Culture Warriors category archive
All the News that Fits 0
A federal judge has issued an injunction against the attempt to reframe the Voice of America as the voice of Trump.
Afterthought:
My first thought was that these folks don’t understand the concept of the rule of law, but I think that’s wrong. I don’t think they understand the concept of law, at least not as something that applies to them.
It’s as if Trump has released a flock of political Jeffrey Epsteins loose upon the polity.
“Cult 45” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Hogan M Sherrow considers whether the devoted followers of Donald Trump can be considered a cult.
Follow the link for his conclusion.
Hoist on the Elmer Gantry 0
Jerry Falwell, Jr., accused the Lincoln Project of being involved in publicizing the scandal which led to his ouster from Liberty University.
The Lincoln Project’s response is delightful.
Q (& A) 0
The SPLC tries to unpack QAnon. Since an increasing number of persons seems to taking the bait, it’s a worthwhile and timely read. Here’s a bit, which points out that QAnon fits in a long tradition of hate, fear, bigotry, and lies.
QAnon is, according to Genocide Watch’s Gregory Stanton, a rebranded “Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion,” perhaps the most influential antisemitic pamphlet of all time, written by Russian anti-Jewish propagandists around the turn of the twentieth century. The pamphlet was a collection of myths about a Jewish plot to take over the world and included a central Blood Libel mythology, which posited that Jews kidnapped and killed Christian children whose blood they would then mix into matzos.
“Mea Maxima Culpa”
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Bill Nemitz dissects a non-apology apology.
Public Funding, Private Prejudice 0
Scot Maxwell reports on how Florida is allowing public funds to pay for private prejudice under the guise of “freedom of religion.”
Originalist Sin, Reprise 0
Thom and his caller discuss the logical and legal flaws in “Constitutional originalism.”
Originalist Sin 0
Field explains the problem with Constitutional “originalism.” To paraphrase, it’s nothing more than a pseudo-historical rationale for turning back the clock.
Maskless Marauders 0
In related news, Susan A. Nolan and Michael Kimball, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, try to understand the maskless.
“Yes, But” Always Means No 0
Many years ago, in another incarnation, I was a management trainer in the corporate training department of a national corporation (one of the benefits was that I got to travel all over the country, mostly by rail; there is no better way to see the country than through the windows of a passenger train).
One of the classes that we taught was “Interpersonal Communications Skills” (among ourselves, we referred to it as “How To Talk Good,” but, really, it was much more about how to listen good). The title of this post is one of the catch phrases we used to use to drive a point home to the trainees.
Because it’s true.
Human Beings: Simultaneously the Salt and the Scum of the Earth 0
Scientific Blogging carries psychologist Simon McCarthy-Jones’s exploration how and why some persons find cruelty gratifying.
It’s fascinating and timely read; here’s a bit:
Humans typically do things to get pleasure or avoid pain. For most of us, hurting others causes us to feel their pain. And we don’t like this feeling. This suggests two reasons people may harm the harmless – either they don’t feel the others’ pain or they enjoy feeling the others’ pain.
Another reason people harm the harmless is because they nonetheless see a threat. Someone who doesn’t imperil your body or wallet can still threaten your social status. This helps explain otherwise puzzling actions, such as when people harm others who help them financially.
Maskless Marauders 0
At the link, George Danby, the cartoonist, points out that
In the span of six months, the country has gone from the mantra of “We’re all in this together” to cries of “You can’t make me wear a mask.”
Aside:
I don’t remember a “we’re all in this together” period, nope, not at all.
And speaking of masks, I am again reminded of Professor Bill Shade’s mantra that history is irony.