[Jeff Higgins]

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.