Georgia Senator Zell Miller has an interesting op-ed today about Hollywood plans for a "hillbilly" reality show. I'm of two minds on the matter. Well maybe more than two.
America in general, and northeastern and California so-called "liberals" in particular, have long had a terrible bias about southerners. Especially poor white southerners. There's never been much evidence that they're more racist than people from any other part of the country, but people think it's acceptable to talk as if the south is a hotbed of racism.
Let me tell you something: I've lived in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Louisiana, and Texas, and spent lots of time in Virginia and the Carolinas. Chicago is the most racist place I've ever been, and Detroit's a close second. No place I've ever been to in the South even comes close.
Similarly, people think it's okay to talk as if southerners are stupid. There's no evidence for that either. But jokes about that are considered acceptable in polite society. And that's sort of where my ambivalence comes in.
I think everyone ought to be able to take a joke. I find ethnic humor acceptable. Repeat: I find ethnic humor funny, and I have no problem with it at all. I sincerely wish people would stop getting their noses bent out of shape about it. I think it's a double-standard when you say "I can joke about my group, but you can't if you're not a member." People ought to be able to tell, and take, a joke. Obviously we need a sense of balance, a sense of good manners, and we need to remind ourselves now and then that generalizations are just that: generalizations.
So who knows? Maybe the "hillbilly" show from Hollywood will be pretty good, and will show why the stereotypes (like all stereotypes) have a grain of truth to them--but will also show these folks in a positive light. It's possible, anyway. Why don't we just see? Maybe the producers will prove Senator Miller wrong.
He mentions Amos and Andy, for example. He's glad it was pulled from the air. But I've heard people like Bill Cosby and Eartha Kitt talk about how they loved Amos and Andy when they were growing up, and thought they were funny. Their families and friends loved them too. They thought the show was smart and clever and, most important, showed that underneath the familiar stereotypes, black people were actually very smart.
Me? I'm almost 37 years old and I've never seen or heard an episode. Ever. I feel the poorer for it, because it's generally acknowledged to be classic comedy. From all the descriptions I've read, Amos and Andy sounds far more tame than stuff I've seen from countless modern black entertainers.
I think the Senator is right to point out the ridiculous and unthinking double standard so many so-called "liberals" have. I prefer a mentality that says, "I can take a joke, as long as you can too." So I'll try to keep an open mind.
But Miller's still got an awfully good point, wouldn't you say?
(By the way, Democrats ought to move heaven and earth to try to talk him out of retiring next year. They probably won't. They'll be the poorer for it as a party.)
"Of more than two minds", Dean? Forgetting the medication again? heh.
Here's an interesting conversation on the subject, from Crossfire about 6 weeks ago, featuring James Carville, Robert Novak, Sandy Kenyon, and Ben Jones (AKA "Boss Hogg"):
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/08/cf.opinion.beverly.hillbillies/index.html
I enjoyed the exchange. Let me know what you think of Carville's idea for a reality TV show. Heh.
Casey:
I liked Carville's idea.
But his other idea about the Hasidic Jews...?
I liked that too!
BwahaHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahaha!
Why? Because they'd win at the end of every episode. Why? Because they're the stars of the show!!
Now, I might have another opinion if the situation were reversed -- but we can burn that bridge when we get to it.
Dean,
You point out something about Zell Miller never discussed by the major media. He is actually a fair, bipartisan Democrat. Democrats in Georgia are notorious for their PARTISANSHIP. That might very well be one reason why they lost the state house and governorship last year. Roy Barnes was manifestly anti-Republican and never saw the freight train coming. A little bipartisanship on his part would have saved his governorship. That this “smart politician” many pundits referred to as future Presidential material actually lost tells you just how out of touch with reality American pundits actually are.
The AJC even quoted Zell as saying that the Georgia Democratic Party will turn into a permanent minority party if it loses its conservative Democrats. He is absolutely right. Zell Miller has held various offices since 1965 or so. A conservative southern Democrat is a Democrat with common sense. Zell Miller even appointed REPUBLICANS to state senate committee chairmanships when he was Lieutenant Governor. Zell is one bipartisan politician. I never heard that before or since. It will be very difficult for the Georgia Republican Party to find anybody to beat Zell Miller provided Zell changes his mind.
hansen@stanfordalumni.org
EOT
Southerners do seem to be very stupid.
They produce more felons than college grads.
They do not speak correctly.
The vast majority of southerners can not read.
for the most part, they are horrible parents.
The southern educational system is horrible, the worst I have ever witnessed, or is that the wurst?
There is a child molester in virtually every block or neighborhood.
The drug use in the south is more rampant per capita than a major city.
The crime rate is insane in the south.
The people are rude, along with stupid.
The people seem to be slow and lazy, perhaps it is the heat?
While I agree with you in some regards, I must say that not all of your information can be taken or should be taken as fact. Opinion are like butt holes - everybody has one. And here is mine.
While you state that America in general has concluded that the south is a hot bed of racism and that you disagree with this, while only stating coast line southern states, is where you may be going astray. Have you ever visited Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama or Mississippi? The older population in these states are extremely racist. Where does the KKK originate from? The south. And where do the younger generation learn their values from? The older generation. My family is from the south. I have first hand experiences with the south and how they are racist. My child is bi-racial and he and I are not welcome at family reunions, that take place in Kentucky, because of that.
While I agree that Detroit (where I live) is a very racist city. I must argue that it is not from whites to blacks, but actually the opposite. I have had direct encounters with racism from blacks who do not like white people. Time and time again. But this type of racism is not recognized. Why? Because blacks will cry racism and because whites have a little smudge in the old history book we are going to be responsible for the lot of black Americans until the end of time or until the majority of people are properly educated. I read a statistic that Detroit is the most segregated city in America. BY CHOICE. Interesting fact-oid isn't it?
As far as southerner's beign stupid. Well, this is actually a NATIONAL EPIDEMIC. And the majority of stupidity is a direct cause of ignorance. Although - in speaking along the terms of sterotypes - the dumb hillbilly sterotype has a "grain of truth to it" to use your own words.
So, to conclude - As far as the show is concerned - I have a channel changer. Air the show - if producers think it will get good ratings; let it fly. I always have control of my TV - if I don't like it. I can turn it off or change the channel.
As far as the other everything else in concerned. The best way to take care of 90% of the problems in America - EDUCATE THE PEOPLE PROPERLY! You'd be amazed what a good education can do.