Pride in your ancestry

Hawk · August 21, 2005

One trend in Canada that has been a VERY sore point to me and almost all the other 'white' friends I have is how we are literally not allowed to be proud of our heritage.

You see, if you are white, especially white and speaking the oh-so-evil 'English' language, you are a descendant of a group of people that deserve to be ridiculed and despised. You are also expect to pay for their crimes, and all the evil they commited will rest on your shoulders and the shoulders of your descendants for as long as it takes (aka, forever)

My problem with this is that I really quite honestly do not CARE what people say or think about me, I am PROUD to be a caucasion anglophone, and I am proud of my ancestors. They conquered this land, they settled it, and they did it without welfare, without government regulation, without political correctness, and without media approval.

I am a REDNECK and I am bloody PROUD OF IT, rednecks MADE this country and if you don't like that then tough luck buddy you should retake some history classes. Without rednecks society wouldn't have a scapegoat, and without rednecks society wouldn't exist. Its sad that in today's day and age the people that are down to earth, honest, hardworking, and independant are ridiculed and despised by the people they support as being 'racist', 'bigoted', and all other manner of cruel names. I personally am sickened by this, but hey we are socialist and as we can see via history (because I am not socialist and can learn from history) the agricultural sector (aka rednecks to you socialists) is always the hardest hit by a socialist society. We are the scapegoats of your existence, so do your worst.

Anyways, if you have thoughts to add to this, feel free to post. I just am so tired of people expecting me to be ashamed of my ancestors, to repay for wrongs centures old, and to spend the rest of my life accepting that my skin color makes me a second-rate citizen.

No offence, but I personally think that is BS.

Signed,

David Fawcett - Proud to be White and Albertan, earn your own damn money.

PocketRocket · August 21, 2005

I see no reason to be proud of what is essentially an accident of birth.

I am white.

Had I been born to Black parents, I would, obviously, be Black.

No reason to be proud of that, either.

Again, accident of birth.

To me, skin colour is irrelevant. Something that we are simply born with. Not something we've earned or worked for in any way.

But I AM proud of my ancestors.

They scraped, they worked, they dug themselves out a life on various farms in Northern Ontario.

They passed on to me healthy genes.

More directly, my parents passed on to me a good work ethic.

They taught me to be responsible.

They showed by example how to live with respect for myself and for others.

I am proud of them for these and other reasons.

Two weeks ago I drove past the old family homestead.

The original farmhouse still stands, although it is now somewhat crooked.

That house is over 200 years old.

The farm still remains. The current owners raise bison.

It was truly nice to see.

Proud to be Canadian, Ontarian, and earning my own damn money

August 21, 2005

Thanks for that response, PR. It saves me from responding to the original which could well have been written by either Hitler or Mussolini.

Argus · August 21, 2005

Thanks for that response, PR. It saves me from responding to the original which could well have been written by either Hitler or Mussolini.

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And yet, if a Black man speaked of having pride in being Black you'd have applauded. The NDP and Liberals have spent the last quarter century doing everything they can to reinforce the attitude in ethnic and racial groups that they should be proud of themselves on the basis of race and ethncity, to be proud of their history as a people, to be proud of their people's culture. And no one ever suggests that's racist.

Meanwhile Europeans are derided for the 'violence' of their ancestors, for the way they treated others, colonised other nations. Bleeding heart liberals insist we feel guilt for the violence of our ancestors while utterly ignoring the fact everyone else's ancestors were equally violent. Our ancestors were not more violent, just more clever. And there's nothing to be ashamed of in that.

crazymf · August 21, 2005

Well, seeing as how this is the first truly heartfelt thread I've seen on this forum, I'd just like to add that my fellow whitey's don't wear sheets on their heads or burn crosses. We don't give a crap about that stuff.

Not to say I wouldn't be above putting a frozen stiff calf in my buddies corral when his cow's are calving. That was funny watching him try to figure out which cow calved and how he missed that. HAHA!

Or we wouldn't be above moving old man Johnsons outhouse back exactly 5 feet at Halloween.

We go to work hard everyday because thousands of welfare cases depend on us.

B. Max · August 21, 2005

Thanks for that response, PR. It saves me from responding to the original which could well have been written by either Hitler or Mussolini.

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Excellent politically correct response eureka.

newbie · August 21, 2005

Just a little quip: you agricultural folks are quite proud of yourselves re your contribition to society and so you should be. But quotes like "We go to work hard everyday because thousands of welfare cases depend on us" and "Proud to be White and Albertan, earn your own damn money" are a little hypocritical when you consider it's the farmers who's hand out is first when they run into trouble. Most other business in this country do it ALL on their own.

crazymf · August 21, 2005

Do none of you have a sense of humor? Raise your hand if you do....sheesh.

theloniusfleabag · August 21, 2005

Dear crazymf,

We go to work hard everyday because thousands of welfare cases depend on us.

I have seen this on a t-shirt before, and I do think it is not only funny, but true.

Hawk,

If you go back far enough, all of our ancestors were black. Evolution changed us to adapt to environment. Masai warriors are tall and skinny because it disperses heat better. Eskimos are shorter and 'squat' because it helps keep the heat in.

One of the oft overlooked definitions of 'Redneck' is that certain 'farmers' and such did not want to take their shirts of while working in the sun, for fear they might get a tan. 'Darkening of the skin' was, to some, extremely undesirable.

crazymf · August 21, 2005

One of the oft overlooked definitions of 'Redneck' is that certain 'farmers' and such did not want to take their shirts of while working in the sun, for fear they might get a tan. 'Darkening of the skin' was, to some, extremely undesirable.

Now THAT'S funny. Gotta getcha to quote that one pal. I don't recall it ever being an issue anywhere when I was growing up.

theloniusfleabag · August 21, 2005

Dear crazymf,

Now THAT'S funny. Gotta getcha to quote that one pal. I don't recall it ever being an issue anywhere when I was growing up.

I can't seem to find any source for this, except hearing it when I was younger. It was the first (and only) explanation I got for a long time, ( I am quite sure it pre-dates both of us put together)and in a way, it makes the most sense. Why didn't the farmers (et al) get (or even want to be) 'tanned'?

August 21, 2005

The descriptive "Redneck" came from the observation of the backwoods people in, I believe, North Carolina and the redness of their necks.

Their necks were red because they did wear shirts, presumably to protect them from the sun.

That suggests that TFB is probably correct when the oservers threw in another charasteric if the indigenous "Whites."

crazymf · August 21, 2005

I is what I is.

theloniusfleabag · August 21, 2005

Dear crazymf and eureka,

The descriptive "Redneck" came from the observation of the backwoods people in, I believe, North Carolina and the redness of their necks.

Back up in them thar hills, kinfolk is whut we call our 'Incestry'....and mah family tree's a stump...

August1991 · August 21, 2005

Redneck - "cracker," 1893; attested 1830 in more specialized sense ("This may be ascribed to the Red Necks, a name bestowed upon the Presbyterians in Fayetteville," from Ann Royall, "Southern Tour I," p.148). According to various theories, red perhaps from anger, or from pellagra, but most likely from mule farmers' outdoors labor in the sun, wearing a shirt and straw hat, with the neck exposed.

Online Etymology

I think the term "cracker" is only used in the US.

I have no doubt it refers to a farmer who exposed his neck to the sun. In other cultures, a dark skin is evidence of someone who works outdoors, in manual labour. Hence, people usually prefer to have light skin. (Another indicator is broken fingernails. In the Middle East, it is common for men to grow the nail of their small finger to show that they are not manual labourers.)

In Canada, a tanned skin in winter is evidence that the person has travelled to the south and this may explain in part why some people prefer tans. OTOH, it is now considered to be ignorant to have too dark a tan and risk skin cancer.

Incidentally, in India, light skin is considered more attractive than dark skin. It is common to see wealthy people walking with a parasol, in part to ensure their skin does not darken under the sun.

----

Getting back to the thread's title:

One trend in Canada that has been a VERY sore point to me and almost all the other 'white' friends I have is how we are literally not allowed to be proud of our heritage.

I don't agree with you, Hawk - although I think I understand your feelings.

If you look at the money in your wallet, look carefully at the faces on the coins and bills. Take a look at any street map of any city in Canada, where do most of the names come from?

I do sense however that English Canadians seem to lack identifying symbols, and the ones provided by the federal Liberal Party ring hollow.

Toro · August 21, 2005

I lived for 6 years in the South before I even heard the term, "cracker". A cracker was the guy who cracked the whip over the slaves on the plantations.

crazymf · August 21, 2005

I do sense however that English Canadians seem to lack identifying symbols

Not us Ukies, we got the Vegreville easter egg and perogie suppers in the church basement every 3 months.

theloniusfleabag · August 21, 2005

Dear crazymf,

Ahhh Ukes. They are the classic example of 'colourful' jokes that contain the unwritten line "Insert race or ethnic group here". (mind you, my last name ends with 'sky'.)

we got the Vegreville easter egg and perogie suppers in the church basement every 3 months

I personally am hoping to tour the Mundare Sausage plant soon. Some relatives went there and said the food in the little resaurant they have was stellar.

crazymf · August 21, 2005

Dear crazymf,
Ahhh Ukes. They are the classic example of 'colourful' jokes that contain the unwritten line "Insert race or ethnic group here". (mind you, my last name ends with 'sky'.)

we got the Vegreville easter egg and perogie suppers in the church basement every 3 months
I personally am hoping to tour the Mundare Sausage plant soon. Some relatives went there and said the food in the little resaurant they have was stellar.

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Back in the old days 'sky was a big difference to 'ski. That could get you in trouble on the wrong side of town. :lol:

Funny, around here sausage is named for the town it's made in. Actually Ryley sausage is pretty good too. The grand daddy of all sausages was Marchisen's. Not sure on the spelling. Made right there in Edmonchuck. Heard the old man died a few years back and the kids just couldn't keep the recipe right. That's when the real sausage wars of the 80's started and Mundare started to make a name for themselves.

The butcher in Beaumont makes a hell of a good sausage too. We are really blessed in Alberta.

newbie · August 21, 2005

LOL crazy.

theloniusfleabag · August 21, 2005

Dear crazymf,

Back in the old days 'sky was a big difference to 'ski. That could get you in trouble on the wrong side of town.

That's funny, one of my dad's sisters spelled her name 'ski' but the rest of the family was 'sky'. I never got a real explanation as to why except 'She chose to'.

crazymf · August 21, 2005

Finally, some personality around here. I feel better.

PocketRocket · August 22, 2005

I have no doubt it refers to a farmer who exposed his neck to the sun. In other cultures, a dark skin is evidence of someone who works outdoors, in manual labour. Hence, people usually prefer to have light skin. (Another indicator is broken fingernails. In the Middle East, it is common for men to grow the nail of their small finger to show that they are not manual labourers.)

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Bang-on the money, AUGUST.

In fact, if I may expand, the same thought process evolved independantly in many areas.

In pre-revolutionary France, the custom of powdering both faces and wigs was an offshoot of this attitude.

In medieval Japan, same thing. Ladies of nobility powdered their faces, as did geisha, BTW.

I recall from early high-school history lessons the white explorers in the south seas were seen as desirable because of their light skin-tones.

But this is likely unrelated. They were probably simply considered "exotic" to the natives who had never seen white skin before.

In England this "light-skin" rage was not as predominant as in France, but still, many of the nobility engaged in "powdering".

Other countries in Europe held similar customs. Nobility who did not want to be mistaken for field-hands (like that was at all likely :rolleyes: )

Now it's flip-flopped. A good tan is no longer seen as a sign of "lower class" status, because it is no longer equated with manual labour.

Good thing, too. I always end each and every summer with a case of "trucker-tan".

Left arm brown from the elbow down. The rest of me white as a sheet.

mcqueen625 · August 22, 2005

Just a little quip: you agricultural folks are quite proud of yourselves re your contribition to society and so you should be. But quotes like "We go to work hard everyday because thousands of welfare cases depend on us" and "Proud to be White and Albertan, earn your own damn money" are a little hypocritical when you consider it's the farmers who's hand out is first when they run into trouble. Most other business in this country do it ALL on their own.

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Excuse me but in my neck of the woods it's the corporation's not the farmers who stand in line with theri hands out looking for taxpayer's money. Case in point is the recently announced Irving Oil LNG Terminal to be built at Mispec in Saint John, NB. While anywhere else an LNG Terminal is proposed, the company doing the proposal was handing out concessions to the host communities in order to gain acceptance for this dangerous facility. In NB, the Irving's (one of the richest family's in the World), look the Mayor of Saint John in the eyenad demanded that they be allowed to pay only 10% of the Property Tax Levy on this property for a period of 25 years. When the Mayor brought it before the City Council he told Council that this concession must be passed by midnight that night or the project would go elsewhere, and the majority voted to cave. Since this was not within jurisdiction of Council to approve, they immediately made a request to the Province to pass legislation allowing them to grant this tax holiday.

This is a city that has had to lay off police and fire personnel because of budget constraints, and now our Council and the Provincial Government has just given a tax break, according to the Chief Assessor for the Province of between $4.5 and $5.5 million per year in uncollected Property Taxes for the next 25 years. The Irving Empire are only going to be required to pay $500,000.00 per year for the next 25 years, not subject to inflation. That uncollected Property Tax represents a loss to both the City of Saint John, and the Province of New Brunswick, yet you can be sure that Bernard Lord will go crying poor-mouth to Ottawa, looking for more of Ontario's and Alberta's transfer money to help subsidize Mr. Kenneth Irving, and his brother's.

Let's not forget one thing here, family farms are few and far between nowadays, because corporations like the Irving's and the McCain's (both from NB) have succeeded in bankrupting many small family farms or forced them to sell out to agricorps. These corporations have set up a situation that farmers either sold their crops to them or let them rot in the fields, because corporations such as the above bought out all of their competition. In the case of the Irving's, they own Cavendish Farms of PEI., and everyone knows about the McCain's and the fact that they have even branched out into meat , and now own Maple Leaf and most of their competing brands on the market.

Don't talk to me about farmer's being beggers when we have corporate welfare bums with theri hands out for evey cents from government. Farmers at least put actual sweat and tears into their land in order to meak out a living for themselves and their families, corporate bums don't even get their hands dirty.

Black Dog · August 22, 2005

Don't talk to me about farmer's being beggers when we have corporate welfare bums with theri hands out for evey cents from government. Farmers at least put actual sweat and tears into their land in order to meak out a living for themselves and their families, corporate bums don't even get their hands dirty.

Sounds liek Alberta where the Conservative government has given bilions to private industry in the form of loan guarantees, tax breaks, and bailouts (as in the case of the BSE relief program). The small farmer is a dying breed in Alberta and it's agribusiness and it's allies in government that are to blame.