The Republic of Redneckia

[SteveLaura 0]

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...

Contrary to the stereotype, we are not all tobacco chawing, guffawing Southerners, but are scattered from coast to coast. Over 50% of us live in the "cultural south", which is to say places with white Southern Scots-Irish values - redneck values.

They include western Pennsylvania, central Missouri and southern Illinois, upstate Michigan and Minnesota, eastern Connecticut, northern New Hampshire…

So when you look at what pundits call the red state heartland, you are looking at the Republic of Redneckia...

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, where our, uh, remarkable cultural legacy can still be seen every 12 July in Ireland.

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.

All this has become so deeply instilled as to now be reflexive. It represents many of the worst traits in American culture and a few of the best.

And that has every thinking person here in the US, except perhaps John McCain and Sarah Palin, worried.

Very worried.

Source

[almaty 19]

i come from that area..and it is true to an extent///

[Jenn! 918]

Reading this, one might confuse "redneck" and "WASP".

[almaty 19]

no..i think wasp has more intellect and class...

[Jenn! 918]

no..i think wasp has more intellect and class...

I don't think any of the values listed in the OP imply a lack of intellect or class, do you? Comparing the terms themselves, yes, WASP implies something different than redneck, of course. But reading the list of values, they sound awfully similar to me.

Which makes me wonder - is a WASP simply an educated redneck?

[Ban Hammer 13,252]

no..i think wasp has more intellect and class...

apparently being pc does not extend to "rednecks"

[almaty 19]

it is possible..although...allot of rednecks are not anglo-saxon...germans..italians ..lithuanians in my town

[Jenn! 918]

it is possible..although...allot of rednecks are not anglo-saxon...germans..italians ..lithuanians in my town

I'm talking about the values as outlines in the OP.

[SteveLaura 0]

Well, I suppose you could argue that some of the traits listed are ignorant if only for being insular. But that kind of thinking isn't limited to the US. I went to school in the UK with several people who have no knowledge of the outside world and no desire to see any of it, yet will still have an opinion on foreigners, their ways and their native lands.

[almaty 19]

no..i think wasp has more intellect and class...

apparently being pc does not extend to "rednecks"

no..per jeff foxworthy

[alienlovechild 75]

* Belief that most things outside our own community and nation are inferior and threatening, that the world is jealous of the American lifestyle.

Is that why there is a huge trade deficit and Chinese goods on all the shelves and Japanese cars on the roads?

* 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.

Partially true, very few other countries have the ability to militarily intervene in far off countries. The entire combined military might of Europe couldn't handle Serbia.

And that has every thinking person here in the US, except perhaps John McCain and Sarah Palin, worried.

Very worried.

I'm worried but I know Obama will give us new reasons to be worried. He's going need those rednecks to fight for him in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The irony is McCain and Palin's sons will end up carrying out Obama's policies.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

no..i think wasp has more intellect and class...

apparently being pc does not extend to "rednecks"

no..per jeff foxworthy

And speaking of.... this is one of the multiple lists....

[SteveLaura 0]

* Belief that most things outside our own community and nation are inferior and threatening, that the world is jealous of the American lifestyle.

Is that why there is a huge trade deficit and Chinese goods on all the shelves and Japanese cars on the roads?

I see that disparity as either a disconnect or being purely practical. It's been argued in VJ before that shoping at Wal-Mart is patriotic. Either way, there are loads of Americans who would love to buy American, but can't either because the goods aren't being made here or are too expensive.