Before you go any further, read this...

Dictionary.com defines a redneck as:

1. an uneducated white farm laborer, esp. from the South.

2. a bigot or reactionary, esp. from the rural working class.

It goes on to say that redneck is A slang term, usually for a rural white southerner who is politically conservative, racist, and a religious fundamentalist. This term is generally considered offensive. It originated in reference to agricultural workers, alluding to how the back of a person's neck will be burned by the sun if he works long hours in the fields.

While I can't say all that fits me to a tee, a lot of it is pretty damn close.

You see, I lost both my parents before I turned 12 years old. I bounced around in a couple of foster homes before moving in with my uncle when I tuned 15. By age 17, I was on my own. I dropped out of school half way through 11th grade so I could go to work full time. Three months after my 18th birthday, I got behind the wheel of a cab for the first time.

I've learned more about life in 28 years in a hack than any philosopher ever could know. I've had multi-million dollar businessmen, celebrities and pro athletes as well as crack whores, drug dealers and murderers in my cab. I refuse to be an airport jockey or one of those guys that only stages at the hotels, so unfortunately, I have to deal with more of the bottom feeders of life than I do the upper crust.

It is the dealings that I've had the bad apples that has made me what I am today...

The Redneck Cabbie.

You see, to escape the madness of the city streets, my mind drifts off (not while I'm driving) to a quiet country town. A place where everyone knows everyone, and a man's handshake is as binding a contract as a person needs. A place where friends gather to down a couple of cold ones and listen to music that you can actually understand the words.

A place where young men don't walk around with their pants falling down over their ass, and young ladies don't have to dress like sluts to draw a man's attention.

I think you get the picture. I know, boring as whale shit to most city folks. I'd be living in a town just like that if it weren't for the fact that there's just not much demand for my line of work in most small towns.

This blog will reflect these feelings. If I seem a little bitter now and then, its just because that wonderful little town is nowhere in my near future, and because the life expectancy of someone in my line of work doesn't extend much past retirement age, all I can do is dream about it.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Open letter to Reverend Jesse Lee Peterson

Reverend Peterson,

I've long felt there is a double standard when it comes to racism. I for one will admit that in my small circle of friends that I've cracked a few racist jokes and used the "n-word" in conversation. It's sure nothing I post on my blog (http://theredneckcabbie.blogspot.com/), post in other forums or discuss in public, especially in my cab.

I'm very offended (man, I hate to use that word) by the seemingly acceptable use of the term "nigga" in today's culture. I seem to be in the minority here. In my opinion "nigga" is the same as "nigger", just the same as "goin'" is know to be the same as "going."

I've made this claim on several forums. I've even been kicked out of a couple for this view.

I'm of the opinion that words are just words. As I said before, sure, I've used the "n-word" while chugging a few beers with the boys. I have not and would not use race to determine how I treat another human being. We should all be judged by our actions, not our words.

Thank you for your time.

John Shannon
The Redneck Cabbie
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, February 12, 2007

Just an update

It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted anything. That's probably a good thing, as I usually only post when some thing's bugging me.

We have been unusually busy at the the cab company for the last few weeks. The company owner says business is up 25% from this time last year. I'm seeing numbers almost equivalent to my days of driving in Vegas.

I posted earlier that Lori and I invested in the Garmin Street Pilot GPS navigation system. I strongly believe every cab driver should own one of these things. My response time to calls in this town I've only lived in for 4 months has greatly improved.

I just celebrated my 44th birthday last week... I worked. Can't complain, we drove up to San Antonio last Monday to see the rodeo and checked out Brooks and Dunn and Trace Adkins who were performing. I'd never been to a rodeo. I really enjoyed most of it. My favorite events were bull riding, bronc riding and steer wrestling.

I've never been one to be very vocal about my religious feelings. I've always believed in God but I've never really thought that I ever felt his presence in my life. The was until a couple of weeks ago.

We had some money taken out of our bank account by the State of Texas. There had been a mistake made, as they thought we had way more in the bank than we did. So they figured they'd help themselves to satisfy a debt of back child support that Lori owes (more on that debacle later). Anyway, we were left penniless with less than a week to come up with rent. I don't know why, but I didn't panic. Lori was in hysterics, understandably so. The company was very understanding, offering to lend us the money to get our rent paid. I told them that I'd keep that in mind, but I wanted to work through the weekend to see if I couldn't get it made up. I had one of the best weekends of cab driving that I've ever had. Between what Lori and I made, we got rent paid plus a little extra. To top it off, the State returned most of that money it took.

Through that whole ordeal, I knew we'd be ok. I had a very surreal sense of calm about me. I have had some challenges in my life, but if I think about it, I've also been very blessed. I guess I never realized just how blessed I was.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)