I have always been aware of the fact
that Cajuns are
often referred to as a Coonass and with that term often
comes the association of the little brown spot under a
coon's fuzzy tail!
The reason I am writing this page is because
I would like to set the record straight on a few things
that have recently been stirred up around the net with a
few of my good friends and myself.
I was surfing around The Cajun Ring one
evening and
happened upon a friend's site. While viewing her
guest book, I came upon one of the rudest entries I think
I have ever seen. I was offended by his rude remarks
but most importantly I hurt for my friend and what
he said to her.
You see the little raccoon on this
background? He is also
located on my Louisiana Music page and is located on a
page at my friend's site, as well as MANY other
sites on
the WWW. The comments made were regarding this gif,
saying that he was offended by it as it represented Cajuns
in a negative way. He also went on to tell my friend
that
she is not a real Cajun, as well as a bunch of other bad
things. In all fairness, this person has the right to express
his own opinions, but I'm a firm believer in speaking with
responsibility! He claimed to speak for ALL Cajuns, and
that is what I object to.
You see, each and every Cajun is unique in
our own way!
We all have our own likes and dislikes! A person may
get away with calling this Cajun a Coonass in a very
derogatory way while that same person may find a
stick up against his head for calling another Cajun a
Coonass in a derogatory way. Some Cajuns don't mind
being called the term at all.
Personally, I despise the true meaning of
the term
coonass, as do many people I know. However, I do not
mind being called a Coonass when done in a friendly
and/or fun way! I wouldn't even mind being associated
with a raccoon. They are SOOO cute!
The one thing I am here to stress is that
when I see a
raccoon -- in real life or in cartoon such as this gif, I DO
NOT -- and I repeat DO NOT -- see Cajun or even
Coonass. I see a cute raccoon playing a fiddle!!
I do not see this gif or any picture of a raccoon
on a website as a slam against Cajuns at all. I have yet
to visit a site where there is a picture of a raccoon
(cartoon or real) and that person says, "Hey, this is me,
a raccoon!" Yeah, there are gifs out there that have
a
raccoon on it and says "Registered Coonass" on it.
MOF, I have one on my awards page! It was a
gift to me, and I am proud of it :-)
For me to be insulted by such would violate my
own feelings toward my culture and thus
result in my being a hypocrite.
I am NOT the spot under a raccoon's tail,
however,
and never will be or claim to be. I'm a PROUD Cajun!
Thus, I do not associate Cajuns with raccoons!
Personally, I think it's an ignorant assumption
to begin with, but to each their own!
It just really upset me that this one person
had to
slam another very PROUD Cajun for her love of raccoons!
It was rude and went completely against the quote
he put in her guest book: "My culture is no better
than anyone else's. But, it is better for me
because it is mine! I would expect you to offer
the same respect for my culture that I offer yours."
I think it's funny that he didn't see the
irony in what he wrote to her--it was plain and simple
double speak.
Besides, I happen to love raccoons, too :-)
Because of one rude person, something good
may just
come of this! I do not want him speaking for me and/or
thinking my thoughts! As my friend said, "Let's
change
history!" I couldn't agree with her more!
We hope to do just that!
I've been on the net since early
October '96, and this was the first and only
instance that offended me with regard to my
culture and my history! Thank God that one bad apple
does not spoil the whole bunch!!!
I have, however, been offended by other
things I've seen;
and the polite thing to do is just leave where the offending
text or graphics are. It's that person's right to do as
they
please on their website! So, if it offends you, leave
and do
not return! If it's against their ISP's rules, notify
them,
and they will handle it accordingly. There are many
groups out there who will help fight the cause of various
forms of rudeness on the net, as well. One can always
contact them for their help, as well.
That is my whole point regarding this page!
If you are
offended by a raccoon playing a fiddle or a gator playing an
accordion or a crawfish dancing or whatever other graphic
you may find on a Cajun/Louisiana oriented site, then
just
leave and don't return. Each Cajun has the right to feel
they way they want to; and if they love this particular
gif or another, so be it. It's obvious they aren't offended!
Also, those who do believe "Coonass"
means
STUPID people, well, that's another totally
ignorant assumption, IMO, because
if all of us Cajuns/Coonasses were STUPID PEOPLE,
there is no way we would be able to create such
beautiful sites about our wonderful heritage,
"cause we'd be too stupid to turn on the computer
much less know how to use it".
Please don't be rude and offend them and/or
try to speak
for all Cajuns -- chances are not one person out there is
going to find two Cajuns who think exactly the same way
on everything!
Thanks!
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Background is an original design by Char!!
Page created May 1997
The majority of the Cajun
midi files
on my site were sequenced by:
Thank you, Accordion Man :-)