Why rednecks may rule the world

[imcarthur]

BBC article by By Joe Bageant - Author of Deerhunting With Jesus

BBC Link

"During this US election cycle we are hearing a lot from the pundits and candidates about "heartland voters," and "white working class voters."

What they are talking about are rednecks. But in their political correctness, media types cannot bring themselves to utter the word "redneck." So I'll say it for them: redneck-redneck-redneck-redneck . . ."

His list of the essentials of redneck culture:

• Belief that no law is above God's law, not even the US Constitution.
• Hyper patriotism. A fighting defence of native land, home and heart, even when it is not actually threatened: ie, Iraq, Panama, Grenada, Somalia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Haiti and dozens more with righteous operations titles such as Enduring Freedom, Restore Hope, and Just Cause.
• A love of guns and tremendous respect for the warrior ideal. Along with this comes a strong sense of fealty and loyalty. Fealty to wartime leaders, whether it be FDR or George Bush.
• Self effacement, humility. We are usually the butt of our own jokes, in an effort not to appear aloof among one another.
• Belief that most things outside our own community and nation are inferior and threatening, that the world is jealous of the American lifestyle.
• Personal pride in equality. No man, however rich or powerful, is better than me.
• Perseverance and belief in hard work. If a man or a family is poor, it is because they did not work hard enough. God rewards those who work hard enough. So does the American system.
• The only free country in the world is the United States, and the only reason we ever go to war is to protect that freedom.

Ian

[Burnin' oil]

Crap, I'm a redneck.

[DARISC]

What a load of crap!

Y'all made all that stuff up from readin' these patryots on these here po litikal threads, didn' ya?

Low-life furrin farkin' Canuck!

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

(This part was left out)
Ultimately, the Scots Irish have had more of an effect on the American ethos than any other immigrant group. Here are a few you will recognize:

• Belief that no law is above God's law, not even the US Constitution.
• Hyper patriotism. A fighting defence of native land, home and heart, even when it is not actually threatened: ie, Iraq, Panama, Grenada, Somalia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Haiti and dozens more with righteous operations titles such as Enduring Freedom, Restore Hope, and Just Cause.
• A love of guns and tremendous respect for the warrior ideal. Along with this comes a strong sense of fealty and loyalty. Fealty to wartime leaders, whether it be FDR or George Bush.
• Self effacement, humility. We are usually the butt of our own jokes, in an effort not to appear aloof among one another.
• Belief that most things outside our own community and nation are inferior and threatening, that the world is jealous of the American lifestyle.
• Personal pride in equality. No man, however rich or powerful, is better than me.
• Perseverance and belief in hard work. If a man or a family is poor, it is because they did not work hard enough. God rewards those who work hard enough. So does the American system.
• The only free country in the world is the United States, and the only reason we ever go to war is to protect that freedom.

Ian

Fine standards to live by.
That list above is high praise indeed.

The National Covenant and The Solemn League and Covenant (a.k.a. Covenanters) signed documents stating that Scotland desired a Presbyterian Church government, and rejected the Church of England as their official church (no Anglican congregation was ever accepted as the official church in Scotland). In doing so, the Covenanters rejected episcopacy — rule by bishops — the preferred form of church government in England. Many of the Covenanters signed these documents using their own blood, and many in the movement began wearing red pieces of cloth around their neck to signify their position to the public. They were referred to as rednecks.[1] Large numbers of these Scottish Presbyterians migrated from their lowland Scottish home to Ulster (the northern province of Ireland) and soon settled in considerable numbers in North America throughout the 18th century. Some emigrated directly from Scotland to the American colonies in the late 18th and early 19th-centuries as a result of the Lowland Clearances. This etymological theory holds that since many Scots-Irish Americans and Scottish Americans who settled in Appalachia and the South were Presbyterian, the term was bestowed upon them and their descendants.

[billwagnon]

haha operation "Just Cause"

[The Gaijin]

Ian - Classic BBC taxpayer funder drivel. And we complain about PBS!

You cut out the best part:

"American ethos"

"The term redneck indicates a lifestyle and culture that can be found in every state in our union. The essentials of redneck culture were brought to America by what we call the Scots Irish, after first being shipped to the Ulster Plantation... Ultimately, the Scots Irish have had more of an effect on the American ethos than any other immigrant group."



Of the points above - I will comment on two at random:

#2 - WWII gave us the same argument. Many said we were not threatened by Hitler. Bageant should be glad most thought otherwise.

#5 - Countless legals and millions of illegals and still counting. A few more million Limeys if they could only get a green card..

[imcarthur]

The author was born & lives in Winchester, Virginia.

Ian

[Rikao4]

we are far from being perfect or the best,
we are however better than rest of you,
that is hard for people to accept,swallow ..whatever..choke for all I care.

Rika

[Seric]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

The author was born & lives in Winchester, Virginia.

Ian

He must of missed that boat back when the Brits were sent back to England. Well, it's about time he sets sail. You know, rednecks are perfectly capable of making lists of generalizing other people as well.

I'm only half Redneck though.

[Zef]

I like the last point...
The only free country in the world is the United States, and the only reason we ever go to war is to protect that freedom.
But don't sacrifice the freedom to keep it...USA now earn his a$$ to China who is financing the occupation....Hoooooooooo...Popcorn time my friend...!

[Seric]

Jeff Foxworthy's definition of a redneck;

"A glorious absence of sophistication".

[slakjaw]

LOLz

I love living in the Midwest. Coasters haven't got a clue!

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

The author was born & lives in Winchester, Virginia.

Ian

Winchester, VA is definitely redneck territory. Been there many times.

I am also a redneck. I've gotten ammunition in my Xmas stocking. I've skipped church to reload with my dad. Yes, really.

The best part about being a redneck, though, really the most satisfying part is pissing off elitist snobs. That's why I so enjoy wearing a sidearm openly on my belt when on my bike and then looking for cars with CA plates to pass on the left so they can see my right hip and hate me. What a country!

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

The author was born & lives in Winchester, Virginia.

Ian

That no more makes him a redneck than being born in Harlem or Watts makes one a niggah.

It's a state of mind; a state of being. Lack of education is not a prerequiset, either. There are far more redneck PhD's than anyone would like to admit.

[dheinz]

What's you talkin' about no sofistication???

[Zef]

Sorry Ian...this thread is interesting nobody here...Ya know...Redneck don't drive Porsche...huuuuu....exept in Tennessee...

[onewhippedpuppy]

I guess I need to purchase a confederate flag, pickup, and gun rack. However, I WILL NOT listen to country.

[911boost]

For some odd reason this thread brings this song to my mind:

The preacher man says it’s the end of time
And the Mississippi River she’s a goin’ dry
The interest is up and the Stock Markets down
And you only get mugged
If you go down town

I live back in the woods, you see
A woman and the kids, and the dogs and me
I got a shotgun rifle and a 4-wheel drive
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

I can plow a field all day long
I can catch catfish from dusk till dawn
We make our own whiskey and our own smoke too
Ain’t too many things these ole boys can’t do
We grow good ole tomatoes and homemade wine
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

Because you can’t starve us out
And you cant makes us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn

We came from the West Virginia coalmines
And the Rocky Mountains and the and the western skies
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

I had a good friend in New York City
He never called me by my name, just hillbilly
My grandpa taught me how to live off the land
And his taught him to be a businessman
He used to send me pictures of the Broadway nights
And I’d send him some homemade wine

But he was killed by a man with a switchblade knife
For 43 dollars my friend lost his life
Id love to spit some beechnut in that dudes eyes
And shoot him with my old 45
Cause a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

Cause you can’t starve us out and you can’t make us run
Cause one-of- ‘em old boys raisin ole shotgun
And we say grace and we say Ma’am
And if you ain’t into that we don’t give a damn

We’re from North California and south Alabam
And little towns all around this land
And we can skin a buck; we can run a trot-line
And a country boy can survive
Country folks can survive

[Burnin' oil]

That song makes me crave Skoal and cheap beer. The good ole days.

[911boost]

mmm Skoal, if only I could....

Quit once, definitely don't want to start again.

Cheap beer though, bring it ON.