I’ve never made it a secret that I’m a “Country Boy”. Though I’ve lived in the city longer than I lived in the country, as the saying goes, “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.” The values of Middle America, the Heartland, “Flyover Country”, Small-Town America, Norman Rockwell country, the Breadbasket, the Bible Belt or whatever else you want to call it are the values that made this country great. We’re often called “Rednecks” because many of us worked in the sun and our red necks and farmer’s tans were evidence that showed what the callouses on our hands would confirm as soon as we greeted you. We were people who knew how to work hard, love our family, keep commitments and worshiped God.
I’ve enjoyed the humor and jokes that go along with the term “Redneck” and some of them are uncomfortable accurate. But for every cringe-worthy example and silly stereotype, you’ll find some mighty good habits and values as well. Here are a few that someone recently passed on to me.
You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to
be offended by the phrase, ‘One nation, under God..’
You might be a redneck if: You’ve never protested about seeing
the 10 Commandments posted in public places.
You might be a redneck if: You still say ‘ Christmas’
instead of ‘Winter Festival’
You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when
someone prays.
You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your
hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem
You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces
veterans with great respect, and always have.
You might be a redneck if: You’ve never burned an
American flag, nor intend to.
You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe
and you aren’t afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.
You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and
raised your kids to do the same.
You might be a redneck if: You’d give your last dollar to
a friend.
