Quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
No, it is not impossible to argue otherwise. The "we, as a society" to which you refer has left out the folks that are, in fact, truly insulted by the term "redneck". It very much carries the same weight as "nigger" when used with these people. That's the part that folks at the higher end of the socio-economic ladder fail to grasp; the very fact that their endearing little insult really does carry significant weight with a very real part of our population. Because it does not carry the same weight to you, or to the folks you regularly interact with, or to the "national conscienceness", does not mean that these people are not deeply hurt by it. Maybe even more so than the folks insulted by "nigger" because, as poor whites, their pleas for understanding and help fall upon society's deaf ears. And, as you so aptly demonstrated, no one thinks they are insulting them.
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Yes, it is impossible to argue otherwise.
You prove my point yourself when you wrote "The "we, as a society" to which you refer has left out the folks that are, in fact, truly insulted by the term "redneck".
That admits that the term isn't viewed as offensive by society as a whole (the way things "are"), but then states that it does so by leaving out folks that are truly insulted by the term redneck (the way things "ought to be"). Your own argument - you are admitting that "we as a society have accepted Redneck as an acceptable term."
Which is of course true. "Redneck" is widely accepted as a largely benign term in the U.S. That's just the way it is. There is "Redneck Beer." A million car and motocross teams called "Redneck Racing." "You might be a Redneck . . . " is widely accepted.
www.redneckworld.com is completely uncontroversial.
Do you think "N Beer" would be as uncontroversial as "Redneck Beer?" "N Racing?" "You might be a N . . . ?" "www.n******world.com?" C'mon, let's be real.
Are some insulted by "redneck"? Probably. But that doesn't change the fact that (1) most aren't, and (2) that is reflected in society's acceptance of it.
Everything is PC these days. If a significant part of the population was truly deeply insulted by the term, Jeff Foxworthy would not be a mainstream phenom, and "Redneck Racing" would not be painted on race team trailers, T-Shirts, etc. throughout the country.
Maybe you think Redneck SHOULD be viewed as being as offensive as the N word. Again, that's a completely different argument. But in real life America 2006, it simply isn't.