A question about Racism (The term "Redneck")

[IrishAyes]

129. Jeff said 'generally' and that's true, regardless of the charming picture above.

Red Neck obviously does not HAVE to be ignorant and racist - but a lifetime's observation suggests that it generally IS. I might add that xenophobia plays a large part in the problem people.

That said, I really do like that picture. I wouldn't love folk music and blue grass the way I do if I considered all rural whites beneath me in any way. I can also feel deep respect for natural intelligence in a decent if unlettered person. They're not necessarily ignorant.

But the fact remains that a large number of whites rich and poor, especially in the South and MidWest, whether rural or urban are xenophobic as geese and that aggravates a host of accessory ills. Those are the people to whom I refer when I speak of being marooned as a retiree in RedNeckLand. If I thought they were not to be found elsewhere, the GOP would quickly disabuse me of any such notion. It's been very educational over a long life (so far) to have lived in so many different locales. I will continue to use the term Red Neck and/or RedNeckLand where applicable w/o a single twinge of embarrassment. I don't consider it a classist slur either because while I might have grown up in more fortunate circumstances than some, I've never based my friendships or admiration on socio-economic terms at all. There are quite a few people in the world from all walks of life whom I consider my betters.

Unfortunately this might have to suffice as my vote because when I click on the vote button, the form never loads for me. That might be due to quite a few gremlins, some inhabiting this old computer I use.