bear in mind i didn't use the term redneck (noun) but redneck (adjective) modifying the noun "riviera", typically considered a term of praise when referring to a coastal area. and praise this once great nation of people are due.

third coasters are a proud people, but don't ever forget how they were viciously overrun by successive hoards of invaders. once numerous along the beaches like a sea of great white whales, first came marauding coeds during spring break streaming south from the carolinas (you're familiar with these forest-dwellers). next it was the conquering Ironmen, displacing and disregarding the indigenous population, closing their streets, looting their community purses and justifying, cynically, their thievery by calling it a "site fee."

let us not pity them. slowly, they've made a return, building up their numbers. they've intermarried with canadians, so called snowbirds, a peaceful people from the north. much of our culture comes from the third coast. this is the civilization which added to our cuisine steak mojo and chicken grigri. biloxi, apocryphally, gave us, "he hasn't got the sense the lord gave a toad," and "she is flat standin' in the need of prayer."

i love my third coast brothers and sisters and i believe they return that love.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman