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Reflections: What is a redneck anyway?

A "Redneck" is just as the name suggests; a person with a red neck. I can remember being called a redneck many, many years ago. I never even checked to see if my neck was red or not. I didn't have to because I knew what the name callers meant by "redneck". I was raised on a farm, a farm that grew grains of all kind. I was a farmer so I was a redneck.

The term redneck was coined to identify someone who is a farmer. Farmers were called rednecks because they worked out in the sun all day. Typically farmers never wore beach clothes, they would always wear work clothes. When they worked the one most exposed spot on their body was their neck; particularly the back of the neck. A farmer's work requires bending over and exposing his bare neck to the sun which in turn gives the farmer a redneck.

In the day, redneck should have been a badge of honor. Don't knock your neighborhood farmer. These are the guys that feed all of America and half of the world. Listen to the word, Farmer, and pay homage to it! To be a farmer is indeed something to be proud of. There is almost nothing in the grocery store that a farmer did not provide. Without that farmer I would not eat. If you knew me you would know that would be terrible.

Since my childhood days and after growing up and leaving school and home I always try to have some kind of garden; tomatoes, peppers, corn maybe some flowers, but I have never farmed to the degree that would earn me the coveted title of redneck.

Unfortunately "redneck" is no longer that badge of honor, it is a curse, it is an insult. With so many negative connotations related to "redneck" no one wants to be called it any longer. Who knows where the spite toward farmers every originated? Why would a farmer ever have been looked down upon in the first place? No, they are not any less smart than you or me. Can you feed a nation on progressively less and less land year after year? They can!

To watch some comedians you might be convinced that a redneck is a less than desirable type of human being but you have to remember that is comedy, not reality. The term Redneck has earned so many negative generalisms that to imagine them you would have to laugh. But they are all explainable;

1) Inside out tires being used for flower pots. Who else uses old tires for anything? At least the redneck is beautifying them and making flower gardens economically.
2) Half a bathtub stuck in the ground for Mother Mary. All they want to do is express their religious


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Reflections: What is a redneck anyway?

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