Hippie or Hillbilly?

Okay...several points here. First, when I presented this concept to my Appalachian brother, he took umbrage at my use of the word "Hillbilly". I don't think you do but I mean nothing negative about it.

Story begins as the drought conditions worsened. I asked my neighbor if we would water my roses while I was out on my trip to Mendocino (little heat wave kicked in). He said he was going to get a rain bucket and put it on his roof. I thought, "Are you a hippie or a hillbilly?" They also grow vegetables in their yard.

So, in the spirit of post-partisan Obama, and pre-partisan McCain, let's find things we share in common rather than where we disagree?

Why did you end your statement with a question mark?

In the Dominican Republic they put plastic drums on their roofs to catch rain. I assumed they tried the water.

With regard to the word "hillbilly", I don't care. I don't really find it offensive.

With regard to the word "hillbilly", I don't care. I don't really find it offensive.

Neither do I.

Sometimes I marvel at how it seems to smart some people, though.

Sometimes it upsets me, depending on how it's being used. Most of the hillbillies I know are very intelligent, resourceful people and I think a lot of outsiders think they all need some sort of enlightenment or educating or something.

I can't call myself either a hippie or a hillbilly, but I see nothing necessarily disparaging in either term. I also don't take umbrage at "redneck," which i believe comes from the idea that a southern worker worked hard all day and his neck got burned by the sun.

I think people are too sensitive. Really why do people get so worked up over words when people are dying?

Yes, clearly in context any word can be offensive.

Okay, and although they collect rain in the DR with buckets, it's still where we ALL have things in common. Some are things that impoverished people have in common with rural people. In some cases, (as in my neighbor's) it's because of an ethical /economic concern (as in fines are levied or we'll run out of water).

We may have different motivations but still are similar!

Here's one. People here keep chickens in their yard. Do you every see that by you?

Craig,

I think you've been watching too much PBS.

Stephanie wrote:Craig,

I think you've been watching too much PBS.

Why? Okay...here's another. Driving cars more than 2 decades old. Hippie or Hillbilly?

Well like J. Foxworthy says if you mow your lawn and find a car you might be a redneck.

Or if people keep stopping by to check out your yard sale, but you're not having a yard sale...

I've got a neighbor with an old toilet in their yard!

Any old pick-em-ups in your neighborhood?

We have turnouts on our mountain roads. It's for the lumber trucks, but yours is for coal, right?

We have turnouts on our mountain roads. It's for the lumber trucks, but yours is for coal, right?

Log trucks, also.

We also bring our dogs everywhere, including stores and restaurants. We don't have a/c either.

Doesn't that sound a bit "hillbilly" to you?