new thread
Yeah I live in the South, there are lots of longhairs here because of the musical background of the area. Allman Brother's, Marshall Tucker..etc. That was the worst. My daughter is 20 years old and she was more angry than myself. I am a laid back generally passive guy, but I was pushed too far. I wanted to say thanks for the support here. This place rocks!
No worries about a hair cut, it's with me till it either fals out or I fall out!
Tonight coming home from a fast food joint with grub for the family I was caught in a police check point. The State Trooper was sniffing in my car, looking at my eyes, even asked to look in my trunk! I had appropriate papers and license so I said no! Well he got angry and again the long hair was mentioned. He actualy said that at my age I should have outgrown that phase and it caused him suspicion! I turned eight shades of red! I asked him , "so if I had short hair would you be so persistant, and by the way what is your name and badge # sir?" He said it had nothing to do with it, but did not give me the info and lost interest in me fast! I guess yesterday was too fresh on my mind but another long hair crack. I said "Can I go as I have done nothing wrong." He said "Have a nice evening sir!" I WILL NOT CUT MY HAIR, I WILL NOT CONFORM! These redneck asses can bite me. Sorry to rant again but two days in a row is a bit much! Thanks for letting me vent. When we lived in the city of Macon, GA I rarely heard any comments. I have lived in the unincorporated area of the county for less than a year and have heard many. I WILL NOT MOVE from my 20 acre dream home place with a beautiful pond, even if it is in redneck heaven. They must adjust to me not the reverse, I refuse! The thing that angered me most is that my wife whom I love dearly mentioned tonight that maybe a trim might help with the comments! Well we didn't see eye to eye on that and finally she apologized for letting it get to her. Hope this is the last incident for a while, my hackles are up and my Native American blood is running a bit hot! Gotta stay cool and calm! Peace, Eat A Peach For it! RedTail Wolf
Again!?! Dang RTW!
You must have a "kick me" sign taped to your behind.
Sorry you've had to be the smalltown redneckville scapegoat for the past two days.
It's easy to talk about "American Dream" but it takes fortitude to live it in a society of automata whose IQ are at about the state speed limit.
Friends always,
- Oren
Hi Oren, Hi RedTailWolf,
so that's why they wouldn't convert to kilometers, because that would seem to raise the IQ eg from 70 to 113 (lol) ;-)
That's a good one!
Hans-Uwe
Yeah, that's a great expression, "His IQ is below the state speed limit." And if the guy is really dumb, "His IQ is below the speed limit in town." I can't remember exactly when I first heard those, but it was many years ago, probably around 1960, in the hick town I grew up in. Usage of the expressions seems to have declined - I didn't just now bring any instances up on Google. Maybe it's not "politically correct" now to point out people whose mental activity won't trip the state police radar. [grin]
Bill
Hi RedTailWolf,
sorry to hear you caught cr@p again! That cop clearly overstepped the boundary, no question about it. I guess you could still file a complaint if you wanted to...
One more thing:
The Declaration of Independence - doesn't it say something about the pursuit of happiness? Maybe that part should be printed on patriotic July 4 T-shirts (and, lets include the First Amendment - isn't the "Redneck Short-Hair religion" a religion in a way, too?) ...
RedTailWolf, as a frequent visitor to the US, let me tell you that you represent the America that I respect and love! It's true patriots like you who make this a great nation!
I sincerely hope that you find lots of great people to interact with at the place where you live.
Greetings to the Peach Tree State - may there be at least as much peace as there are peaches growing in a good year!
Hans-Uwe
If you do cut your hair, they will win. The only way we can possibly make long hair more acceptable is by not cutting it. I know you already know this, so this is just more of a "don't give up" post. :)
And don't forget RTW, these peope only react becuase you are individual and different, and thats gotta be a good thing. Jealousy probably has something to do with it too, they may be balding sheep that just don't have the strength and spirit to make a statement and stand by it. You my friend will gain the admiration that matters, many will find your individuality attractive and many will feel threatened by it, but empty vessels make the most sound.
Thats great Dave, I have got to remember that one lol
Way to go, RedTail Wolf! You handled it just the right way. BTW, most people do not realize that you do not have to agree to a search of your vehicle.
I had a problem with the local bicyle cops in San Antonio. I sent letters to the mayor, my city councilman, and the local newspaper. Needless to say, I received an apology from the police chief and the mayor. The chief promised to give the offending officer an attitude adjustment.
TLH
Where is your place in the country? I have land on Zebulon Rd, just west of 475, straddling Bibb and Monroe counties. I have already designed my dream home to build on that spot. Unfortunately, it will take another 3 years to save up enough money to build. So hang tough... Someday there will be another long-haired "old enough to know better" guy in the neighborhood.
We live in Lizella. My folks live at the corner of Bass and Zebulon. You have some nice property, value wise, I have no idea of the topogrophy, but that area is exploding in price. We would be 15 mins from one another. Welcome early to Maconga. Let me know when you arrive. Eat A Peach For Peace , in the meantime, put on some Allman Brothers music and get in the MOOD!
RedTail Wolf
my wife whom I love dearly mentioned tonight that maybe a trim might help with the comments!
noooooo (no wonder you didnt see eye to eye, hope all is ok now)
Yea, that cop was totally profiling. I live in Georgia and most people dont really say anything to me but when some do they are met with a sharp and brutal tounge lashing for their ignorance. Most of the time they leave me alone.
I've been "profiled" a few times, mostly by security guards, not cops. I've always been polite and the encounter soon ends. What they really want to know is what the heck you're doing in their bailiwick, so a great way to shift them from being confrontational to helpful is to just ask them a question that reveals why you are there, e.g., "Hi! Which bank of elevators goes to the Smith Company on the 18th floor?"
The only time I was a bit frightened by a profiler was when I was crossing the country on I-10 with another longhair. Way out on the mesa, far from town, we came upon a Border Patrol guy who had thrown up a checkpoint across the interstate. We had not crossed the border but were paralleling it, so his appearance there seemed strange, and it being in such an isolated place made us wonder if he was authentic, or someone trying to rip people off. He had a very Nazi demeanor, and he began to ask questions that really were none of his business. At some point he asked us where we were spending the night, and we said the truth, which was that we did not know. Our not "answering his question" got him furious. So I said, "Over in Arizona somewhere, I a-reckon," and he suddenly lightened up and let us go. I guess Mexicans don't say "I a-reckon."
In talking about the encounter after we left, we realized he was asking us the questions to size up our accents and demeanor. He didn't really care about the answers.
Bill
Dear RedTail Wolf,
If you haven't already, I'd suggest asking your wife how the move and the small-minded local climate are affecting her. I'm wondering if she is getting slighted, hearing comments, and having trouble making friends just by being the wife of a long haired man. Even if she is not having those kind of troubles, knowing you get harassed can be very upsetting to her. Make sure that *both* of you are willing to entrench because I am sure this was not something she agreed to when the decision was made to move there.
What I see happening is more of the same from the locals. While you can try to fight police behavior, what can you do about merely rude opinions being voiced? Expecting the people to adjust to you is unrealistic, they have no need to change since they don't have a problem. It may also be a religion based belief for some and you can't fight against their version of God and win on this issue. Ignorant rudeness has obviously flourished in their area for some time. Accept that this is the way some of the people are and decide from there, is that the way both you and your wife are willing to live?
Your wife is your best ally in changing people's preconceptions about male longhairs. While it won't help when it comes to
stranger situations like the store, people that meet you through her will be more willing to judge you by behavior than by looks. You'll have a leg up by being seen as that nice lady's husband brfore they think 'dirty hippie'. Most will still be aginst longhairs, stereotyping seems particularly immune to reasoning, but at least you will have a chance to impress them with your other traits.
Elizabeth
It was her idea! She does bear the brunt as well , and sometimes wishs I would make life easier and just whack it off. She knew I was a musician and, that long hair a passion from my Native American heritage and my rebelliousness. But the move totally her idea. We suffer together in love! RedTal Wolf
This is very true, my partner has really long hair and i sometimes have to back him up when he gets the odd comment. However, since we live in the UK it seems to be that people dont care as much over here. I cant imagine living where you do, it must drive you insane sometimes.
As for the Native of That Land blood in you, take note that over here there's Celtic and Viking blood, I use that in a humorous way to shut people up e.g. "yeah he's a big hairy Celt and he has a sword..." it shuts them up with a smile
You put up with the comments for love and still found a way to appreciate the property that is now your dream home? She better appreciate you RedTail, she owes you big time!
Elizabeth
Wow - it's great you stood up to him like that! That comment he made about getting past the longhair phase was totally innapropriate. Too bad you couldn't get his name and badge #.
