Not since the premiere of “The Anna Nicole Show” in 2002 has reality programming caused so much controversy and media coverage on the subject of family values and the typical Southern redneck family upbringing. That’s right, folks, we’re talking about “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” the TLC hit that follows a 7-year-old beauty pageant sensation and her small-town Georgia family.

Like most pageant shows, redneck shows or…well…reality shows, “Honey Boo Boo” already has plenty of haters. But if you’re simply dismissing the show as an exploitative exercise in the dumbing-down of America, you’re missing the point.

A take off from “Toddlers & Tiaras,” the show follows the crazy life of its star, Alana Thompson, aka “Honey Boo Boo” – as well as family boss June Shannon aka “Momma,” Alana’s Daddy known as “Sugar Bear,” and siblings like 12-year-old Lauryn “Pumpkin,” 15-year-old Jessica “Chubbs,” and 17-year-old pregnant sister Anna “Chickadee.”

Unsurprisingly, when the show first premiered back in August, the critics had nothing good to say. Lots of ink was spilled, however, exploring its “disgraceful” depiction of family, and the show was even accused of being destructive to the world’s opinion of America. Well, the critics didn’t respond favorably, but the ratings sure did.

So, is this family as morally bankrupt and exploitative as critics would have you believe? Well, after the show became one of TLC’s highest-rated ever, everyone in the cast received unsolicited raises, going from $6,000 to $15,000 – $20,000 per episode; not bad for a small-town family who’s Mother was nicknamed “Coupon Queen.”

On top of that, DailyMotion reports that when the network offered to get the family into a larger, more secure house, June refused because she decorated their current home for charity. June has also turned away “tons of agents” because she doesn’t want her family time further intruded upon. Hmmm, that doesn’t exactly fit into the image of a mother eager to whore out her family to me.

Sure, accepting an opportunity to have your family on a reality show may not seem like the best move for an ideal American Mom – but take a good hard look at these people, the part of the country they live in, their true earning potential as “non-famous” people. Then remember the basic human desire of any mother or father to provide for their children. Can you really fault them for improving their family income and lifestyle so substantially?

I think Honey Boo Boo’s alleged “Bad Mom” is actually a “Good Mom” trying to maintain decent family values while keeping her kids grounded – yet provide for them.

This is why I love the show.

The “Honey Boo Boo” family is not putting on a facade like most reality shows these days. They are just living their fun-loving lives like they normally would, without any self-imposed shame or judgment. That’s what we’re hoisting upon them.

Sure, they live their lives with pet pigs, four-wheel rides in the mud, and plenty of fart jokes – but the most important thing in their family is how much they love each other. June, who the media has labeled “obese” and a “disgrace,” proudly preaches that “beauty comes from the inside, and is in the eye of the beholder” as stated in the recent episode where the family gathered for a group portrait. If I may be so bold, I’d suggest that we need more mothers like this on TV.

June might not be Hollywood pretty, but she has a heart that is exploding with love. Alana’s star status is on the rise as well, due to her electrifying personality and pure love and non-judgmental attitude; in one episode, she spoke up in defense of the gay community by saying: “Ain’t nothing wrong with being a little gay; everybody’s a little gay.”

The reality of America is that everyone has flaws, and everyone has gas, and everyone has not-so-pretty moments. Perhaps, while we’ve all been laughing at these people and looking down their noses at them, it’s us that actually has something to learn from them.

This family has taken the country by storm, in spite of circumstances that would normally be viewed as handicaps. So, I tip my hat to you, Honey Boo Boo! You give me hope in a world where society tries to bring us down with constant judgment of our appearance and social status.

Don’t ever let them bring you down to their level, you 7-year-old superstar. Here’s hoping that you’ll always stay the sweet, innocent child that so many have come to love and adore.