Deon Barnard

Do yourself a favor and spend a few hours sitting at a busy intersection in a mall or a market, and watch the people pass by. Notice all the trends as they roll past like waves. The hairstyles, the clothing, the stuff people buy and the food people eat. These are the superficial things of course, but look deeper; consider how sheep-like we have all become in so many areas of our lives. I am horrified when I talk to intelligent, educated people who view the world with the same arrogance as the Romans or the Byzantines did, as though there culture or religion somehow makes them superior to all the other “barbarian” people that infest the earth; and yet these same people don’t seem to recognize the fact that they’re just behaving and thinking in the way they were trained to do since birth – just like everyone else. Anyone that voices an opinion contrary to the bleating of the masses is immediately criticized and demonized for their views by people who don’t seem to have any original views of their own. Anyone that chooses an unpopular career, academic, religious, spiritual, sexual or social path is frowned upon by a mass of anemic white sheep, many of which, no doubt, wish that they had the courage to be true to themselves too, if only they had an idea of who they really are in the first place.

I spoke to a shepherd of sheep, or possibly just a really big sheep, some time back and we were talking about what we would do if we had the power to change the world; his response was that he would institute world peace. He said that if everyone just followed the rules and got on with their jobs and families there would be no more war and the world would be a happy place. I’m sure my jaw dropped at the astounding illogic of his argument. I said, “Ok, whose rules would we have to follow?” He said, “All the normal rules and laws of state and Christianity.” I said, “Well why not institute the laws of Iran and Islam? I’m sure they think if everyone just fell in line with their way, the world would be a better place too.” Our conversation went back and forth for some time, but I realized that while someone thinks that their view is ‘morally’ superior and backed by their community, they seldom allow themselves the opportunity to see things from a different perspective – their paradigms are set.

Why are people so terrified of someone who does things differently? Is it because they’re unpredictable? There are those who think, “OK, you’re not part of my system, but tell me which system you are part of so I know which box to put you into.” When people ask me which church I go to and I say “none”, and then they ask if I’m a Christian and I say “no”, and then they ask what religion I am and I say “none”, they seem to take personal offense to it, as though somehow my views on God and religion will contaminate theirs; they look for some psychological problem because of course I must be hurt or in need of fixing if I don’t share their views. To try and convince them that I’m happy and free is an impossible task because their paradigm simply can’t reconcile the information; instead they must change me, they must convince me to return to the flock so that… they can sleep better or something. Sheep just don’t do salmon. I wonder how many Christians would remain Christian if the overwhelming majority of their churches converted to Shinto, or how many Muslims would remain Muslim if all but a handful converted to Christianity… just a thought. Someone recently told me that I have “retreated” into Atheism – I laughed out loud when I read it, firstly because I’m not really an Atheist, but mainly because Atheism is certainly no “retreat” in the third most churched country in the world – Atheism is the wrong end of a firing squad. I admire Atheists in the world of WASPs.

Of course sheepism and salmonism doesn’t apply only to religion, but all aspects of life and world view, although certainly religion influences all aspects of life. It applies to education, choice of career, the way we deal with money, kids, health, technology, cars, homes etc. Please note that being peace-loving and gentle doesn’t make you a sheep by default, nor does being aggressive and contrary make you a salmon. A salmon in the context of this article is someone who has questioned their own views and paradigms; who has crossed the line and engaged with people of other cultures and beliefs with a desire to understand and learn; who has wrestled with the texts of their culture that set out the rules; who has withheld judgment and listened to the enemy; and who has formulated their own opinion with no regard to its acceptability to anyone else. Here are some questions that sheep and salmon ask themselves:

Sheep ask

• Will my pastor agree with me?
• Will my parents agree with me?
• Will my friends agree with me?
• Will I be rejected?
• Will I be humiliated?
• Will I be punished?
• Will I get into trouble?
• Is everyone pleased with me?

Salmon ask

• Is it true?
• Is it real?
• Is it valid?
• Is it important?
• Is it necessary?
• Is it harmful?
• Do I understand it?
• Am I being true to myself?

Are you a Sheep or a Salmon?

What is a redneck?

Wikipedia says: “Redneck is a disparaging term that refers to a person who is stereotypically Caucasian and of lower social-economic status in the United States and Canada, particularly referring to those living in rural areas. Originally limited to the Southern United States, and then to Appalachia, the term has become widely used throughout North America.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy says: “A slang term, usually for a rural white southerner who is politically conservative, racist, and a religious fundamentalist (see fundamentalism).”

Jeff Foxworthy says: You might be a redneck if; you think God looks a lot like Hank Williams, Jr., and heaven looks a lot like Daytona Beach; OR the people on Jerry Springer’s show remind you of your neighbors; OR a seven course meal is a bucket of KFC and a six-pack.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that rednecks are some strange version of humanity in the U.S. we conveniently like to poke fun at. In fact, if you like redneck jokes you’re probably one yourself. I have found that the defining traits of the cliché redneck can be found in the majority of people I meet everywhere in the world, and it’s a little frightening. The attributes that make up the redneck phenomena are not endearing to human greatness or global enlightenment, and don’t think that because you’re a democrat or wealthy or speak in an understandable English accent that you’re immune to red-necked-ness. Here are three reasons why YOU may actually be a redneck yourself.

1. You think your religion is the only way…

You are convinced that your particular view on God, spiritual traditions and the afterlife is the only way. Everyone else is wrong. In fact, the other poor sods are all going to hell and that’s just the way it is. Sure, only 100 000 others see things exactly the way you do, but that just confirms that you’re a special child of God and you’ve secured your place on Daytona beach… I mean heaven. Your brain seems to have no problem with the fact that you’ve simply adopted the religion of your parents and culture, like everyone else, or that there are thousands of religions, all doing effectively the same stuff and calling it by different names, or that at least five billion people disagree with you. You also don’t seem to see how religious self righteousness has alienated you from loving and tolerant relationships with anyone who is not like you, neither have you been enriched by these cultures which you fear.

2. You think your culture/country/race is superior.

When asked if you’re a racist you reply, “Definitely not! I work with black people every day”; OR “No way man, white people are fine, they must just stay on their side of town”; OR “I’ve never been a racist in my life! What, a Zimbabwean is moving in next door? Oh… I see… well that’s different”. Everywhere I go people make some other race the butt of their jokes. The English look down on the Irish (well, the Scottish too… and the welsh… and, well everyone really). The Americans look down on the Mexicans. The Mexicans look down on the Cubans. The whites look down on the Asians. The Asians look down on the blacks. It’s a never ending circle of fear, judgment and hatred, but most of all – ignorance. We hate what we fear, because the hate gives us a reason to stay within the safety of our own communities where we don’t have to be inconvenienced or challenged to see the world differently. We fear what we do not understand. In my training I challenge people to make friends with people of other cultures, to eat in their homes and invite them into their own homes and to take in interest in how and why other people do things the way they do. Your culture is not superior because it has bigger weapons or more wealth or is more spiritual or literary or scientific. Every culture adds something beneficial to the world and gives us a glimpse of truth from another perspective. On the other hand, no culture will benefit from wallowing in self pity or sulking about historical unfairness.

3. You are scared of successful and learned people.

A true redneck trait is to avoid meaningful interaction with philosophical, academic, intellectual, wealthy or successful people, mainly because they scare you. Instead, a redneck will be derisive, sarcastic and contemptuous in the presence of such people in an effort to hide their own perceived deficiencies in these areas. Rednecks live by a standard of “KISS” (keep it simple stupid), and in the process miss out on the richness and opportunities that life offers those who are brave and curious enough to overcome their own fears and inhibitions and take responsibility for their lives. Next time you find yourself at a social event of the intellectually proficient, be clever enough to have a real conversation with someone, ask a few questions and take phone numbers. Oh, and it also helps to overcome yourself enough to smile, be friendly, be diplomatic and refrain from rude and antisocial behavior like compulsive swearing, antagonism or burping – just a thought.

A Redneck’s life is ruled by fear and low self esteem, but there is hope. Even though we haven’t found the evolutionary missing link between redneck-man and enlightened-man, it is my belief that with a bit of effort, all homo-sapien species have the potential to evolve into tolerant, gracious, intelligent and responsible creatures. I can only hope.