Mr Edward Thames

Common Sense Reflections of an American Redneck Mr Edward Thames

Common Sense Reflections of an American Redneck is a collection of common sense articles, essays and observations accumulated over the last ten years about any and everything I wanted to write about. Friends have asked why I have identified myself as a redneck. They argued that it would do nothing to help the book sales. The dictionary defines the term redneck as an often disparaging Americanism: a slang term, usually for a rural white southerner who is politically conservative, and a religious fundamentalist. This term is generally considered offensive. It originated in reference to agricultural workers, alluding to how the back of a person's neck will be burned by the sun if he works long hours in the fields, AKA mule farmers. There almost always the additional descriptions of bigot or reactionary, terms that have with time and special emphasis from the liberal left have also become associated with the rural working class; more pointedly the white working class. The effort to demean the working American using words hasn?t worked and the term Redneck has evolved beyond being offensive and acquired coolness of its own that has nothing to do with bigotry or racism but a fundamental realization of the average American that God (not religion), independence, hard work, and family are the roots of American society and the keys to our greatness. That is the essence of America. God love America despite our politicians, the media and those who enjoy all that America is and offers with hate filled hearts. To answer the question poised earlier as to why I identified myself as a redneck I reply because I am politically conservative and a religious fundamentalist who was raised in the Deep South from a long line of farmers and bootleggers. So by definition I am a redneck. These are my thoughts and reflections. If you don?t like them or don?t agree; too damn bad!