First, I want to apologize to Admin for the direction this thread turned! I just wanted to semi-understand some of the reasonings of how and why some people have decided to classify others in a certain way for just attending a sporting event! Or for enjoying something that they do not like or fully understand themselves. Come on..........
In my personal opinion and experience, I have seen tons of sporting events that I may not have enjoyed or wish to ever attend again.
(For one, I am the type of gal who thinks that if you have never been to something, therefore you can not talk bad about it or about the people that have gone AND two, I try to make it a point for myself and my family to atleast experience all there is to offer before it is our time to leave this world). AND at these sporting events, I have seen people of all different classifications, backgrounds, etc. AND I have never once thought that they didn't belong there. I remember going to a horse race (my first time, didn't have a clue what I was doing) and watching a young man get so upset and pretty much spend what money he had trying to make money. Do I think that is right? Not really, but who I am to say anything or point fingers at him or classify him as some name that I don't know the meaning of or what my children to hear or use?! What I'm getting at: Nascar may have started in the south, but it is
by far not just a southern sport, NOR a sport that only so-called Rednecks attend (even though that may be the history of the sport). Nascar is everywhere!!! And just because you might now know of anyone who watches it or have been to a race...that doesn't mean the whole state is against it or that your state has never been associtated with the sport.
I have never been a big sports fan, of any kind, but I do like to say that I have been to several and that just adds more to my life by experiencing a range of activities that I otherwise would not do. But it is my belief that if you don't experience it, then you can not say anything about it - like, if you didn't vote, you shouldn't complain. I do not like golf, never have, but I have tried it, so I can honestly say that, for me, it is boring and takes a long time and I couldn't see wasting my day playing it or watching it on tv. I love volleyball, played it in school, got into good shape playing it - does that make me too manly or macho to be a women? I tried belly dancing at one time in my life (okay, didn't last long, but I tried it), does that classify me as (a name I can not mention) or make me an unfit mother? I am saying this because I feel that people are just judging me and everyone else for attending a certain event that they might not approve of or have never been or do not understand it.
I started this thread because I was really taken aback by what I was hearing from people about us attending a race. I think it was good for my daughter to experience this at a young age...I mean why not? I want her to experience a lot of activities and cultures (some might be expensive and we may never have a desire to go again, but that is our right to decide and atleast we are out there experiencing all that we can). I honestly wasn't offended by the thought of being called redneck because some of these people did not know me or know me well. I am by far not the richest person or come from the best background, but my family has a good name with no bad marks anywhere against them, we were all raised to be polite and good mannered, to be easy going and light hearted and to live our lives to the fullest and be the best we can be. We were brought up never to judge a person by what they look like or what they wear (even if they are totally different from us) or to judge someone by their thoughts, dreams, religion, activities (even though we may not agree or understand them, we never condemn them or classify them as beneath us or not as good as us). I am raising my daughter the same way and it's just sad that I have to try to explain "redneck" to her and that she is not and should never be classified as such a word, nor should she have to worry and fret about being called that by an adult.
Do people consider David Letterman a redneck....he owns a car in a racing sport. How about Troy Aikman (sp?) from the Dallas Cowboys? He owns a car. How about Adam Sandler, Bon Jovi, Fantasia (from American Idol), Hillary Duff, etc. These are all people who have attended a race and have been a big part of a race - would they be considered redneck for attending or enjoying the race or providing advertisment or sponsorship? Is the Army, UPS, FEDEX, Marines, Tylenol, Beer companies, etc. redneck for sponsoring the race teams and races?
Regarding the "definition" - if I can call it that - of a "redneck" - ummmm....I am a pretty easy going lady, but I did not think that was right - I was thinking at first that it was an actual definition of that "redneck" means -
which I was told was a name given to farmers (in all areas, not just the south) because their necks were always red from working out in the sun all day - would anyone be offended by this definition? I think I would be proud if someone in my family was a farmer and considered this, as it means that they are hardworking, making little money just to put food on everyone's table (people they don't know and will never meet and even those people who look down at them for what they do, even knowing that this is where their food comes from.) You've totaled every car you've ever owned - Your wife weighs more then your refrigerator - 4-H Fair - Really? The car part....well, I have known several guys from several areas (NY, CA, Wash, etc) that have pretty much wrecked or destroyed any car they have ever gotten into. The weight....well, I am not over weight, but I think the weight issue is a very touchy subject for most and one that I see no reason why it should be solely implied to rednecks. AND 4H.. I have never joined a 4H group or Future Farmers of America group, but just recently, my home schooled daughter and I attended a meeting, trying to understand more in our area and maybe broaden our horzions alittle - well, let me tell you - this group is more into careers, business and education then anything else. There were no talks about raising farm animals or tractors or chicken manure. In fact, the lady in charge said that in 4H, the children and parents are free to pick what areas of study suits them and what activities they would like to attend. I see nothing redneck about that! My gosh, there was a vast array of subjects: computer, photographing, cooking, fashion, pets, etc. and I am glad that my little girl is getting to experience these topics and classes at such a young age because she is extending her education for more above most adults I have met.
Off topic - my daughter is into fashion and through this 4H group, she was connected to a lady that use to model, we are attending a fashion show w/ runway models, we are getting software to draw our own patterns/designs, etc. If that is redneck, I most say, some people's minds are even more far behind than I think!!
I guess from this thread and some of the people who have posted on it, I have learned that: My daughter and I are rednecks (or considered that), my father and most of his friends (no matter their eduaction/background) are rednecks for supplying a product that was in high demand (and therefore paid my way through my childhood and educational experiences) and enjoying a hobby that to this day, they still talk about with great pride. - All this, even though, they do not have mullets, drink beer and/or have a beer gut hanging out, are "poor" (even though poor people live everywhere, therefore, this should not be solely associated with redneck) nor have a rebel flag or Nascar symbols posted about their place of business or homes. I guess I am guilty of driving a four wheel drive SUV and my husband as a four wheel drive truck, we both occassionally like to were ballcaps, and we would both much rather live in the country then in a big city. So, if these reasons make us redneck, I am sorry to say that there are people just like me living on the outskirts of many big cities and I know that they would not be classified as such a name. AND as such, I do not want to be considered as such just because our thoughts or enjoyments are different from someone elses.
I must say, I never thought that a question would cause just a ruckus. It just blows my mind that even if you are a president of a major company or a multi-millionaire or an upperclass family or a middle class family or a "blue-collar" worker or a family from the poor part of town or a poor man with little money - you can be considered redneck for supporting a race by sponsoring it, attending it, cheering for a driver, wearing a Nascar shirt or hat, or just watching one race in person - just because to some it is considered a redneck event or a lower class event.
Sometimes it is scary to see that my daughter is growing up in such a world where you can be classified in such a way for no real reason or feeling like people are condemning you or looking down at you for enjoying something that they do not approve of, even if it was a once in a lifetime event. So sad!
I see so many opinions - and what a dull boring world we would live in if we all had the same opinions - but I would like to think that people would think before they speak, especially when they are directly implying such nonsense to a young child. I think we can all agree to that!