I am a redneck.
Did reading that make you laugh? Cringe?
Why?
Posting about my being a redneck might seem strange to you, but remember that I said I'd be posting at least one Friday a month with things you might not know about me? Well here you go!
I felt the need to write this post based on a few comments on facebook in response to a status I posted. The status said, "off to AnxietyLand, oh I mean WallyWorld". What I meant was that I sometimes have anxiety when I grocery shop by myself. But some people posted comments making fun of rednecks.
Now if I had posted that I was going for a drive to one of the roughest neighborhoods in town, would people have posted comments with racial slurs? I'd like to hope not. If I had said I was going to a gay bar, would people have made fun of gays? Certainly not. That's wrong!
So why is it okay to redneck-bash?
I think that from the outside looking in, the life of a "redneck" is really misunderstood. People tend to believe the stereotypes that we are racist pigs with two teeth. In reality, all that being a redneck means to me (an actual redneck) is that I hunt and fish for my own food, don't live a wasteful life, wear camo, drive a pickup and YES, I even shop at WalMart! A redneck isn't so much a type of person as a way of life. Friends and family always come first but you will help a stranger that needs it. You say what you mean and mean what you say. You are honest. You don't tolerate liars and thieves. You work hard. You thrive in the outdoors.
What is there to make fun of?
Don't get me wrong. Those comments didn't hurt my feelings and I really don't care, but I also don't understand. I make no secret of being a redneck. It is who I am, and I like me!
Did reading that make you laugh? Cringe?
Why?
Posting about my being a redneck might seem strange to you, but remember that I said I'd be posting at least one Friday a month with things you might not know about me? Well here you go!
I felt the need to write this post based on a few comments on facebook in response to a status I posted. The status said, "off to AnxietyLand, oh I mean WallyWorld". What I meant was that I sometimes have anxiety when I grocery shop by myself. But some people posted comments making fun of rednecks.
Now if I had posted that I was going for a drive to one of the roughest neighborhoods in town, would people have posted comments with racial slurs? I'd like to hope not. If I had said I was going to a gay bar, would people have made fun of gays? Certainly not. That's wrong!
So why is it okay to redneck-bash?
I think that from the outside looking in, the life of a "redneck" is really misunderstood. People tend to believe the stereotypes that we are racist pigs with two teeth. In reality, all that being a redneck means to me (an actual redneck) is that I hunt and fish for my own food, don't live a wasteful life, wear camo, drive a pickup and YES, I even shop at WalMart! A redneck isn't so much a type of person as a way of life. Friends and family always come first but you will help a stranger that needs it. You say what you mean and mean what you say. You are honest. You don't tolerate liars and thieves. You work hard. You thrive in the outdoors.
What is there to make fun of?
Don't get me wrong. Those comments didn't hurt my feelings and I really don't care, but I also don't understand. I make no secret of being a redneck. It is who I am, and I like me!
I think Jeff Foxworthy started it with "You might be a redneck if". In past times it would have been "hillbilly". People will make fun of others who are different-stereotyping-not looking behind to the "real" person. Don't take it personally.
ReplyDeleteNan in FL
I think Jeff Foxworthy found a brilliant way to make money off "stupid" people and needed an "acceptable" word. LOL
DeleteThanks Nan, I don't take much personally, and even when I do, I have very thick skin! :)
Unfortunately, most of my experience with "rednecks" comes from my 12 years as a schoolbus driver. They were stereotypical of what you posted, including the racism, the homophobia and yes, the teeth. I would sit in the drivers' room at work and cringe at the conversations. If I argued or disagreed with them, I was labeled a liberal, lover of gays and you name it.
ReplyDeleteI admire you for speaking your mind, and for leading your life the way you do. I do the same in my own way.
Eileen, the people you're referring to aren't rednecks in my book, I have a much better word for them! I believe everyone has a right to live their life their way as long as it brings no harm to anyone else!
Delete