Only human
It’s 34° in the shade, and here’s the heat-soaked half-theory running round my wilting brain…
After more than 10 years without a solid enemy (i.e. since the fall of the Wall; I generally rely on the bad guys in action films to keep me abreast of who we now want to die), preceded by two decades of a gradual forced shift of the mindset that’s considered socially acceptable (no longer able to support segregation or condescend to women or homosexuals, etc. with impunity), I wonder whether the current jingoist upsurge, the virulent, narrow-minded bloodlust is not merely an expression of relief. Feral craving, and a reminder of simpler times.
The expressed release of years of pent up resentment for having been ordered by law to become more sensitive, aware and egalitarian (sit up straight, dear), when in fact many thrive on the adrenalin of unfounded opposition, rely on base instincts to construct their identity and world view – communities and nations perceived as teams, from premiere to third league.
(Zimbabwe’s been having a lousy season but, pfff, who really cares?)
A feeling of impotence and disorientation comes from being deprived of a clear cut, media supported, us and them. For Christ’s sake, we can’t all be right. Can we?
So what a relief it must be to be encouraged hotly to dismiss all nuance and take pride in a black and white view, to be free again to loathe openly, cheer for death and disgrace and call it patriotism, to set up shop in a forsaken land and call it liberation, to be told (by the President – and God! – no less) that yeah, damn it, we’re still number one.
It could happen to anyone.
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- > It could happen to anyone.
Yes, and sadly it has happened here. (Again.)
The Neanterthal impulses of Partiotism/Nationalism are always simmering beneath the surface here in the U.S. It is a latent fetish in most Americans.
The rest? The intelligent? Well, my feeling is that the sense of confusion (frustration) from being attacked on 9/11 has so dumbfounded people (whom I would consider intellegent and level-headed) that they have floundered on to the Patriotic Bandwagon and don’t know how to get off.
Or maybe we are all dimwitted yahoos here.
— Beerzie Boy Jun 11, 6:54pm # - Yes, and it infects religion, too—in particular American Christianity.
While mainline churches juggle a mess of specialized Theologies (e.g. Liberation, Feminist)—many valid in a limited sense; all obsessed with cultural relevancy—traditionally conservative denominations welcome a flood of new members. The attraction is due precisely to those churches’ resolute proclamations about the nature of God and, more to the point, personal conduct.
Yet not only are evangelical branches (Pentecostal, Southern Baptist) on the rise—Roman Catholicism (including the Latin Mass!) and Eastern Orthodoxy find surging rosters.
My generation yearns for discipline. Raised with parental timidity and permission; taught neither grammar, morality, nor respect; encouraged to tolerate and not offend—it is no wonder we flock to conservatism.
— Justin Jun 12, 3:23pm # - Does Oliver really weigh 88 lbs?
— The Word Jun 13, 11:09am # - Oh, I like a good non-sequitur.
Oliver weighs 42 kilos so 92.4 lbs to be exact.
And Hugo (aka “The Flash”) already weighs 40 lbs.
Yikes, that’s a lot of dog!
— gail Jun 13, 12:24pm # - one of McLuhan’s later writings examined this very issue – i’m paraphrasing here – but he said something about the U.S. not being able to tolerate or accept ambiguity in its mindset or be flexible in its outlook because it was created to fulfill a mission. Canada, on the other hand, is nothing if not flexible, and exceedingly ambiguous because it was founded with no such mission. he wrote this about 30 years ago. plus ca change…
— dlt Jun 13, 1:23pm # - America made its mission. Manifest Destiny certainly keeps us occupied.
— Justin Jun 14, 11:56am # - ”...nations perceived as teams, from premiere to third league.
Uh, isn’t an inept team also referred to as ‘Bush-league?’....
And this from an American, albeit one embarassed to be associated with the current political nabobs.
— susan Bein Jun 16, 12:46am #
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