

[Skep B]

ohh you. *sitcom laugh track*

Even if the Confederates lost, people still believe they were right in their revolt. There's a reason why the war literally turned brother against brother.

yeah , thats groovy, but its 200 years ago and the side that won is the side that runs things now, so still touting that side is at least what...treason? supporting overthrow of current government?....showing support of a people who love incest?

seems tasteless

[danielost]

Right now the losing side is in control of two thirds of the government. The other third is doing their job and stopping or slowing down the other side. Checks and balance.

[Beckys_Mom]

Do the ones you are speaking of have wheels on them?

Not the ones I am speaking of no, they are parked in the same place year in year out... Here is what I am speaking of -> http://www.camping-ireland.ie/sales-and-hire/mobilehire.html They are also called mobile homes In Ireland...

[Beckys_Mom]

AHhhem....." white lightning ' Is a time honored tradition ...and the good stuff you can not buy..

White lightening is also a strong cider that many teenagers over here like to hide under bridges and street corners to drink..Then they think WOW this is good...Its only later when they reach adult years, they go out and order good beers and other drink, and then they think - What were we like as teenagers? ...I know this, I used to be one of them...lol