What's so Wrong with Rednecks?

Seems like everywhere you turn nowadays, there's some derogatory comment, joke or statement being made about rednecks. One person makes a bad crack about the lack of intelligence rednecks seem to display, and before you know it everyone around them is joining in on the ridicule. While it may be funny to some, it can be highly offensive to others.

First off, just what is a redneck? Merriam Webster defines redneck as a white member of the Southern rural laboring class. However, the more liberal definition of redneck often includes ignorance, laziness, inbreeding and an all-around lack of class and refinement. It's not just Southern laborers who get this label slapped upon them though. Any person who drives a pickup, lives in a mobile home, watches NASCAR, drinks beer, has bad teeth, or talks with an accent can also be pigeonholed into the redneck crowd, which is not the case.

If you actually stop and take a look at the way supposed "rednecks" live, it's a far cry from the stressful, hurried, rushed life of most middle to upper class Americans. Driving Hummers, texting, standing in line to buy the newest piece of technological junk, and spending hours a day commuting to a job they despise is what most people consider "living the dream" nowadays. Keeping up with the Joneses (or whomever the hip, well-to-do family is these days) seems to be at the top of the list for so many people, and life flies by without a second thought.

What's so wrong with kicking back on the porch, listening to the sounds of the evening and watching the children play in the yard with the dogs? Or how about taking the pickup out for a day of fishing and mudding down by the river? How does cooking the day's catch over a roaring fire, with a good, cold beer sound? To me, it sounds like heaven. Relaxing, enjoying friends, family, and the short time we have on this earth is the perfect way of life to me. I could care less about your new $400 designer boots, and think it's sad that you spent thousands of dollars on your high style wardrobe. I'm just as happy shopping at the local discount stores and spending my money enjoying my life, and my friends and family, spending a fraction of what someone else spent on a few items of fabric. I love getting together with a group of friends, playing cards, listening to some good old country or southern rock, wasting the night away reliving old stories, enjoying myself and being comfortable, while others spend 4 hours in line waiting to get into the "hippest" new nightspot, only to be jammed elbow to elbow with a bunch of other people I've never seen before.

I'm perfectly at home with the thought of a small, cozy home on a little bit of land. Space for my children to run and play, roll with the dogs, get dirty, and enjoy themselves. I look forward to the thought of opening my door in the cool, crisp morning to look out over my little patch of heaven, perhaps head out and weed the garden, or mow the lawn. I love the sounds of nature and the country coming in through the open windows on the cool night air, the chirp of the crickets, buzz of the junebugs. I'm totally and completely happy knowing that I'll be living an uncomplicated, simpler life, and loving every minute of it.

So, what's so wrong with slowing down, taking a step off the beaten path, and enjoying the time we have on this earth? Nothing, as far as I'm concerned. You can keep your high-rise, smog, traffic congestion, double mocha latte half caf...whatever it is you spend $5.00 on every morning. I'll gladly take your space out here, in the slow lane of life, with the rest of my redneck kinfolk.