Posted on 04/01/2010 6:29:19 PM PDT by myknowledge
Furious Alabama residents have hit out at Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and demanded he issue an apology for his "redneck" comment.
US media organisations, including the New York Times and FOX News, picked up Rudd's remarks, which followed US comedian Robin Williams joking "Australians are basically English rednecks".
Alabama newspaper, the Birmingham News, ran an "Australia vs Alabama" headline on the most prominent section of its website and asked readers to comment.
They did not hold back, with one accusing Rudd of making a "racial epithet" while another wrote "if it weren't for some Alabamians fighting in the war, the Australians would be speaking Japanese".
"I'm going to go to the zoo and punch a kangaroo in protest," another wrote on the Birmingham News site.
"I spent a month in Australia.
"Ninety-five per cent of it is a desert wasteland and looks like a Mad Max dump. There is a good reason Britain sent its criminals there."
The furore began earlier in the week when Williams, who just returned from a two week trip to Australia, appeared on Dave Letterman's US TV talkshow and joked that Australians are basically English rednecks.
Rudd, during an interview on Eddie Maguire's Triple M radio show, responded by saying: "First of all, I think Robin Williams should go and spend a bit of time in Alabama before he frames comments about anyone being particularly redneck".
Alabama Governor Bob Riley waded in on Wednesday by defending the people of his state as "decent, hard working, creative people".
Rudd should expect plenty of irate emails and comments on his Facebook page with links to both pasted on the Birmingham News site.
"Calling someone a redneck is the equivalent of a racial epithet," a reader wrote.
"Australian prime minister and Robin Williams should apologise."
Another wrote on the site: "The prime minister should call with an apology".
The war of the words is not the only Australia vs Alabama battle, with the Alabama government furious about last year's 18 month jail sentence handed down by the Queensland judicial system to Alabama resident Gabe Watson for the manslaughter of his wife during a honeymoon scuba diving trip on the Great Barrier Reef in 2003.
An "extremely upset" Alabama Attorney-General Troy King is investigating whether he can prosecute Watson in Alabama in what could be a death penalty case.
Some Alabamians agreed with Rudd's redneck comment and defended Australia.
"I have been to Australia several times and it is a modern progressive society with strict environmental laws and good schools," a reader wrote.
"Basically the polar opposite of nasty Alabama. The PM nailed Alabama perfectly."
Another wrote: "I also have been to Australia and was amazed at the beauty and friendliness of the country and the people.
"Most nations remember how Alabama at one time treated the blacks in Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham - they have a perfect right to view us as a bunch of rednecks, and unfortunately, they are largely correct!"
LOL
If when you mow your lawn, you find a car — you might be a redneck.
I've always gotten a kick out of Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck..." list, here's one of my favorites.
"If your front porch collapses and kills more than five dogs-you might be a redneck."
I seem to remember a term from the early 50’s -
Ditch diggers tan....guess that was the NY version of a redneck.....
LOL
Or....
If you have a set of salad bowls, and they all say “Cool Whip” on the side, you might be a redneck.
I always thought the bull-bar was for kangaroos.;)
First...Southerners are allowed to call each other “redneck”, and be proud of it. Folks from CA...not so much. Your post was a “put down” if I’ve ever seen one.
You’ve been to AL and GA...your “humor” wouldn’t be considered as such, and wouldn’t be appreciated.
My screen name has absolutely nothing to do with the DCs...if you’d been around long enough, you would know that.
Excellent!
Another news flash. You don't get to decide whether my comments are a put down or not. You may take it as a put down, but you don't get to decide what my meaning is.
You don't want to be associated with the DC's, then stop acting like them.
Robin Williams is nothing more than a hyperactive jackass who is no longer funny.........Rudd should have flown over and slapped him........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.