Culture Warriors category archive
Facebook Frolics, Just the Vaxx, Ma’am, Dept. 0
Remember experience shows that, as Sandra Cothran points out at The Roanoke Times, “social” media isn’t social.
Just the Vaxx, Ma’am 0
David reports on teens in Australia who are defying their anti-vaxx parents in order to get vaccinations.
I’m old enough to remember images on my telly vision of children stricken with polio in iron lungs.
I have no patience with the stupidity and gullibility of anti-vaxxers.
“The Bible Tells Me So . . . .” 0
The Las Vegas Sun concedes that Sarah Huckabee Sanders may have a point in stating that God wanted Donald Trump to be the American President. It examines the evidence. Here’s a bit:
- Plague of fiery hail. What is Trump’s Twitter account if not the modern, digital version of this form of torture?
- Plagues of flies and lice. See Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos, Michael Cohen, Rick Gates, Roger Stone, Scott Pruitt, Ryan Zinke, the Mooch, etc.
Follow the link for more witness.
The Little Smirks, Reprise 0
Writing at The Roanoke Times, Nancy Trussell recounts her experience at the Women’s March in Washington, D. C. Remember that the Women’s March was on the same weekend as the annual anti-abortion march, which gave us the Covington Conundrum. A nugget:
Aside:
I got no patience with the persons who have endeavored, apparently successfully, to minimize the conduct of the Covington creeps.
There is no way that using a weaponized smirk to invade the personal space of an old man is anything but disrespectful and offensive, regardless of what may be going on the background. Focusing on the conduct of those Black Israelites over there —–> on the sidelines is an example of the misdirection play at its best.
A Nation of Immigrants 0
David and Tom Gjelten discuss the history of American immigration policy. It’s dirtier and more twisted than you might have thought (at least, if you have not studied it).
Aside:
I think I have mentioned before in these electrons that the history of American immigration laws is a tutorial in applied racism.
Real Big Men 0
In the Portland Press-Herald, Victoria Hugo-Vidal relates an encounter with one of the fellows who inspired that now notorious Gillette commercial:
(snip)
Where is the humor coming from? Boiled down, the punchline seems to be basically “Ha, ha! Vaginas!” And that’s part of where the problem is.
Follow the link, where she reflects on what the meaning of being a “real man” in this culture is and what it implies implies.
Snowflakes 0
Over at Delaware Liberal, Pandora points out that the reactions Farron discusses do indeed validate the message in the commercial.
Tribes and Tribulations 0
Mike Brooks suggests that the tribalism of our contemporary politics is rooted in humans’ evolutionary past. He points out that, until very recently in the sweep of history, humans lived in tribal groups of up to a couple of hundred persons. Even when persons were absorbed in the realms of empires and kingdoms, day-to-day transactions were confined to villages with few inhabitants. He suggests that Donald Trump’s desire for a border wall both symbolizes is fed in part by a toxic hyper-tribalism. A snippet:
(snip)
In one sense, it can be okay to take some pride in this affiliation (e.g., “I’m proud to be an American,” “I love my university”). However, it’s easy to slip into tribal, us vs. them mentality when we start saying versions of “me and my group are better than you and your group.” Arguably, this is how patriotism (e.g., “I love my country”) can turn into a more tribal nationalism (e.g., “my country is the best/greatest”). A look back through history (e.g., Nazi concentration camps, genocides, slavery, ethnic cleansing) offers hard lessons about what can happen when hyper-tribalism runs amok.
I commend the entire article to your attention.
Base Desires 0
If the image doesn’t display, click “alt text” to go to the original. Frankly, I’m baffled; I can’t find any errors in the HTML. Normally, I’d sweep this under the rug make the post “private,” but the image is too powerful to abandon. (Later) Darn thing seems to be working now. Electrons. Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em. Furrfu.
Taking the Hypocritical Oath 0
Robert N. McCauley explores the implications of evangelical “Christians” embrace of Trumpery. A snippet:
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Starting Points 0
Gina Barreca muses on how to start a conversation. A snippet: