The mission of this blog is to combat the myth that “redneck” is a synonym for “idiot,” “racist,” “ignoramus” or any other number of insults. But the world has enough unenlightened rednecks to make that a challenging mission.

Rather than pretend that such people don’t exist, I’ve decided to induct them into the new “Redneck Hall of Shame.” Here are the first three dishonorees:

• Jonathon Michael Miller and Stephen Ray Dilley II. Sarah Palin these Alaskans ain’t. They were charged with felony assault and reckless endangerment for setting a 5-year-old boy’s head on fire with a self-described “redneck flamethrower.”
• Bill Otto. The Republican state lawmaker from Kansas caused a ruckus last month when he recorded a “redneck rap” critical of President Obama while wearing a hat that said “Opossum: The Other Dark Meat.” The Kansas NAACP demanded an apology; he refused to apologize. I don’t think Otto is racist or used the word “dark” on his hat as a reference to Obama, but enlightened rednecks have enough sense to realize people might leap to wrong conclusions.

Check the “Redneck Hall Of Shame” category for more losers in the future. And all of you enlightened rednecks out there, please send your nominations. Shame is the best medicine for curing all that ails the redneck community.