July, 2015 archive
“Heritage,” Reprise 1
Wayne Curtis ruminates on the statue of General Robert E. Lee that graces downtown New Orleans and the discussion over whether it should be removed to a different location. A snippet:
Others have invoked the slippery slope argument—if you rename this monument, where do you stop? New Orleans may not be a celebration of the confederacy, but it’s marbled with it, like gristle. There’s the Beauregard monument at the entrance to City Park, not far from the Jefferson Davis Parkway. There’s Palmer Park, named after minister Benjamin Morgan Palmer, who gained some fame for declaring it the duty of the south “to conserve and to perpetuate the institution of domestic slavery as now existing.” And there’s Calhoun St., named after John C. Calhoun, who once said that “we have never dreamed of incorporating into our union any but the Caucasian race. … Ours, sir, is the government of the white race.” How far down are the shadows cast? Should the highly regarded Isidore Newman School be renamed because its namesake once donated to a fund for the Beauregard statue, implicitly hailing the man who defended slavery?
Those who revere symbols must know that, in their reverance, they also revere what the symbols symbolize (for Pete’s sake, that’s why they are called symbols. They symbolize).
Indeed, the very energy with which they attempt to deny that (“The war, suh, was about economics, not slavery”) attests that, on some level, they do in fact recognize it and the hypocrisy that attends their reverence.
“Heritage” 0
Out Lexington way, Raymond Agnor wished to defend his gigantic Confederate Battle ensign, so he bought an ad in his local rag.
Just follow the damned link.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” (Updated) 0
Politeness goes to the movies.
Three dead, seven injured, as of when I write this, just because he could.
More etiquette at the link.
One wonders, did he hold his pinky out when he lovingly caressed the trigger?
Addendum:
In breaking news of the polite . . . .
“Marching as to War” 0
Some persons wrap their prejudices in the flag; others wrap theirs in the cross. Some use both as packaging. When you see such packaging, though, it’s a fairly safe bet that truth-in-labeling has naught to do with it.
Look closely and you can peer through the camouflage. Neil Elliott, responding to an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, does just that. A snippet:
The unreflective racism is just beneath the surface. Pence writes of our nation’s “Christian heritage,” but is especially concerned to excoriate President Obama for not galvanizing Americans to holy war. He wants us to unite with “black Christian nations”: Are we, then, a white Christian nation? He writes of “us” finding common cause even with “the brown-skinned neighbors who have been growing our food and roofing our houses for the last half-century.” In his mind, do all of us who are neither Christian nor white just cease to be American?
Lies and Lying Liars 0
If the truth is not on your side, make stuff up. It’s the Wingnut Way.
Nothing To Do, Nowhere To Go 0
Better.
Jobless claims plunged by 26,000 to 255,000 in the week ended July 18, the fewest since November 1973, a report from the Labor Department showed on Thursday in Washington.
(snip)
The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure than the weekly numbers, decreased to 278,500 from 282,500. That was little changed from the 277,000 average during the June survey period.
In a continuing trend, Bloomberg is still need of new experts.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Tragically accidental politeness is the politest kind.
(snip)
Police said Winkers and several of his friends were shooting at targets at his house, using various types of weapons, including long guns and pistols.
. . . and, once more, a gun pulls its own trigger.
Trump Glowers 0
Werner Herzog’s Bear tries to understand the appeal of Donald Trump. A snippet (emphasis added):
Donald Trump doesn’t do any of that, which is why his naked appeals to anti-immigrant hatred make him more, not less popular. This is why his Birther beliefs didn’t get him discredited for life. He is just openly saying what a lot of conservatives already think. The Republican party leaders are like the sorcerer’s apprentice. They have called into being a Tea Party that helps get their legions of voters to the polls, but now it has been exploited by a man who is totally outside of their control. This simply could not have happened forty years ago.
Droning On 0
Boys and their toys.
“Drone users must understand that when taking to the skies they are entering one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world,” said Tim Johnson, director of policy at the CAA, in a statement.
Drone owners must be aware of the rules and regulations surrounding the flying of their craft, he said.
Recklessly endangering an aircraft is a criminal offence, said Mr Johnson, and those convicted could face a five-year jail sentence.
It’s won’t be long until some bozo brings down an airliner while playing with his masturbatory mechanical aero-vibrator.
Sauce for the Goose 0
My brother and I exchanged some emails about this. However much we both disapprove of cracking into databases, neither one of us can find in ourselves much sympathy for AshleyMadison’s clientele.
You dance to the music, you must perchance pay the piper.
Everybody Must Get Fracked 0
No doubt the Florida state government will attempt to ban the ban, because frack you.