Behavioral Correctness

23Sep/0912

Behavioral Correctness

In the late eighties, while attending college, many things were the rage: Womyns Studies, African-American studies... pot... erm, wait - pot is timeless. In any event, if you recall the music we were tortured with (Level 42 anyone?) left us with idle hands. And well, the Devil's workshop and all that. But of all of the refuse permitted to float to the top was something called Political Correctness. As I have stated before, depending on your objectives, the PC movement was pure genius. To me, it was eeeevil genius, but nonetheless, confusing language and setting about maligning certain words and phrases... banning them to Elba, as it were, was effective. Very effective. And exceedingly oppressive. Which, I guess was the point. Oh, and it did in fact have the impact of reducing "debate" to near zero. Only one stance/opinion was acceptable on any given topic (allowing for nuance and all). Any opposing view or contrasting view that did not fit the "sanctioned" viewpoint was not only taken off the table - but left not bloodied and beaten for having failed to defend itself on merit and logic - but left to waste in the corner collecting dust - in most cases, despite being meritorious. The result, of course, was nothing short of thought control. The language, logic, and free expression of ideas having been suppressed, one was left to presume that those positions outside the permissible were guilty as charged. And thus they were not articulated in polite society. And being then exotic to the ears (offensive to the sensibilities) they were treated as arguments only fringe (conservatives) would ever utter.

One cannot help but note how frustrated these same beneficiaries (those who would be the thought police) of the PC movement are.

There is Obama, of course, who must be fit to be tied. In his reality, the pleebs aren't smart enough to know what's good for them. His own party must appear to him to be made up of Dinos (Dems In Name Only). Of all people, these highly-educated, well-read, open-minded, pillars of Elitism, should, to his mind, be running with him rather than tripping him up. If they don't get it... or STFU and get out of the way, how can he hope that the ruled will do anything to help themselves. They do, after all, take their direction from their rulers, don't they?

There is the Globular Warming crowd as well. They must be cursing the Fates for the ill-fortune of low sun spot activity. Goddammit. Here on the precipice of cramming global warming cum climate change down the throats of the world's citizenry the Sun goes and f**ks it all up. The vision of the Big Climateers and their profitses all but going down the tubes. Where is Manbearpig these days anyway? Haven't had a sighting recently, have we?

Political Correctness succeeded to the degree that it did, at least in the American Experience, because it was novel. But it is not novel any longer. And very few are as frightened of the Thought Police as they once were. Things can be discussed again, if not with Polite Society, at least at the bar. Its stick has, to a large degree, lost its sting. Moreover, the people who remember being suffocated on campuses across this land are now parents. So the final laugh is yet to come. But Political Correctness is in its death throws... to be sure.

Likewise, the Race Ca[na]rd, as Rocketman has written well about on this very blog. Overused, misused, overplayed... like a bad Beyonce song. What was once a Death Brand is now more easily side-stepped than not. People just don't buy it anymore. Even, dare I say it, when there is some merit to the charge (not referring to Obam-evasion here with regard to health care).

So, I will now look into my crystal ball to see what can be seen with such things. And it looks like this:

On ~~Health Care Reform~~ ~~Insurance Reform~~ Hard but Necessary Changes: "These disruptions are ...simply un-American."

On ~~Global Warming~~ Climate Change "...[they] aren't acting in a way that they should act." h/t Drudge.

So, before someone else lays claim to it, I am going to put it out there: there is a movement coalescing. And that new movement is "Behavioral Correctness." And by that, it is not meant that you have to be civil... this is not about civility per se. Please do not confuse. You will be relieved to note that you won't be required to say "please" or even "thank you." If a dude, you shouldn't feel suddenly compelled to start being gentlemanly - opening doors, deferring to women, or giving up your seat on the bus to a woman with child. You shouldn't feel compelled to help someone out of the ditch during a snow storm either, because this Behavioral Correctness will instead relate to things like the following...

- raising your voice when ~~being spoken to~~ having your beliefs thoughtfully corrected by ~~superior intellects~~ elected officials over a PA system
- shifting noticeably in your chair when ~~a devotee in ecstasy~~ someone sings the praises of The One
- not nodding in full-agreement when The New Messiah speaks at to you in a sincere yet convincing tone, whether by radio, tele~~prompter~~vision, or ~~visions and consolations~~ email
- failing to laugh at Obamassiah's jokes
- not shaking your head in concerned disapproval when you suspect someone is about to disagree with the thoughtful and proper conclusion drawn by The Dear Leader.

Even if this should come to pass - we can count on it being contained to the US and UK - as neither the Mexicans, nor French... nor Greeks, nor Italians are game for this sort of thing. You know, on account of being unsophisticated and all.

Enoch_Root

Person with kids,a beautiful wife, a job. Catholic of the Latin Rite.

Website - More Posts

Filed under: Too Lazy to Categorize Leave a comment

Comments (12) Trackbacks (1) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Buford Hustle
September 23rd, 2009 - 05:16

Victimized and stricken, trapped in a world of Level 42, savaged by a chorus of voices not his own, King Eno, sole ruler of the Kingdom of Eno, suffered terribly during his formidable campus days.

Airing such predictable suburban frat boy frustrations is so dull.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )
- Kclaney69
  September 23rd, 2009 - 06:24
  
  I believe sir you must be profiling someone else. Neither frats nor Level 42 for me, tohr.
  
  I believe the likeliest candidate for frat-boyhood is thee… still holding on to that busted paddle, Tohr?
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
  ( REPLY )
Poe Riley
September 23rd, 2009 - 08:00

Did the cool kids laugh at your Boy Scout uniform?

Instead of mocking a subject out of hand you might try reading something of it. Why don’t you read one of Theodore Dalrymple’s (Anthony Daniels) essays concerning Virginia Woolf. Note how he deconstructs and agree and disagrees with certain aspects of her feminist take. And for God’s sake learn to pronounce Simone de Beauvoir correctly.

Basking in total freakin’ ignorance is mere intellectual posing and it’s not that entertaining to witness again and again.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )
- Enoch_Root
  September 23rd, 2009 - 08:11
  
  Tohr – you are rtarded. again, projecting yourself onto others is no way to spend the little testosterone you might have. go on, gelding, go take some orders.
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
  ( REPLY )
Poe Riley
September 23rd, 2009 - 08:14

Did you read Irina Echarry’s diary entries? Did you think I recommended only because she’s a hip Marxist Commie lassie living in Cuba? Well, I did do that. Here:http://www.havanatimes.org/?cat=72

Take note of the forward steps in the narrative, how she moves her dialog along all while speaking in first person, just as one would in a natural conversation with a friend. To read something for the sole reason of structure is what were going for, because I know your knee-jerk reaction is to mock any conclusion she provides, but that’s not the point. You wrap the beans and rice in the tortilla, not only because it keeps your hands clean but because it provides a variety of textures to one’s palate. Douche.Bag.

And learn to keep a beat, white boy.

I try to help, how I try.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )
- Enoch_Root
  September 23rd, 2009 - 08:23
  
  ha – it is demonstrable fact that among white men I have more funk particles than 99% possess. Among black men, I best 90% of them in this category. It is almost creepy how you profile me with regards to aspects that are not only untrue – but 180 degrees in the opposed to my life history.
  
  That makes you a jack-ass. Profiler!
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
  ( REPLY )
Simonized Beaver
September 23rd, 2009 - 08:25

Eat me, poeky.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )
- Enoch_Root
  September 23rd, 2009 - 08:27
  
  racist!
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
  ( REPLY )
Poe Riley
September 23rd, 2009 - 08:36

Precious Freedom (part 4)
By Irina Echarry

We can distance ourselves from other people by thousands of miles; we can try to remake our lives in different places, and we always want our children to be better off than ourselves. But the reality is that we cannot escape from ourselves; wherever we go, our own nature imposes itself, above all else.

That is what happened when we went to Guanahacabibes.

Human beings, so complex, explore the real possibilities of being free. Can we achieve that? Will it end up that we ourselves are what limit us?

Itâ€™s nothing to be on a deserted beach, to feel like the owner of a piece of the sea or to hug the starriest night without people sharing it with you.

This was the company that I had – people who were sincerely interested in the Marine Turtle Conservation Initiative. They were people conscious of environmental deterioration, ones who picked up garbage off the beach, who collaborated seriously in awareness campaigns so that children would learn how to love their environment.

Nonetheless, these same people spent a great part of their time on the beach or in the sea trying to catch red snappers, bass, baby sharks or lobsters.

On one of the beaches they made a small rustic structure which they salted their fish. In this way they could take them back to the city without their catch going bad. At another, the two men at the camp insisted on us taking pictures to demonstrate the eminence of their fishing prowess.

When walking along the seashore, it was frequent (even on those deserted beaches) to see the heads of big fish, turtles shells (despite of the presence of our initiative) or lobster shells thrown down onto the sand. These remains were evidence of the massacre committed against them.

There was no need for that; we were all given enough food there for 15 days. We only had to portion it out so that it would last. Though the temptation was great.

When I discovered that the people who were going to take care of life on the beach were – at the same time – going to mistreat it, this seemed so paradoxical and unreal to me that I experienced some really difficult moments.

I began to notice that the camp head liked to order the women to cook, as if he were our owner, and that most of the men tried to go to bed with us, as if we were geishas willing to please them in all their desires.

On Caleta del Piojo Beach, which owes its name (literally â€œlice coveâ€) to the tremendous number of gnats that frequent it, I spent the 15 days walking between 10 and 15 miles a day. I, along with the other woman at the camp, did this to avoid having to stay with the two guys who were assigned there with us.

We visited other beaches and later returned at the risk of something happening to us along the way. We travelled alone (often at night) the length of the entire highway, escaping wild heifers that didnâ€™t want to be bothered. One day we got caught in an electrical storm while on a plateau, where there was not even a bush to hide under; we had to lie on the ground and hope that it would end.

JosÃ© – one of the people who I got to know there, and who looked like he came straight out of a shipwreck movie – knew how to make hammocks. He was the best and fastest at cutting firewood and cooked amazing dishes (when he decided to do so). Since he was a biologist, he also knew a lot of things that were useful in those circumstances.

However, his self-proclaimed perfection was bothersome, but the worse was when he drank. He would begin to start crowing about past feats, tactlessly criticize people and even try to overstep the bounds of one of us women. We all had some complaint about JosÃ©, but since you should not become enemies under such adverse conditions, we tried not to anger him. That guy made me feel sorry for him; he was washed up, sad, and very alone.

Luckily, one can scream near the sea. To remain silent is damaging, it does physical and psychological harm. So somebody found a pool where what we could scream, if we wanted, without anyone hearing us. We would go there in the daytime to vent. Ah, how great it is to vent; you feel free, and with less of a load to bear. Here in the city, I often miss that pool, there are so many things that I would like to scream aboutâ€¦ but of course they no longer have to do with sad JosÃ©â€¦

————————————————

See how Irina tells a story mixed with observations, antidotes, self-reflections leaving marks for changes in time and place. She is very basic, which is good, sort’a like learning the fundamentals of basketball by watching chicks because chicks are slower and very mechanical. They can’t dunk so they pass the ball around the perimeter and either hit a inside cutter or a post-up player or wait for a open perimeter shot. These are the basics no matter your ideology.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )
- Enoch_Root
  September 23rd, 2009 - 08:48
  
  nice read. I didn’t note any “antidotes” however. and anyway, whatever the point is you are trying to make must be really of the rarefied ether – as I don’t get it. Or is this show and tell?
  
  I am a man, man… so, you know, like sort of obtuse. if’n yer looking to make a point, make it. otherwise, find a literary blog somewhere and post about this nonsense, albeit well-written nonsense, there.
  
  Like or Dislike: 0 0
  ( REPLY )
guinsPen
September 23rd, 2009 - 09:24

These are the basics

Exactly, Jose.

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )
Bob Reed
September 23rd, 2009 - 10:43

Are you sure that you weren’t there, posing under the guise of Jose..?

And while a pleasant narrative, it’s poingiant too; since that lady will never really enjoy the freedom or equality of status that she might in a more free and open society; a paradox of the workers paradise that is Cuba.

And, in the celebration of that finely written essay, I see a hint of the another elitist hypocrisy; the elevation of the noble savage-so to speak. These people working so hard at their conservation prokuct, and trying to live so holistically demonstrate what would occur on a large scale if we all tried to rely simply on nature to provide for our need. Like the folks at the beach, we would be forced to put demands upon that which we were trying to conserve.

Is it thoughtful? yes. Is it well written? yes. But that kind of navel gazing is more like a script for a women’s channel miniseries than any great or transcendant kind of art that you wish to elevate it to…

And like Enoch, I wonder just what is your point? That Cubans, in their self imposed statist squalor are somehow more in touch with an over-arching humanistic reality than eeeeevil Americans perhaps? I don’t know, because you haven’t actually made any point, but simply cut and paste a copy of an obscure cuban authors writing and proclaimed it’s greatness…

You’re not the gatekeeper for artistic merit nor moral authority or superiority, descending from on high to inform the rubes. And while I appreciate the lady’s feelings and expressive ability, It still doesn’t express nor reinforce any cogent point you’ve asserted…

So, what’s your point, he-who’s-name-changes-daily?

Like or Dislike: 0 0
( REPLY )