When Did White Trash Become the New Norm?

Lord have mercy, Charlotte Hays has a new book out "When Did White Trash Become The New Normal?"  It was only a matter of time before someone addressed this subject.

The New York Post recently featured this article regarding the subject, submitted by Ms. Hays.

Charlotte is also the co-author of one of my all-time favorite books..."Being Dead Is No Excuse," which I wrote about in this post.

"Rampant irresponsibility, shameless greed, and bumptious disregard for other people have broken out of the trailer park and into the country club; you now encounter White Trash Normal at high-end grocery stores and posh garden parties." ~Charlotte Hays

From the behavior of those on the Jerry Springer show to the Kardashian clan, nothing is sacred anymore.  Tackiness is all around us today.  Per Ms. Hays, "You no longer have to be White Trash to do White Trash things.  Even highly educated, well-to-do people are behaving like White Trash!  Tramp stamps and skank stamps are all the rage now and even mosquito-infested swimming pools in the back yards of foreclosed McMansions are no longer a sign of embrarrassment to some."

The book includes recipes for White Trash cocktails, appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, side dishes, and desserts.  I must admit that I turned down the page for the Redneck Riviera Iced Tea and the Spiked Church Punch...gonna put those in my recipe file.

The author also includes a White Trash Timeline--Some milestones on the road to White Trash Normal.  Starting in 1936 with the first Tampax ad {don't even get me started on these advertisements for unmentionables} and bringing us up to present day 2013--a CBS production of the Two and a Half Men musical "Who Needs Charlie Sheen?  You're a Douche!"

Anything goes now.  What used to be shameful is now put out on parade for everyone to see.

The term "White trash" has been used in the South for a long, long time.  In the movie "The Help," Jessica Chastain played the part of 'Celia Foot' and Octavia Spencer played her maid 'Minny.'  When Celia asked Minny why none of the other ladies in town liked her, Minny answered her in a blunt yet somehow comforting tone "They don't like you 'cause they think you white trash, Miss Celia."

Hattie McDaniel, who played 'Mammy' in "Gone With The Wind" used the term "White trash" several times during the movie...referring to field hands and such--all the time telling the O'Hara girls not to act like "White trash."

My friend Miss Joy gave me this cookbook many years ago...it contains recipes for all my favorite Southern comfort food--White Trash Cooking!

While I do not have this book, I definitely have attended a couple of "White Trash Gatherings!"

So what are your thoughts?  Discuss.