God Bless Rednecks by Joseph Harris
I can't help but have a soft spot in my heart for rednecks, especially southern rednecks. I once saw a woman at an intersection with car problems. She was stranded beneath the red light. This guy behind her jumped from his TRUCK (all true, card carrying rednecks drive trucks) to help her. I parked and also got out and helped the guy push the frustrated woman's car to safety. Now this guy's appearance told me he was king of the rednecks, or at least their poster child. Cap, MOM tattoo, boots and his basic demeanor screamed redneck and proud of it.
When I got back in my van (out of breath and proud of it) my wife asked why rednecks are usually more than willing to help someone in distress. Good question. I thought a moment and then mused that maybe it was because they were just down to earth people, with still enough humility to feel their fellow man's pain and relate to the down-and-out. Being down to earth means they can afford to act on the instinct of common sense and help ease the load of someone who is burdened.
While I am bestowing laurels on rednecks, don't get the wrong idea. I do not condone, but deplore the beer drinking, cussing, vulgar, etc, etc, Jeff Foxworthy image that comes to mind when the word "redneck" is mentioned. Yet, most of those type rednecks will still give a hand in a jam. When I say redneck, I am speaking more of the guy with a Southern mentality who still believes the words "Ma'am" and "Sir" have merit, the guy who holds a door open for a lady, the guy who begins to get teary eyed at the mention of Mother and won't take kindly to defacing her memory. This redneck of which I speak is somewhat mannerly, often tactless, yet never minces words, and he still believes in valor, chivalry, and integrity. He is the one who will take his hat off during prayer, when the Star Spangled Banner is played or when a funeral procession passes. These anachronisms are, thankfully, still found in the South.
It is a custom in South Mississippi to pull off the road and stop your vehicle when a funeral procession passes. Once when I was in a funeral procession, I observed one redneck pull his truck over, take his hat off and hold it over his heart. Though he did not know the deceased, he did this act with all sincerity and reverence.....and with a plug of tobacco in his mouth that would choke a mule. Another time, I saw a sign painter on a billboard stop his work and stand at attention while the deceased was brought out of a church building and loaded into the hearse. After the hearse was out of sight, he continued with his painting. I can't help but almost get choked up when these things happen. And they usually happen with rednecks.
I close with a quote from Dr. Carl Hurley, "You can tell I'm a redneck. I drive a Cadillac.........with a gun rack in the back. You just never can tell when you may come across a brand new road sign. Last night I went out and got my limit......2 "Caution, Rocks Falling" and 1 "Slippery When Wet", but they didn't dress out too good."
Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear).
I can't help but have a soft spot in my heart for rednecks, especially southern rednecks. I once saw a woman at an intersection with car problems. She was stranded beneath the red light. This guy behind her jumped from his TRUCK (all true, card carrying rednecks drive trucks) to help her. I parked and also got out and helped the guy push the frustrated woman's car to safety. Now this guy's appearance told me he was king of the rednecks, or at least their poster child. Cap, MOM tattoo, boots and his basic demeanor screamed redneck and proud of it.
When I got back in my van (out of breath and proud of it) my wife asked why rednecks are usually more than willing to help someone in distress. Good question. I thought a moment and then mused that maybe it was because they were just down to earth people, with still enough humility to feel their fellow man's pain and relate to the down-and-out. Being down to earth means they can afford to act on the instinct of common sense and help ease the load of someone who is burdened.
While I am bestowing laurels on rednecks, don't get the wrong idea. I do not condone, but deplore the beer drinking, cussing, vulgar, etc, etc, Jeff Foxworthy image that comes to mind when the word "redneck" is mentioned. Yet, most of those type rednecks will still give a hand in a jam. When I say redneck, I am speaking more of the guy with a Southern mentality who still believes the words "Ma'am" and "Sir" have merit, the guy who holds a door open for a lady, the guy who begins to get teary eyed at the mention of Mother and won't take kindly to defacing her memory. This redneck of which I speak is somewhat mannerly, often tactless, yet never minces words, and he still believes in valor, chivalry, and integrity. He is the one who will take his hat off during prayer, when the Star Spangled Banner is played or when a funeral procession passes. These anachronisms are, thankfully, still found in the South.
It is a custom in South Mississippi to pull off the road and stop your vehicle when a funeral procession passes. Once when I was in a funeral procession, I observed one redneck pull his truck over, take his hat off and hold it over his heart. Though he did not know the deceased, he did this act with all sincerity and reverence.....and with a plug of tobacco in his mouth that would choke a mule. Another time, I saw a sign painter on a billboard stop his work and stand at attention while the deceased was brought out of a church building and loaded into the hearse. After the hearse was out of sight, he continued with his painting. I can't help but almost get choked up when these things happen. And they usually happen with rednecks.
I close with a quote from Dr. Carl Hurley, "You can tell I'm a redneck. I drive a Cadillac.........with a gun rack in the back. You just never can tell when you may come across a brand new road sign. Last night I went out and got my limit......2 "Caution, Rocks Falling" and 1 "Slippery When Wet", but they didn't dress out too good."
Joseph Harris is the Vice President of Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS. (This article may be reprinted in whole, as long as the name Joseph Harris and www.miniedition.net also appear).
That said, I'm also from Georgia but while I grew up out in the country, I now live in Atlanta and I still see everyone stop for funeral processions.
