Theyre looking for the essence of hillbilly culture, Webster said. And theres nothing that more symbolically captures that essence than moonshine liquor.

Uh-huh.

Now take the key words and substitute for any other people or area and any other stereotype. Would it be acceptable? Or, more probably, would it be considered subtle racism?

I'm damned proud to be a hillbilly, and what I see as capturing the essence is: Self-sufficiency, strong work ethic, old fashioned manners, appreciation of the land, respect for history, plus many others that the rest of the country would benefit from discovering.

Bought a mason jar of the Bardstown, KY manufactured "Shine On Georgia Moon" moonshine (less than 30 days old!) for my mom's husband as a stocking stuffer this Christmas. We did a couple of shots each on Christmas eve. Not bad, actually. Then again it is "commercial" moonshine.

Rural kentucky sure as hell isn't basking in any basketball glory this week, that's for sure.

I tend to think of myself as more of a honky than a hillbilly. Now gimmie some Pabst Blue Ribbon!!

"Redneck", it has been pointed out more than once, is the only ethnic/socio-economic slur allowed on NPR.

"Some believe the demand has grown because communities suffering from job losses in the coal industry have begun to concentrate on heritage tourism as an economic base."

Yes, yes it may have something to do with job losses.

Moonshine jelly? We used to call that Sterno.

they must not have supermarket brand.

Supermarket brand Vodka out here is like $7

haha

I lived in Harlan Kentucky for 7 months (very rurul and very hillbilly). I saw moonshine quite often. It was the real too, not some kind of commercially made moonshine...it was pure clear liquid in a mason jar covered with saran wrap. My favorite was watching a friend pay a bill with $50 and a bottle of the strong stuff. The article isn't stereotyping, that's really how it is.

Moonshine rocks! Nothing else is quite like it. Find a friend in KY. if you haven't had it and get some of the good stuff. Just remember. Moderation is key....

We've built three stills so far. I distill from sugar, water, yeast, and an activator for the yeast (to give it something to feed on for 30 days). Distillation on a small comumn and condenser can take 2 or 3 runs but it sure makes for some sweet stuff.

good times...good times

Another "urban myth". NPR reporters do not have some kind of mystic permission to refer to people as rednecks, while being prohibited from other racial or ethnic invectives.

This charge does of course sound good on the Rush Limbaugh show, which caters to ignorant rednecks.

Gosh, I said ignorant rednecks, sorry for the redundancy.

Eat More Possum

Theyre looking for the essence of black culture, Webster said. And theres nothing that more symbolically captures that essence than malt liquor.

/Let's see how many posts it takes.

comumn ? column!

Damn. I even proofed it before I posted.

Many years ago, I ran a restaurant in Montana. One day, some local Mennonites came by to sell some produce (no kidding, and they had the best organically grown lettuce you can imagine). They sat down to barter with me, and produced a quart mason jar of moonshine, "Just to help with the bartering, you understand." Next thing I knew, I was plastered off my ass and bought way too much produce. And a couple more jars of "help with the bartering" fluid. Help with the bartering indeed ;)

gutoinbfe Although KY is considered by many to be part of the South, only the eastern fringes can lay reasonable claim to being true hillbilly areas. If you want quality 'shine you need to drive a little and hit an arc between Crosby TN and Boone NC. Flag Pond is where I get mine; they have families with 8 generations of experience.

being foreign, I have no opinion on this.

however, I will say: potcheen. *glug* yeeeeeeaahhh. brain damage in a bottle.

the irish know. God bless them.

/drunk, in case you hadn't guessed.

PETER: It's so QUIET around here! The, the PHONE hasn't rang all DAY!

BRIAN: I, I know! There's nothin' to, uh... to, uuhhhh...... uuuhhhhhhhmmmmmm......... man, what's the word I'm lookin' for, do!"

I had some pretty good poitin in Ireland and to the best of my knowledge haven't suffered any brain damage, Cosmic. I think the difference is that they don't make it in car radiators.

Just don't mix it with Guinness, as my little brother can tell you.

Good reference robotninja. I scoured google looking for a decent pic from that episode. (Was hoping for the station wagon painted like the General Lee.)

Deisel Girl

Just don't mix it with Guinness.

Now you tell me. ;)

going to sleep it off. later, kids.

Hillbilly is a badge of honor, REDNECK means whitetrash.
And real ones mostly come from East TN, West NC and a little bit from KY and WV

Like Bartons Fine Foods, companies across the South now offer moonshine jelly, which they say is both legal to sell and safe to eat.
Bryan Allphin, president of Southern Dream Foods in Louisville, said the corn whiskey evaporates in the jelly making process, leaving a strong odor of alcohol in a non-intoxicating breakfast food.

What makes some monshine dangerous is lack of care in distillation. Not only does the still output ethyl alcohol, it also yeilds aldehydes, ketones, fusil-oil, etc which can be poision and contribute greatly to hangovers. The "strong odor of alcohol" in the above jelly is really these impurities. Yuch.

A lot of the schmucks who listen to and believe the bilge spewed by Limbaugh and the like are not ignorant rednecks, hillbillies or whatever insulting term you like to use.

Most of his believers are working class whites who have bought into the myth that they are being sold down the river by "Them."

I hate "Them".

Yes, relatively simple alcohol molecules with traces of fusil oil. Would 60 gallons be sufficient?

If you buy Moonshine Jelly made in KY, does that make it...



Thank you, I'll be here all week.

MMMMM KY Jelly
Ovuliscious

Moonshine?! Wait wait hold on what happend to all the weed?

SanchezSucio For a Yankee you know your terminology and geography very well.

Hey Eat More , I grew up just up the road in Rural Retreat. Small world.
I have cousins that still live back there and they make some shine. Just for fun, not for selling.

Eat More Possum --->

Paw is from Whittier NC. Great uncle Hollis had a still up until the 80s. I can trace my roots to when they got to around Gatlinburg in the 1700s.
"Hillbilly" supposedly came from William of Orange, who defeated North Ireland in the 1600s and brought over protestant Scots to Pacify the area. Then these are the same people that settled the Smokies, however a few Germans got there first. I can't wait to see Cold Mountain. I will probably be dissappointed.

The best moonshine I ever had came from eastern KY.I hear you can use it for fuel if you run out of gas,but it would be kind of expensive.

Robby: Yes, relatively simple alcohol molecules with traces of fusil oil. Would 60 gallons be sufficient?

[from here]

If you want to read a fictional (but very good) book about hillbillies making the best of a very weird situation, pick up 1632 by Eric Flint. The sequel is 1633 by Eric Flint and David Weber.

20th/21st century coal miner hillbillies make good during the 30 years war. Fun stuff if a) you admire hillbillies, and b) you know a bit of European history.

So, you can't get drunk off of this stuff? What's the point? I'm going to have to go to Menifee County tomorrow to see what's up...

HairBolus -

Your link seems to have a problem:

"This file is hosted by Tripod, a LycosNetwork Site, and is not available for download. Please check out Tripod's Help system for more information about Remote Loading and our Remote Loading policy."

Oops.

(sorry)

Robby: Yes, relatively simple alcohol molecules with traces of fusil oil. Would 60 gallons be sufficient?

On this page.

Theyre looking for the essence of Florida culture, Webster said. And theres nothing that more symbolically captures that essence than Metamucil.

CheddarPants -

Gold Star Chili seems to have lost their web site.

They're looking for the essence of DETROIT culture, Webster said. And theres nothing that more symbolically captures that essence than FOODSTAMPS.

Theyre looking for the essence of Mexican culture, Webster said. And theres nothing that more symbolically captures that essence than pink flamingos.

HairBolus -

Much better. I liked that movie ;)