Most people would call those people rednecks, which would not including every white person. But most people call rap music, bling bling and thumping cars black culture. It's actually Hip Hop culture. and includes all kinds of black, white and latina people.

I agree it doesn't make someone a racist not to like it.

I thought you weren't doing well at the tables? How can you afford to pay attention?

Not being white is too often used as an excuse to fail or to not try at all.

Anyone who does not understand the full weight of the term "redneck" should read The Redneck Manifesto by Jim Goad. The language is a little rough (in my opinion, to the point of obscuring the message) but if you can get past that, you just might learn something. It is a very well researched, thoroughly annotated treatise on the history of the redneck.

Those of you that brandish this term about jokingly among your upper-middle class buddies have not a clue. Tell you what, take a trip down to the rural South, or the rural West, or any predominantly poor white area, and pull into the most run-down, impoverished town you can find. Make sure you are well-dressed and in your Porsche. Walk into any establishment, like a bar, grocery store, post office, whatever. Pick out anyone you see and start in calling him a "redneck". Let me know how that goes for you.

Your lack of sensitivity concerning this slur does not mean it is any more appropriate or well-received than any other. You are simply not running in circles that are aware of that, or could really give a ***** if they were. Face it; the impoverished, unneducated white is still an acceptable target of derision and tasteless jokes.

I think the common attitude is that these people are just lazy and/or stupid, so they get what they deserve. It seems acceptable to express that attitude concerning them because they are white, and have therefore had every opportunity. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are in the same boat socially and economically as the inner city minorities and the reservation Indians. They have similar chances of ever improving their lot in life. And yet it remains politically correct to joke about and deride them, unlike other races that share their plight. You guys could use a little sensitivity training. You can start with Goad's book.

I agree that it is economics and opportunity that separates people more than ethnicity, and that poor whites have a lot in common w/ poor blacks or poor (fill in the blank)s. I'm also sure that redneck could be a hurtful term, but the difference to me is that it refers to a certain cultural type whereas the "N" word refers to all black people when used derisively. "Guilty for being born", you know?

Fortunately, hard-core racism is on the decline IMO, but it's a long slow process. Progress is measured in decades, but we are a lot better than 20 or 30 years ago.

I was just back in my hometown and I always find it depressing there because there is a real noticeable divide in socio-economic status between the predominantly white population and the blacks there. Not interested in a debate why this is so, but it just is and it's depressing. Here in my part of L.A., I am surrounded by educated, upwardly mobile or upper-class blacks and I can honestly say that there is no meaningful cultural difference between them and the white/asian/hispanic/whatever people of the same station in life. It is the opposite of depressing; it feels like a properly functioning society. I like it a lot better here.

Jeff:

Your comments are spot on. How many people, even here, denounce any aid to those with difficulties? It does show a lack of sensitivity.

Though I also agree with Jeff I don't recall anyone "denouncing aid to those with difficulties". I don't think that was his point and I don't think you can demonstrate it.

I agree with you. Ever see that really popular comedian Jeff Foxworthy? Total lack of sensitivity. All those upper-middle class folks with their fancy ways, watching his act and making him rich. Where's the outrage?

len...
How many posts denouncing public assistance have been posted here? My, such a short and convenient memory some of us have.

My goodness.....looking them all up would certainly keep me busy!!

Good try, though!!

I guess I misunderstood your use of the word "difficulties", I have never seen anyone here say that people with real issues shouldn't get help. What did you mean by "difficulties"?

People on "welfare" lumped together in some folk's minds as being abusers of the system. There have been posts that have not differentiated between, say, the elderly, children, and the physically/mentally handicapped. A society must be willing to give assistance to those truly in need or be prepared to spiral down to a level where the caste system in some form or another rears its ugly head. I wish, len, I could direct you to a specific thread but there was one where there were even snipes taken at those unfortunate to have lost everything due to the collapse of specific corporations. Call me a bleeding heart (although I am far from that), but it is just wrong to dismiss those truly less fortunate. Maybe it is my work with some of these folks that have changed my mind over time.

Sorry for the rant.

It is tough growing up poor and white. The blacks beat you up and call you cracker and won't let you play basketball with them because you "can't jump." The middleclass whites beat you up and call you a redneck because you are poor and the upper-class whites and blacks beat you up and call you poor white trash or trailer trash and wonder why you are not rich due to your "white privilege." If you work hard and do well in school...then you can apply for aid to the Negro college fund or the Hispanic college fund so you can go to college and better your life....but, like many programs for the poor...they will tell you that "whites need not apply." It is comforting to know that you got that "white privilege" thing working for yopu when you are cleaning toilets or working in the fields.

Fair enough, but I think it's more likely that when you hear people rage against entitlement and assistance programs you get the wrong idea. It is not that they/we don't want to help those in true need, it is that these programs end up creating the very problems they proclaim to address. The whole "comfortable in poverty" argument.
The net they cast is much too large and most everyone caught in it is harmed by the experience, for many it is multi generational harm.

As long as there are jobs out there that we can justify bringing illegals into the country because "Americans will not do them"...I cannot imagine an aid program for able-bodied Americans to do anything but make the problem worse.

Well poor ole Whitey can join the Military rise through the ranks retire and become a Civil Servant working outa the DOD....Then they can vent some of that pent up rage by bombing the fk outa some poor ole Dune Coon in Afgan or Iraq. Yep works for me...

BTW ole Lester Jeeter has always been one of my heros who I try and emulate....

Yes, the military will offer great opportunity to almost anyone willing to make the sacrifice...good pay, education, training, early retirement....and the job comes with the satisfaction of getting to waste bad guys or provide support to those who do. What more could one ask? Sure beats waiting around and hoping your skin color will get you where you want to go....or keep you from getting ahead.

Kramer's spokesman says he will be seeking psychiatric counseling and will be meeting with Jesse Jackson.

Are he and jesse going to jointly reveal the big Kaufmanesqe setup?

That would be cool!

I agree with Denis. The difference between The word Nigger and Redneck is that if you call any black person, regardless of economic status in the community a nigger, they would be extremely offended. I think a lot of white people could be called redneck and could care less because they are not what their idea of a Redneck is.

It is sad that we can rationalize calling one group hateful names like cracker and redneck (ok because some whites would not care?) while calling another group names is a unforgivable sin. Perhaps if folks did not justify the earlier...others would not justify the latter. I would expect that a person would prefer to be called a nigger than a redneck because they born with their color/race... but being rcalled a redneck implies one is that way by choice. I find the remarks posted here in the past calling poor southern whites "inbred" equally, if not more repulsive. Folks that live in glass houses should not throw stones. Their calling Richards a "cracker" was just as repulsive as Richard's remarks IMHO. If they had kept their mouth shut and acted like they were better men than Richards...they would have a point. They did not.