From Andrew Sullivan’s, The Daily Dish
Seems to be Infectious
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From Andrew Sullivan’s, The Daily Dish
Civil War Memory has moved to Substack! Don’t miss a single post. Subscribe below.
Hi Kevin,
I don’t mean to be a wet blanket, but this would be a complete victory for the nation in overcoming racial divisions if white Southerners had not incorporated the stereotypes and labels imposed upon them by others to the point that many believe those stereotypes themselves. I don’t know the history of the word “redneck”, but it is an unacceptable term because it has pejorative connotations. It doesn’t matter that some white Southerners use the word themselves. That does not justify the use of the word any more than the use of racial epithets by some black men and women in comedy routines, for example, justifies the use of racial epithets. If we are going to truly enter a brave new world as we very well may be in the process of doing, we have to make certain that it doesn’t look too much like the old world that we are trying to leave behind. I never once heard Bobby Kennedy or Dr. King refer to white Southerners or white men and women from Appalachia or white men and women from Pennsylvania, for that matter, as “redneck”–not once. It is not OK. I know that you do not personally hold negative views of anyone and that the purpose of this post is to show progress. Also the sign is funny and it was made by the “rednecks” themselves. I understand that. I am just pointing out a flaw we have all allowed to occur on the way to progress and that we need to pay attention to. We Democrats like to think that we are entering a new age that is the fulfillment of the dreams of Dr. King. We may be, but, again, Dr. King lived what he believed, and he did not denigrate anyone, even the men and women who beat him, cursed him, and threw him in jail, and by rising above the hatred, he brought this nation to its knees and paved the way for this day. We won’t achieve Dr. King’s dream until respect is shown for everyone. Thanks, Kevin.
Ah, more poor souls clinging bitterly to their guns, religion, and–um, liberal, multi-racial candidates.
Michael Lynch
O.K., since this is absolutely against anything to do with the Confederacy/last bastion of Judeo-Christian conservatism and breaks all rules of logical thought, will the person who is making all of these fake photoshop pics please come forward and confess your wicked ways?
I’m glad to know that there is at least one other Democrat in Alabama. We are having an election “party” at my house to watch the returns. The six other like minded people in my town have said they will attend. Though I really do like that some people can transcend stereotype in this election and be somewhat more openminded than they may have ever considered they could.(ie my members of my family!) Thanks Kevin for the pic.
Chris