Yesterday, driving to work I listened to Rush Limbaugh read a letter he'd written to President Obama. I listen to Limbaugh because he reminds me of the carnival barkers of my youth, men who were selling elixirs, snake oil, or inviting you for an extra 50 cents to check out the half man/half woman in the secreted tent. They were quaint and harmless compared to the barking Limbaugh who yesterday would have us believe -- he actually said this! -- the President was seeking to destroy the country so that he might then save it.
The rest of the day, last night, and this morning I couldn't stop thinking about the ugly, vindictive, dispiriting and reprehensible things barker Limbaugh had to say about our President. I ached to answer him but couldn't find the words. And then I remembered a scene in an episode of All In The Family when Maude, who later starred in her own series, came to visit Archie. Archie was sitting in his chair. Maude was standing beside him and they were fighting about the legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Finally, Archie who was rewriting history in this argument said something so misguided and distasteful that Maude could not find the words to respond with. All but choking with frustration, her entire body seemingly ready to burst, all she could say was: "You're Fat!"
After a lifetime of trying to reach the El Rushbos of my life, all I can say is: "You're FAT!"
There is ample evidence from responsible sources that show that race is still a problem within the United States, and that it affects hiring decisions, promotion, housing, police action, etc., having a negative impact on so many of our fellow Americans. The role this plays in our society is a worthy and ripe inquiry - and while some raise the question more thoughtfully and artfully than others, it is a matter for the intellectually curious to explore. I am dismayed that dittoheads feel so comfortable diminishing this inquiry and the experiences of so many of our fellow Americans by responding with "race card" rhetoric, a simpleton phrase designed expertly by Rush and those such as Jessie Helms that have come before him to dehumanize the experiences of "others" and bring the discussion down to their oh so low level. Don't take the bait! Remember - "You're FAT."
Prejudice is insidious in the many forms in which it is exercise, and often requires an individual to "unlearn" some very basic and base responses that are hard wired in our psyche. I loved Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" and I am sure those of you who critique Mr. Gladwell so harshly have even better sources to cite!
This is the repugs idea of health care reform
http://run4chocolate.wordpress.com/ mean girls please read and share
I'm glad to see Libra28, posting a little ahead of mine, dared to bring up intellect, or the lack of sufficient intellect, as a culprit in the 'slog' of social progress. I've worried I'd incite a torrid of elitist, anti-democratic, fascist, or worse accusations, if I ventured into that subject matter.
For those with some intellectual curiosity, I've authored a piece touching on that issue, titled, "Right Decision, Bad Result? The Supremes Let Loose Corporate Campaign Spending" (link below). For 'left' and 'left' leaning folks, don't be put off by the gist of the piece, which is to take a stand defending the recent 5-4 court decision on corporate free speech. It goes deep into why we hate the decision.
-RLee
http://therleepost.blogspot.com/2010/01/right-decision-bad-result-supremes-let.html
It is sad but true that the masses are not very intelligent.
Quantity does not equal quality.
Check out the link for IQ Score Interpretation: It is very interesting.
http://iq- test.learn inginfo.or g/iq04.htm
Percentages are of population
2.2 % IQ of 130+, very superior
6.7% IQ of 120 - 129, superior
16.1% IQ of 110 - 119, high average
50% IQ of 90 - 109, average
Of course there is more information provided in the link.
You can also learn how IQ is expressed in percentiles.
An IQ of 135+ qualifies a person for the 99th percentile which indicates that person is brighter than 99% of the population.
This link should work.
http://iq- test.learn inginfo.or g/iq04.htm
It's like Amadeus the film - it is incredibly popular and entertaining, and is probably the most-watched movie about classical music ever made. But don't kid yourself that it's historically accurate. It exists to make a point, not really to teach us anything about Mozart.
Norman Lear's remark was NOT meant to be taken literally.
"You're fat" was simply a verbal expression of total exasperation.
Rush's weight is completely irrelevant.
What is relevant is Rush's mean-spirited rhetoric, rhetoric so shocking that a kind person
is rendered virtually speechless.
I challenge you to come up with similar quotes from Franken, Maddow, and Olbermann (check spelling of proper names next time).
http://www.novelguide.com/doctorfaustus/themeanalysis.html
an excerpt from a synopsis of "Doctor Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe.
A second theme in Doctor Faustus is that of greed. Like many of Marlowe's heroes, Faustus was self-driven by greed and ambition. In this case, the Doctor tries to satiate his appetite for knowledge and power. These heroes forget their responsibilities to God and their fellow creatures. Instead, they attempt to hide their weak characters with a megalomaniacal insanity. While Faustus is amused by the seven deadly sins, he does not realize that he is guilty of every single one, namely avarice and jealousy. In effect, Marlowe presents to the reader a good soul gone bad-a brilliant scholar who squanders his time with necromancy and is later courted by the devil himself. Although he is frequently surrounded by powerful heads of state, beautiful women and servile devils, Faustus is never truly happy. He tries to bury his unrest with luxury and debauchery, to no avail. What Faustus does not realize is that he craves happiness and salvation, not wealth and damnation. Instead, in a tragic cycle of greed and despair, Faustus sadly wallows in riches up to the time of his miserable death.
I remember "shoe-bootie" and tell people about it all the time.
Archie wasn't mean. Just a product of depression poverty and ignorance.
The people YOU wrote about are EEEVVIILLL to their core, and the ones you didn't write about here: the Buhses, Cheeneys, etc.
God Bless You, as well as all of us "dingbats".
The Doctor