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Grant D. Cyrus of Boulder writes:

Question. Is the word Redneck derogatory?
I have a genuinely honest and open question for the, what,’ European American’ community. Is it alright to use the word Redneck? My gutbrain as Stephen Colbert would say tells me no, that it is in fact an insult. A serious insult. However after querying exactly ten White males I know I was told absolutely not. ‘I’m proud to be Redneck (sometimes)’ was a common refrain. And yet I still find this difficult to get my head wrapped around. Could this be true though? Maybe I’ve just heard one too many ‘Brothers’ I know use the word vehemently and prefacing it with the vicious mother ‘hubbard’ word to ever be comfortable addressing anyone with it.
Jeff Foxworthy aside I would invite anyone to tell me if the majority of people feel it is appropriate to use this word. Gracias por este.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Cyrus in Boulder. It depends, what's in it for me? Can I use it to manipulate or censor other people? Can I empower myself by censoring other ethnicities and thus limiting their use of words. Can I use this term to put myself in the victim's class and thus get special treatment? You better be careful Cyrus in Boulder, it all depends.

I don't know Cyrus. Is "stupid liberal moonbat" offensive? Or is "race baiting ass hat" offensive? Who knows? One would have to try out terms like "Pathetic pussyboy" to find out I guess.

The PC crowd claims it's offensive, but I disagree. You'd be suprised at how much of Wyoming (and other areas) takes pride in the culture that is associated with the word.

By no means am I a supporter of the Confederate Flag. What it represents is offensive.

However, there does seem to a surprising number of people that like to affix said flag to to their pickup trucks and whatnot. What does this have to do with anything? A lot of people who think the redneck culture is cool affix the confederate flag to their trucks--No this is not a routine--I've see this.

Simple Answer: it depends.

To go around calling people rednecks might be construed as offensive. One the other hand if they're driving a pickup flag sporting the confederate flag it wouldn't be.

Depends who says it in what tone or spirit it's said. You can jokingly call each other that if you know each other well enough. An outsider couldn't joke.
Depends if a person is saying it in a derogatory spirit or not.

Jeff Foxworthy made a HUGE amount of money out of playing up "redneck" stereotypes

Jeff Foxworthy made a HUGE amount of money out of playing up "redneck" stereotypes.

The term "redneck" is complimentary when used by one of us,and we know who we are....It's very much like the the "N-word".If you think you might not be qualified to use it-you're not.

Unlike your skin color or ethnic background (and the slurs that go along with them), being a redneck is a lifestyle that you choose.

Something that you choose to identify yourself as. Use of the term "redneck" is not even in the same ballpark as use of the "n-word"

You all are SOS , stuck on stupid for even debating this subject.

"Redneck"... One whose neck is red from working outdoors. A common, unassuming man. One with more common sense than liberal indoctrinaires.

Hell, Yes, I am, and proud of it!

AMEN , lighten up, not everyone wants to debate Earth shattering subjects every day.

Pretty soon now, elites will start playing at being "Redneck", the next cultural fad.

I`m out to get some gingham dresses. Yahoo!

It depends. Redneck means a confederate flag-flying, PU truck...excuse me...SUV driving, toothless, ignorant, racist. However, as we get closer to the election, Hillary will start courting the NASCAR crowd and claim to be a redneck from Arkansas, southern drawl and all. Then, it will be OK.

Thanks so much for the feedback. It remains a pretty divided response but I appreciate your replies. Incidentally I'm an American African male myself, not
Hispanic, although I speak Spanish. Thought I'd better make that clear-don't want the Hispanics blamed for my 'inquiring mind.' I remain a bit confused though in that some of you say you're proud of the word in a kind of defiant way, while others agree with me that using it is indeed like using the dreaded 'N' word. Think I'll stick to just not using it/discouraging its use around me. Later, now Grant.

Here in Colorado we already have what I call "instant rednecks" they use cash from a lucrative real estate deal, an inheritance or some other windfall to set themselves up on a small acreage near some small town and proceed to play at being cowboys and cowgirls. A pickup truck with a dog and a gun are essential along with an SUV. Speaking with a fake southern accent is a plus.

Yo Amen: You do not get an Amen from me. Grant's letter is one of the most (fill in the blank) letters I've read in this forum. For years I've wondered: What is a Redneck? I teamed up with a toehead from Redneck turf and sired three babies and again teamed up with a Redneck and sired two babies. Love those Rednecks. I'd like to do it again.

Deicide Corner: “ The mysteries, on belief in which theology would hang the destinies of mankind, are cunningly devised fables whose origin and growth are traceable to the age of Ignorance, the mother of credulity.”
-- Edward Clodd

RG, you must have grandkids wall-to-wall.

Yo my dear Sharon: Ordinarily I make it a practice not to respond except to the letter writer and certainly not to the "fish" people; however, you are of the ilk that makes this forum a pleasure to read. Actually, I have more kids than grandkids: five and three respectively. I love the grandkids coming over as we mount our bikes; my kids have outgrown their bikes.

Deicide Corner: I reject Christianity's anthropomorphic God, made in our image, silly and malicious, vain and puerile, irritable or tender, after our fashion. -- George Sand

Actually redneck orginally meant farmers who worked outside and consequently got sunburned.

The pseudo elites tend to use it derogatorily much as the rich used to call these people "peasants" as if to lift themselves above the riff raff.

Rather than be derogatory of the more common person, I would say it is derogatory to the person who uses it. It says they are elitist without much class.

According to historian David Hackett Fischer, the terms Crackers, Rednecks, and Hoosiers "were not coined in the New World. They were carried out of north Britain. For three centuries these terms were variously used as praise words and pejoratives, according to context and occasion. But always they described the same paradox of poverty and pride."

Fischer also writes that the earliest known use of the term "Redneck" in America was "in North Carolina by Anne Royall in 1830, who noted that 'redneck' was 'a name bestowed upon the Presbyterians.' It had long been a slang word for religious dissenters in the North of England."

In other words, the Scots and Scots-Irish in America are called Rednecks because that is what they were called in England. In America, the name now also refers to people of non-Scottish ancestry who have intermarried with the group and/or adopted the same lifestyle. I believe whether or not it is pejorative is in the eye of the beholder.

David Hackett Fischer quotations are from "Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways In America," pp757-758, published 1989.

Too much information on Rednecks; however, thanks to the letter writer. I'm thinking my progenitors were known as shanty Irish and compelled to America where they became a scourge on America and today, I have no objection to being referred to as shanty Irish, It is pejorative one day and compliment the next day. Richard Grimes

Deicide Corner:

Deicide Corner: This is really a neat arrangement; however, I need to file clarification:. Half way down or more the arrangement says: "Every day, every minute, every breath is a gift from God."" If you are a Muslim, say praise Allah for he places every baby in every womb and turns Jews into monkeys and for his slaves creates virgins without menses, stools or urine and for the gay little service boys (ask.com); if you are Jewish, say kill a goat for me and carry out pogroms which involve genocide but save the virgins and give Jehovah his share; if you are Christian in which a Jew, "fruit from the womb" of a 13-year-old sired from the "loins of David" without benefit of clergy in which you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Jewish baby transmogrified into an anti-Semitic Christian god, make the sign of the cross, and Catholics say ten Our Father, ten Hail Mary and make an act of contrition before the pedophile priest. At the end of the song, click on home.

Contact me: 222037@yahoo.com and I'll send you the arrangement: a neat song and dance.

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