July, 2015 archive
How Stuff Works: The “Heritage” Con 0
Steven Conn explains how it works. A snippet:
Heritage, by contrast, is a mythologized version of the past, stripped of all the unpleasant parts. Heritage remains largely impervious to historical evidence and relies instead on a past-as-we-wish-it-were version of events. It trades in emotions and personal connections, putting itself beyond debate or reproach. History is often not lovable, but everyone loves his or her heritage.
Do please follow the link and read the complete essay.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness takes practice.
A man was shot in the chest at Laguna Seca Shooting Sports Association earlier this afternoon.
(snip)
Rumors indicate the wounded man was a visiting individual who shot himself by accident and will survive.
Aside:
Practice makes perfect. Maybe he’ll get it right next time.
Symbol of Southern Heritage 0
In The Roanoke Times, Virginia Tech professon Wornie Reed deconstructs the symbolism. (Hint: It ain’t rum punch on the veranda, folks.)
Here’s a bit (emphasis added).
The “Southern Heritage” it celebrates is the heritage of chattel slavery. All the rest is window treatments.
Hoist on His Own Petard Hubris
2
Michael Smerconish, who from time to time displays a level of common sense that belies his label as a “conservative commentator,” explains how Bill Cosby shot himself in the foot through his own hectoring moralizing. Here’s a snippet.
“This case, however, is not about defendant’s status as a public person by virtue of the exercise of his trade as a televised or comedic personality,” wrote the judge in his 25-page opinion. “Rather, defendant has donned the mantle of public moralist and mounted the proverbial electronic or print soap box to volunteer his views on, among other things, child-rearing, family life, education, and crime.”
Citing precedent, Robreno concluded that Cosby had “thrust himself into the vortex of these public issues” and had “voluntarily narrowed the zone of privacy that he is entitled to claim.”
Torturous Reasoning 0
Shaun Mullen explores how the American Psychological Association sold out to psychopaths and sadists the very same persons it should have had under treatment.
Read it.
Privilege 0
Katie Elmore realizes that the most insidious aspect of privilege is that the privileged don’t notice that they are the privileged.
I can start by taking a good hard look at the woman in the mirror. I’m a white woman, born and raised in the South. I have benefited my entire life from all the privileges my whiteness allows me, usually never stopping to consider this unearned advantage. Is it possible that I am part of the problem? Indeed it is.
I am not a racist. I would never shoot anyone. I do not own a gun. I’m a pacifist to my core.
(snip)
The fact remains, unless I acknowledge my own white privilege, and unless I speak out against the scourge of racism, I am not blameless.
From my own experience, I bear witness that, even if one is not knowingly a racist, even if one consciously spurns racism and bigotry completely, growing up surrounded by racism taints one for life. The stereotypes, the mental pictures, the snap-judgements, the gut-reactions, they are always there, however much one knows that they are based on lies.
Do please follow the link.
Wars and Mongers of War 0
Marco Rubio gets in touch with his inner warmonger.
Droning On 0
Get out of my way!
I want to play,
with my drrrooooonnnnneee.
In the past month alone, four drone incursions have halted firefighting activity in California, according to Shawna Legarza director of fire and aviation for the U.S. Forest Service.
Many depressing details at the link.
Frankly, this self-absorbed thoughtless me-me-me idiocy makes selfie-sticks look intelligent.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Accidental politeness:
A 10-year-old boy was accidentally shot Friday evening at a Lawrence home, police said.
Aside:
The old rule of thumb for news is to provide the “who, what, where, when, and how.” If you follow the link, you will see that this report fails that standard. It’s missing a “who” and a “how.” Nevertheless, it is full of NRA Paradise juice.
