CBS television never produced the "Real Beverly Hillbillies." They did not explain why or say that it would not be produced. They just stopped talking about it.
We count that as a victory for rural America.
• Learn More
• Point of View
• Take Action
• Anatomy of Campaign
• For Press
|
 |
Comments from the Guestbook
Here is a sampling of the thousands of messages that have been left in the Guestbook.
 Shame on the CBS executives who would dare to air such a show. Shame on the rest of America who would dare to watch a show such as this.
As an educated nation, we have slid to the bottom if we consider this entertainment. If CBS goes through with this program, we have indeed begun to wear the tattered quilt of eroded morals.
I work in a middle school that takes pride in its diversity. It has taken a lot of work for kids to accept others who are different from them. ... CBS would be stooping to great lows by producing this show, based on the premise of making fun of people from different socio-economic backgrounds.
For too long, native Appalachians have been too polite, or else, bought into the hillbilly stereotype which encouraged the belief that our culture was substandard. We need to send a clear message that we are no longer willing to be ridiculed as uncivilized & uneducated savages. We need to emphasize the many positive areas of our culture & instill a sense of pride in our children for their heritage.
Most of my young life I was made to feel ashamed of who I was. I taught my children to be proud to be Appalachian, the media continues to make fun of us.
This is a form of discrimination based on education and economic situation. It is inexcusable, immoral, irresponsible and unjust. This ridicule would not be allowed in our schools, by our government, nor should it be allowed on our TVs. What are we teaching our children and the rest of the world about the USA by showing this on TV?
As a teacher, I work to teach students not to be prejudiced. I want them to learn to make individual decisions about individual people, not to assume people have characteristics based on place of employment, amount of money, location, education, or any of the other "defining" characteristics some choose to employ. This program will undermine much of what I attempt to do. Please do not add to negative stereotypes; just as you do not wish to be stereotyped, neither do we.
As an educator and a consultant (working in) family support programs, I am always talking about the images that students/ people are bombarded with daily that shape/ reinforce their perceptions. I also talk about cultural sensitivity and cultural responsively. We talk about questioning about biases and assumptions. As a native of WV who has moved to New England, I am well aware of the perceptions of many regarding Appalachia. I would be heartsick to see these honorable people be the butt of such a ridiculous and demeaning premise.
When a major network has to resort to the humiliation of the underprivileged for laughs and money, it is then that America as a whole should hang her head in shame.
I cannot believe that CBS is so insensitive as to make fun of the very people that make this country great. These are the people that built this country. The elitists at CBS appear to think themselves better than rural people. Just because these people choose to live in rural areas and not in big cities. Income should be no criteria for who is better than whom. CBS shame on you!
What a far cry from other CBS programs such as CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, which frequently aired stories celebrating rural culture.
TV programming has stooped to new lows.
|
