As I type this the reality of yet another Louisiana Family is airing on MTV. "The Riot in the Bayou" I was so bothered by it that I had to change the channel. And then I had to blog about it.
From "Bayou Billionaires" to "My Redneck Vacation" to "Swamp People" Louisiana is depicted as some backwoods, uneducated, alligator in your yard, no sense in the head place to live.
To send out this sweeping message that road kill is eaten at every meal, beer is flowing from the faucets and education is taken for granted is so far from the truth that I'm passed being embarrassed by it. I'm angry. In fact, I'm MAD!
There are just as many respectful, educated, good citizens here. I don't have a bayou in my yard. I don't have alligators in my yard. And I've only had crawfish once this season.
I don't have a cajun accent.
I don't drink beer.
I don't allow my teenagers or their friends to drink beer on my property. In fact, I don't allow my teenagers to drink beer PERIOD.
I don't live in a mobile home.
I don't shop at WalMart.
I can spell and speak with proper grammar.
I worship everyday and attend church every Sunday.
I have a college degree.
My house is tidy, my car is clean, my dog is fed and trained.
I don't have a gun in the house.
I don't own a four wheeler.
I read.
And I have lived in Louisiana my whole life.
Now let me go round up some opossum for tomorrow's breakfast!
Hi, Patti
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog when I was looking at the A to Z challenge sign up page. I have lived in Louisiana all my life, and I too am appalled by those so-called reality shows. I don't know where I heard this, but I was told "Bayou Billionaires" had to hire extras to play the "native" Louisianians. The closest I've EVER come to a opossum is knocking one off my back fence because the dog was barking at him. No, my dog isn't a hunting dog.
I second your list. And do you use Tony Chachere's on your 'possum?