The Public Opinion Soapbox

Trey · Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

[quote="Coppy"]
Also, redneck has taken on a different term than you suggest Chel. This whole Blue Collar Comedy thing (which is awful in my opinion) perpetuates not only negative stereotypes about rural people, but embraces them. I see trucks with "Proud Redneck" stickers on them. So that's all fine and good, but I refuse to see redneck now as a pejorative term; rather, I think many rural folks consider it endearing.

I think what we are seeing with the redneck fade may infact be a reaction to the gangster image that permeates blacks in the media. Just as some have said that the N word amongst blacks can be endearing I think the same thing is happing with the redneck thing. It's no longer a derogatory term to be called a redneck or the N word in some circles.
This was not true when I was growing up.

I know alot of white people say it's fine for blacks to use the N word but I disagree. The gangster music industry is notorious for premoting the N word along with some very popular black comedians. The problem is alot of young white kids are hearing this, thinking it's normal to talk this way and repeat it. Now by most peoples definations they have just become racists. Some of these kids are to young to know the words they heard on their latest CD or what they saw on the comedy channel shouldnt be used in everyday conversation. Times have changed. I never heard this word on TV or in music when I was growing up.

Also, people seem to think the hollywood/gangster image of black people speak for the entire race. I know some black people that couldn't disagree more with the use of the N word by people of their own race, comedians or otherwise. Maybe some of these older black people that actually went through the Civil Rights movement and truely understand the sensative nature of that word hate to see it used just to get a laugh or make some meaningless point in a song.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2859 Location: Chambersburg

A very insightful take on the redneck/n-word usage, Trey. I had not thought of that way before, but I believe you are quite right.

I also agree with usage of that awful word, in general. It is far too common. I can and do forgive it in historical films or books, but only for the sake of accuracy. Of course, I don't like it when anyone glosses over history to make it "pretty". Show the man (general term) with all of his flaws, so that all can see it does not take god-like perfection to be great. Flawed men can still help society. Give kids something to aspire to.

Excuse the sidetrack.
Summary: I agree. Very Happy

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Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2417 Location: Chambersburg

I actually disagree Trey; the times are changing and I'd say that the N word is actually an acceptable word within the black community. It has become a part of their culture and if you disagree, then you don't need to look very long at hip-hop culture which is the defining culture of today's black youth. Yes, older African-Americans who actually lived to see their freedom won through hard work and sacrifice are disappointed and upset over this new culture, but the black community today is using the word.

Honestly, if anything is wrong with that hip-hop culture, it's misogynistic, violent and profane music. If anything, that's what I would be concerned about when it comes to any kid listening to this music. If white kids listen to rap music and go spewing the N word, then they haven't been raised correctly. To me, that difference between its usage in black culture and as a racist term couldn't be more clear and obvious and it's easy for us to stop back and say that they're all racist! If a white kid likes black music, black culture and black people, but drops the N word out of ignorance, then I'd argue that kid is not racist. Common sense needs to be applied.

Anyway, the point i'm trying to make is that the problem isn't a pejorative word being made acceptable, the problem is ignorance. And I'm sorry, but there are now very two, specific ways that word can be used now and that's simply how it is whether it makes us well-meaning white folk uncomfortable or not.

Laughing Man · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 465 Location: Earth

I know its a terrible word (or at least that is carries terrible sentiment to a lot of people, I personally don't beleive in balderization)

BUT.... it is so bloody fun to say to a bunch of honkies and see them shiver in discomfort
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John Chambersburg · Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 55 Location: Chambersburg

Tell me something, somebody please...if there is such a thing as this word...why in the world have droves and i mean droves of white people followed Barack Obama so faithfully and have voted for him and are carrying him through this primary. I don't get it and no one has answered that question for me. (I never lived outside of this area until I was 18 years old...knew nothing of the such...and since then i have lived and worked in San Francisco, Manhattan, Washington DC, Los Angeles, etc. and the like...never had one earthly problem with nobody....yeah, nobody. I guess unless you live down south where some of you have mentioned, you just don't see all this racism hype). But, I still don't understand why so many whites are following Obama, if that's the case??

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 453

John - You are using faulty reasoning.
Let me switch a couple of words in your post and see if that makes it clearer to you:
"If there is such a thing as vegitarians, why in the world are droves, and I mean droves, of people eating meat. I don't get it and nobody has answered that question for me. I still don't understand why so many people are eating meat if there are vegitarians."

Lots of white people supporting Obama is not proof that racism doesn't exist. And just because droves of Democrats support Obama doesn't mean that racism hasn't been a factor in the primary race and won't be a factor in the general election.

If you would like a better understanding of the "racism hype," go make a couple of black friends and then ask them whether racism is an issue in this country.

John Chambersburg · Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 55 Location: Chambersburg

AnonyMouse, thanks for that note. i worked with many many black people when i lived in the city. I have been back here for about 5 years now. and yes they talked about racisn back then. But, after this overwhelming phenomenal display of following a black man for the candidacy for the presidential office of the USA, it is somewhat hard to believe that very much is still around. We must say, America has made great strides in dissipating racisim. I do read a little in the Public Opinion about some racial tensions in the local schools. I'm such a Hillary fan and if she doesn't get the nomination, which doesn't look like she is, i am going to become a McCain democrat. I just don't think Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States. (although i don't really want 4 more years of Bush politics).

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 453

John - I agree. I'm really proud that Obama is doing as well as he is. But there is a level of ugliness coming from the right that is pretty discouraging; enough to make me wonder sometimes if we've really come that far.

As for your fall voting dilemma - I guess it's a choice between the guy you aren't totally sure of and the guy who has shown clearly what he will do. Some say the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. I'm not of that school myself, so McCain isn't even an option for me. I know what he'll do, and 8 years of that is more than enough.

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 453

And then some neanderthal comes along and prints t-shirts like this:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/05/13/mulligans_0514.html

Nope - nothing like equating a black man with a monkey to remind everyone just how far the Republican party has come.

And he doesn't even have sense enough to be embarassed.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2859 Location: Chambersburg

At first, I was incredibly ashamed that it was my home state. Then, I noticed it was Mulligan's.
Frankly, dude's a d!ck. He brags about hanging out with John Rocker. He likes to be known as anti-PC, but he's anti-PC for no real reason. He doesn't have any opinions of his own.

I realize that doesn't make his actions excusable, but if most of his patrons were for Obama, he would try to have an equally offensive McCain shirt (though I don't believe that is possible.)

sigh.

I hate that he is getting free press though.
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Laughing Man · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 465 Location: Earth