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I came across this newspaper which was in UCLA's student newspaper. A lot of what the author writes makes sense especially with the elitism in the urban areas of the NOrtheast and West Coast. I've noticed some of this here in the DC area and its a lot worse in NY, Boston, and California. Where I live, the "country" or "Red state" lifestyle is considered anti-establishment which is why I blast country music from my car at full volume (only when I drive through a yuppie neighborhood) and walk around in a John Deere hat and why I'm thinking about getting a Confederate flag.
ONce this rich snobby stiff told me to turn it down, I gave him the bird and told him to f___ himself. I was at a gas station in a snotty area the other week and took satisfaction in that some snotty "***" girls rolled up their windows when I blasted Kellie PIckler and Taylor Swift. And I only do this is in this kind of community because I don't resent working class folks or African Americans (these are ordinary people, the heart and soul of the real America). Just because Obama is black doesn't mean he's in touch with the working class. He is an elitist, pandering politician who uses division and fear and arrogance to get votes. And yes, his elitist remarks about small town USA panders to voters in California, New Jersey, New England, New York, Seattle and Portland.
Is the urban coastal liberal elite out of touch with the real America? And is Barack OBama part of the coastal liberal elite or does he represent the real America like he likes us to believe he does?
I think it's silly to argue one area is more American than others because of it's music, or political leaning, or what have you. Sure, some people from urban areas have some misconception about country music and look down on it because of it. It's their problem. But a lot of people don't like country music because they just can't relate to it, at all, therefore they don't like it. It's the same reason why jazz music is not popular in southern states. It's a matter of preference, and music (much like movies, or comedy) is also very regional. Same reason why Seinfeld (the TV show) is not popular in southern states because a lot of the jokes were too New York-ish that few people who live outside of northeast area could understand.
Take myself for example: I am a city girl through and through and never liked country music at all because there's nothing in it that I could relate to. Then my job relocated me to Kentucky 3 years ago and there's not much else but country music here. So I had no choice but to learn to like it. I'm surprised to discover that I actually like some of them (Rascall Flats, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, to name a few). I still can't stand the traditonal bluegrass country (tried very hard to like it, but my fingers automatically turn the switch whenever such music comes on the radio), and I find some country singers with their typical nasal voice ala sugarland annoying as heck.
My husband, who's a diehard jazz fan, still refuses to listen to country music and prefers to play his ipod to listen to his Chick Corea when driving. No amount of cajoling from my part will change his mind. Sometimes you just can't force someone to like something they don't like, and that's what makes this country interesting and colorful.
I am very liberal, but not 'elite', whatever that means.
I believe strongly that to be a 'civilised' nation, you must take care of 'the least of your brothers' - that is to say, there must be a strong social safety net where no one need starve, be homeless, be without health care.
BTW, I enjoy bluegrass and Cajun music. I dislke NASCAR, not because of anything political, but simply because I find it boring.
Country music originated in the United States. That doesn't make the music good or bad, but it does make Country music uniquely American. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to music. Those preferences are typically formed by where one lived when they were growing up, and when. The older generation typically does not like the music created by the younger generation, and visa versa. As a result we get an ever evolving musical style. Whether we like the style or not, the true measure of good music is its longevity.
I don't care what you are listening to. If you are blasting your music and flipping me the bird, then you're a jerk. The only 'war' here is between entitled social cretins with their booming cars and the rest of us who don't care if you are listening to country music, the polka sisters, or Dr. Dre.
That being said, I've never been a fan of country music, I did not grow up with it, and it isn't popular with anyone in my family (my parents were rock fans, and my grandparents liked classical music and the 30's and 40's crooners like Sinatra and swing music) so I didn't really have any exposure to it until I was older (growing up in a mostly african american school, my peers did not listen to it much either). It wasn't until I took a music appreciation class I learned the history of country music in the US, and while I have a bit more respect for it now, I only own one country CD (and I own about 700 CDs), and that is a CD by The Man in Black himself.
I will say this, I am utterly confused by the 'real america' argument. The Bronx neighborhood my grandfather was raised in is just as much part of this country, its history and culture, as the cowboy.
... that being said, I sort of like bluegrass music, and had an absolute ball once at a bluegrass bar as 'the resident yankee' one fine evening in North Carolina.
Everyone needs to get over this "real American" stuff...we are all real Americans. Our ability to celebrate our differences is what should bring us together, not pull us apart.
This post is meant to be divisive. Just look at the posts, it is very apparent the OP's wish was granted.
It would fit in better somewhere in Europe. NYC and the stuff that comes from it (gun grabbing politicians for example like bloomberg and giuliani who want to force more of their garbage on other areas, NYC police doing illegal stings to try to sue gun dealers in other states, on and on...), quite frankly disgusts me, and I'm quite certain many others too. There aren't a lot of good feelings for NYC in many areas, in fact, I know many upstate New Yorkers who hate NYC and how it influences the rest of the state politically.
BTW, to the OP: I'm anti-urban, anti-socialist, anti-big government, and definately not an "elitist," but I dislike country music (I like classical) and I have no interest in racing. I'd rather spend a day honing my gun shooting skills or doing garden work than watching cars waste fuel driving in circles, FWIW.
It would fit in better somewhere in Europe. NYC and the stuff that comes from it (gun grabbing politicians for example like bloomberg and giuliani who want to force more of their garbage on other areas, NYC police doing illegal stings to try to sue gun dealers in other states, on and on...), quite frankly disgusts me, and I'm quite certain many others too. There aren't a lot of good feelings for NYC in many areas, in fact, I know many upstate New Yorkers who hate NYC and how it influences the rest of the state politically.
So "america" only consists of what you like and feel comfortable with? i see.
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