Can we knock it off with some of the rural jokes

[LynneSin]

I know that West Virginia is getting slammed and once again all the rural jokes are being brought out for our amusement value.

I'd like to introduce myself: My name is Lynne and I grew up in Rural Pennsylvania. My area was so rural that the Klan would have meetings at our local state parks. It was so rural that I actually watched kids get high by putting gas into a garbage bag and inhaling.

But despite the ruralness of where I came from, I think I turned out pretty ok. I can assure you that I have never dated anyone who is my own family member (although mind you, I am my own 3rd cousin once removed - but that's because yes, 100 years ago it was more commonplace for relatives to marry). My parents had excellent dental care and I have a wonderful smile with almost all of my teeth (my mouth is built so small, my dentist had to pull a few teeth so I could have that perfect white smile). Heck, I even went to one of the top Liberal Art schools in the state and I have a decent job now.

The only time I drove a truck was in college. It was the truck we used to pull our old speedboat. After my father died, it was passed through my brother and then me. When you're in college - you're not too fussy over what kind of vehicle you drive.

I have family members who are farmers and I've helped harvest crops, milk the cows and gather the eggs. I mean, how else does this food end up in our grocery stores?

I've helped butcher a pig and I get great amusement over you city folks that think scrapple is a delicacy. If you knew what was in it you'd be puking your guts out right now.

I have family members in the NRA, but because the NRA has some of the best hunting programs for families and NOT because of asswipes like Charlton Heston who hijacked the NRA for his own political agenda. Personally they all don't really care if they have to wait a few days to buy a gun. And btw - Venison on the BBQ - AWESOME.

And I know I'm not the only member of DU from a rural part of the state. Heck there is another DUer here who lived in the neighborhood and use to deliver newspapers to my mother's house.

Sometimes I see my rural roots show when I'm around other folks. My speech is erratic. But when I started elementary school, the only way they'd put me into speech class is if I was in special education. I tested way too high for that class - so I still stumble over my words.

There are many great rural progressive folks. And even though I live in an Urban area of Wilmington DE, I'm always a country gal.

Let's reach out to rural America - we can make a difference!!

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. Yee-Hawww

sorry, couldn't resist :evilgrin:

[VelmaD]

2. I'm with you Lynne...

I grew up in rural northeast Texas and I think I turned out pretty good too. :)

[workforpower]

3. That's why city cats are all the rage,

The box smells like home.

[felonious thunk]

4. Hear, hear

Being said paperboy, I agree with Lynne's post. Lots of us come from rural areas, and this party needs to realize that we need rural voters to win. We should be courting rural voters, and showing them why the Democratic party is the right party for them, instead of making fun of them. Is it any wonder why we're called elitist?

[LynneSin]

9. I first thought you were one of the 2 boys that lived next to you

I panicked cause I use to babysit them when they were little and all I could think when you first said where you lived was "My God, I've seen his pee-pee"

:eyes:

BTW, my mother knows that we've talked online at the website - she said you were such a nice paperboy!

[felonious thunk]

24. Considering those boys, that makes it even funnier!

Well thank her for me! I took pride in providing the Patriot News to people every day from my lime green scooter!

[Racenut20]

5. I used to be a red neck country bumpkin hick.

But then I bought a hate with a NAPA logo and a #15 embroidered on it and now I am a much sought after vote as a NASCAR dad.

It is all in the packaging I think.

[commander bunnypants]

6. just cause ye aw from DE

where there is nothing but bars, trucks and some very nice beaches. dont tell us not to have fun at your expense!!!

Actually trying to coordinate a canoe trip up in the intercoastal waterway.


Got a growler ?

DDQM

[LynneSin]

7. ye aw lives in North Delaware

No where near the beach and not that many trucks. I'm in a very urban area of Delaware.

[commander bunnypants]

8. willmington?

best friend lives in Middletown..

brews his own beer. Rehobath beach rocks.

DDQM

[LynneSin]

10. Yep, I work in downtown Wilmington

(geez - too much details! I don't want freepers to be stalking me).

[commander bunnypants]

11. naw they hang out in the corn fields on that highway

you know which one

:)

DDQM

[LynneSin]

12. Actually no I don't

I'm from Rural Pennsylvania. If I go farther south of Route 7 in Delaware I tend to get loss (although I can get to OCMD blindfolded if I have to)

[commander bunnypants]

14. ok ok

360

I get on 360 in Richmond. Drive 4 1/2 hours , take a left and I am buddies house

DDQM

[PAMod]

13. Well said!

I love rural PA and I'll defend it right along side ya.

[Canadian_moderate]

15. My wife is from, what she calls, PennsylTucky

Rural Pennsylvania. North central part of the state near Williamsport. she is also very progressive.

[LynneSin]

17. My family (not where I grew up) is from Eastern Lycoming County

My father got a job with the state and they moved to Perry County (we lived about 15-20 minutes from Downtown Harrisburg).

I know the eastern part of that county really well.

[many a good man]

16. Rural progressives are some of the coolest people

in this whole country. Educated, open-minded, and down-to-earth really nice. In fact, I like 'em a lot more than your typical urban progressive.

Its unfortunate that they're so few and far between. In my experience lots of country people are really good people -- until the conversation turns to politics. It amazes me sometimes how some really nice people can hold positions that are so abhorrent.

[SOteric]

18. You mean we could

embrace all Americans, the working class, the undereducated, the poor, the farmers, the truckers, hash-slingers in little dinettes, the Salvadoran refugees across the nation...? What a...Democratic concept!

Next you'll be telling us we could afford to offend a posturing Ivy League dumbfuck or two.

[catmandu57]

19. I live where the hoot owls have sex with chickens

and I love it. I leave the key in my car, leave my doors and windows open. I am but a short drive away from seeing all the wildlife I want, deer, turkey, we even have a large population of bald eagles here.
I've lived in cities, KC, LA, Chicago, and I've got to tell you I prefer the sound of crickets to police copters, urban warfare, blaring music.
It's a trade off, I can't go to cultural events without driving, but it's just fine by me. I have the world at my fingertips, and you couldn't pry me out of here now.

[IronLionZion]

20. I'm with you

I grew up in the extremely conservative rural area of Somerset in West Penn. I think I turned out OK.

Although the people are die-hard Republicans, most are very good people. As one of the few non-whites in that area, of course I have seen racism. But you know what? Whenever the klan holds a rally, there are more protesters than klansmen. And we give them hell!

There is no excuse to call rural areas "racist" while ignoring the Nazis and skinheads in urban areas and of course the extremely racist gated communities and restricted suburbs. Suburbs like Henrietta (Rochester, NY) that protest the Popeye's fried chicken chain for bringing blacks into their communities (to eat, not to live).

Not to mention country clubs and social organizations and such.

[LynneSin]

How far away was that crash site...

...from where you grew up?

What I remember about Somerset is the dive bars. I had to do work for the state and we stayed at a hotel in Somerset PA. We could hardly find any place to go drinking. But it was the better choice over Bedford County

[IronLionZion]

23. my house is 6 miles away

I was shocked to hear that a plane went down in Somerset County of all places!

There are tons of bars if you just ask someone they'll tell you. You'll have to drive there since they are not clustered together.

So where did you grow up? :hi:

[freetobegay]

21. Being from the hills of S.E. Kentucky

I'm a hillbilly & proud of it. I can also take a good joke. Every culture has jokes about them.

[TXlib]

22. Must... resist... urge... to... be... a... smartass...

[sus]

25. you are ALWAYS making fun of my neighborhood!

[LynneSin]

26. Hun, where I grew up makes your neighborhood look civilized

And you have the nicer place of the 2 of us

:pals:

[sus]

27. no i don't. i live in a dump.

and Abbie is cuter than my cats.

i'm always smacking them and saying, "WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE ABBIE? SHOW ME YOUR BELLY!"

[Shananigans]

28. I'm also from a very rural area...

My hometown and the surrounding area is an hour and a half from any city that has a population of over 20,000 (the big city for us). I learned to drive my dad's tractor when I was 6 and used to build forts in the woods for fun. In my hometown Friday night excitement consists of racing your Chevy pickup against your neighbors (obviously superior) Ford pickup, then heading down to one of the open fields or mine dumps for a kegger. Yeah...I grew up rural.

I also grew up blonde. Yup...my hair was so blonde it was practically white. Every summer it would just get lighter and lighter. The older I got the longer and lighter it became. No, it doesn't take more than one of me to screw in a light bulb (I can do it all by myself, these days!). Contrary to popular belief, if you shine a flashlight in my ear it doesn't make my eyes twinkle or come out the other side. In addition, the easy way to tell if I've been at my computer is NOT because there is whiteout all over the screen. And no, if you want to drown me, putting a scratch and sniff sticker at the bottom of the pool will not work.

I also grew up Scandinavian. Yup...ya, sure you betcha. Not only did I grow up "Up North" (3 1/2 hours east of Fargo even), but I grew up in a Swedish/Norwegian family. Ole and Lena are names of some of my relatives, my great grandparents names were Edith and Egnar and my surname ends in "son". Sarmas are served at every holiday meal along with lefsa, meatballs and the occasional lutefisk. But contrary to popular belief, the shortest book in the world is not called "Swedish Geniuses" and we don't go outside when it's lightning because we think someone is taking pictures of us. The difference between a Norwegian and a canoe is NOT that a canoe will sometimes tip.

So yeah, I am a member of many different groups that have book after book of jokes written about them. I understand that sometimes the jokes get a little tiresome or even annoying, but I guess I've never even thought to take them seriously. I mean, I highly doubt anyone thinks that all blondes are incredibly stupid or that all scandinavians are cheap bastards. But if that is the case, then I suggest that we not only ban all rural jokes, but ban all blond jokes, all scandanavian jokes, and heck...while we are at it, why don't we ban every joke altogether. I'm sure that some people even HERE are offended by the Bush jokes we post (maybe that's their last name or maybe they just don't like jokes).

So that's my idea. NO MORE JOKES! And no more laughing. And no more having fun! DU is a SERIOUS place!

Just my two cents.

*Disclaimer: Please note that a considerable amount of sarcasm was put into the writing of this post. No offense was intended, however any taken will be accepted, stamped and placed in my circular file for further reference.