The Folly of Youth
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Monthly Archives: May 2012
Messiah
Male Bashing
There is one group of citizens that are still fair game for relentless bashing. Men. Especially white men over 35. The most obvious and pervasive example of this is the TV commercial. Almost without exception it is always the Dad who is well meaning, but woefully ignorant of what is going on. The family all roll their eyes and smile as the stupid dad is clueless about whatever is being peddled. Mom and the girls have it right and guide simpleton dad in the right direction. Often similar in a lot of family sit-coms too where dad is more like a chubby oafish extra kid that fit and trim mom has to wisely manage. ( Home Improvement is a prominent example, King of Queens, as is According to Jim and Everybody Loves Raymond (perhaps to a lesser extent )
If women were consistently portrayed this way there would be outrage coming from all corners.
Critical Thinking
A huge contributor to our problems today is the fact that critical thinking is not encouraged in our schools. Therefore people are rendered incapable of evaluating the garbage our politicians and the media dole out. And most certainly if Barack says it is true, then it becomes true, and un-disputable. ie: His proclamation that the "Science is settled" on Global Warming.
Hope and Change
Nobody has ever been able to explain this to me. I guess it means whatever you want it to mean. Who could be against Hope? Change seems needed. With the underlying implication that , somehow, the messianic Barack Obama will make it happen and everything will be great. Nothing too specific, just a good vibe. Great way to choose a "leader".
“Birthers”
This derogatory term is entirely inappropriate and insulting. There are legitimate unanswered questions regarding Barak Obama's actual citizenship status. It is probably irrelevant at this point, but it is wrong to be be dismissive and pretend that all of these questions have been addressed and adequately put to rest. Some of those asking have gone too far, but insulting those who want answers to unanswered questions is wrong.
Conservatives vs. Liberals
The terms redpill and its opposite, bluepill, are pop culture terms that have become a common symbol for the choice between the blissful ignorance of illusion (blue) and embracing the sometimes painful truth of reality (red). The terms were popularized in science fiction culture via the 1999 film The Matrix. (souce wikipedia) ) Also oddly similar to my perspective on the red and blue usage in describing the Conservatives and the Liberals as they stereotypically manifest themselves today.
The “Tea Party”
Stands for fiscal responsibility and adherence to the Constitution. It is a response to both Obama (mostly "Obama-care" at first) and an out of control federal government. Any other issues subsequently associated with it are hijacks and peripheral to the intended message. I was there at the beginning – at one of the very first gatherings in the country.
Occupy Wall Street
Misguided effort. More later…
Marijuana
Should be legalized and reasonably regulated and taxed.
I am not a huge Penn Jillette fan. I think he usually over-uses the F word (not in clip below, however). This overuse usually makes his arguments weaker IMHO.
Jillette does get it right more often than not. This is one of those cases where he
is on the money.