I was watching Hardball today and they were discussing ways in which the Democrats can win the vote in the Bible Belt, if they can. Admittedly, I didn't watch all of the show (had to switch over to Jeopardy! halfway through), but what I did watch was really entertaining, if a bit offensive.
As a southerner, born and raised in Virginia, I find it really amusing to see politicians discuss ways to win the vote in the South, considering they typically dwell on such stereotypes as the gun-toting Bible reading uneducated hillbilly redneck, etc. While there are certainly plenty of simple folk in the South, that's not nearly an adequate description of the entire population. As I said, I grew up in Virginia, and I will admit that most of my family are rather redneck-ish :wink:. But I don't even speak with a southern accent (unless I'm really tired, then it will occasionally slip out). I also don't know anyone who owns a gun, although a guy who owns a gun shop did flag me down a few weeks ago offering to buy my car (for racing purposes, even). The South is certainly an area in which religion is very prominent, I couldn't possibly count all the churches in the tiny city I live in. But that's not all there is here. Not everyone in the South fits neatly into the stereotype. But that's only natural, stereotypes are only a broad classification and there are always exceptions.
What I think is odd is how politicians tend to promote these stereotypes thinking that they are reaching out to the voters in that area. Personally, I found it a bit offensive when two Democratic strategists vocal in the effort to get Mark Warner elected Governor of Virginia relied on the stereotypes to dictate how it is to appeal to Southerners. In certain ways, it is important to address the issues important to the community you are reaching out to, but to rely on stereotypes is only going to make the candidate seem arrogant or out of touch with the people, as stereotypes often do not hold true. Dean was criticized for his comment about wanting to get the vote of pick-up truck drivers with confederate flags, or something along those lines (sorry, I'm too lazy to look it up). Statements like that are offensive to the people trying to be reached. I may not know all that much about campaigning or political strategy, but I would think that the best technique would be to treat all people everywhere basically in the same manner and address all the same issues throughout the nation. Granted, different issues are more important in different areas. But attempting to assume which issues are most important in a particular area can be dangerous and can alienate the potential voters.
I wrote an essay a few years ago about how intelligence is judged by accent, but I can't seem to find it. Basically, I pointed out that a southern accent makes a person seem less intelligent. Newscasters are trained to speak in a manner deemed proper, but who decides which accent is proper? As I said, I speak with no accent, but it is definitely a bias that tends to be overlooked. Sorry if this post was a bit incoherent and rambled, but I'm too tired to attempt to make sense.
Reply to: DragonBait22
Lol, I meant that you only say people have an 'accent' when they speak differently than how you are used to. Go to England and ask them if Peter Jennings speaks with an accent.
Reply to: therealspartacus007
Right, but I was referring to the whole notion of a Southern accent versus any other sort of regional accent. To you, I would have no discernable accent, even though I am a southerner.
"Tragically, a nation that was created by intellectuals and visionaries has now been completely taken over by venal corporate gangsters, delusional Christian fruitcakes and hopelessly shallow Texas shit-kickers." -Tom Robbins
