September, 2021 archive
Karen Karen-Like 0
At the San Francisco Chronicle, J. C. Riley makes a strong case that “Kevin” is the masculine form of “Karen,” based on empirical observation of Kevins in the wild.
Mystery Buff Stuff 0
Now that I’ve read Caroline Graham’s Inspector Barnaby novels, I’m watching the first season of Midsomer Murders, which was based on those novels, one more time. (Later episodes were not based on the novels, but they were true to their spirit.)
I’ll probably watch all the other episodes also, because there is no such thing as too much Midsomer.
As an aside, the novels are excellent and well worth a read, especially if you are a mystery buff like me.
A Walk in the Park 0
Maskless Marauders in Vaccine Nation 0
David marvels at the depth and craziness of the COVID conspiracists.
We are a society of stupid.
Boebert Is the New Gohmert 0
At The Denver Post, David Silverii follows the money.
Indoctrination Nation 0
We are seeing numerous attempts to deny the reality of America’s history by, for example, pretending that America’s racist system of chattel slavery somehow wasn’t. It’s almost as if some folks think that, if students don’t learn about racism and bigotry in America’s past and present, said racism and bigotry didn’t–don’t–exist, and, consequently, no one past or present need acknowledge, be held accountable, or atone for them.
At the Las Vegas Sun, Greg Wieman argues forcefully that schools should teach history, not myths. A snippet (emphasis added):
In contrast, modern-day Russia and China utilize biased curriculum and instructional materials to indoctrinate students about societal beliefs and thereby control the population. In the U.S., we should continue to move away from this method of political brain-washing. A free society grows stronger when frailties are exposed and corrected. Indoctrination is not knowledge.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Mona Charen warns that the party of the new secesh poses a clear and present danger.
Afterthought:
It all boils down to America’s original sin of chattel slavery, the racism which was created to justify it, and the racists whose self-esteem rests only on the color of their skins.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness is a family affair.
The Making of a Myth 0
Emma and her guest discuss the birth of a notion: the story of the “Lost Cause” amd the major role played in its creation by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Full Disclosure:
I had ancestors who belonged to the UDC.
A Tale of a Tycoon 0
Meet the (self-proclaimed) brilliant business man and his money laundromat.
A Case of Identity* 0
At the Idaho State-Journal, Leonard Hitchcock considers whether the Republican Party has turned into a cult of Trump. Here’s a bit:
It’s worth noting, however, that the Trump “personality” is not without policy implications. In any number of public remarks and actions, Trump has made it clear that he believes that white people are the “real” Americans and that conservative Christianity is the country’s “real” faith. It is this barely concealed racism and overt support for evangelical Christianity that seem to be the Trump traits that have produced a cult following. Admittedly, neither racism nor religious bigotry qualify as policies, in the proper sense of the word, but Trump’s immigration policy obviously flowed from his racism, and his opposition to abortion reflected his commitment to conservative Christian doctrine.
His is a thoughtful and reasoned analysis and well-worth the few minutes it will take to read.
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*With apologies to A. Conan Doyle.