Lamb and Frog

Rednecks are born, not made. Try as I might to pass as a bona fide liberal treehugger, I’ll never be 100% successful. Sooner or later my red neck starts to show–the guns, the desire to trade in the VW wagon for a V8 Mustang or a big ol’ Caddy (we already have the truck), the food issues, the refusal to wear those godawful sandals no matter how cool my handknit socks are.

I can’t help the way I am and it bothers me that other people can’t accept that (as with many other human subspecies) there’s both good and bad to be found in americanus redneckus. But you know what? You can’t change what people think of you unless you change what they see of you (and even then humans have an amazing capacity for not accepting truths that are right before their eyes).

I’m not talking about trying to ‘pass’ for something other than redneck; I’m good with who I am, proud even. I’m talking about embracing redneck pride by taking back the name from those who have been using it against us–including the worst of our own kind. I’m talking about evolving, not devolving. I’m talking about becoming Redneck Nation 2.0. Here’s the manifesto—

Loud & Proud Doesn’t Have to Mean Boorish and Narrowminded

Keep the love of country; lose the nationalism.

Keep the love of guns; lose the love of war.

Ensure that ‘redneck’ is no longer a synonym for ‘racist’ or ‘homophobe’ or ‘xenophobe’. We may not understand everyone; we may not agree with everyone; we may not like everyone. That doesn’t mean we have to hate everyone who is different from us.

Exemplify your faith–be a light, not a bludgeon. People can’t truly come to Jesus in chains or at the point of a sword.

Making ‘Dumb Redneck’ an Oxymoron

Embrace common sense but respect book learnin’ too, especially when you find that book learnin’ in another redneck who has worked hard to educate himself or herself beyond K-12.

Go bravely into battle for a just cause but refuse to be used as literal or metaphorical cannon fodder.

Refuse to be led by those who identify with us publicly to subsidize their own greed while privately mocking our lifestyles, our values, our very lives.

Putting the Red in Red, White, & Blue

Take pride in your roots, but remember when roots are the only thing that is nourished you’re unlikely to ever see leaves, let alone flowers or fruit.

Mind your manners. Let’s once again make what we’re known for our politeness and hospitality.

Recommended Reading:

Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches from America’s Class War