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2016 Postmortem

In reply to the discussion: Count Down [View all]

malthaussen

(17,066 posts)
115. Today is a day for being ruminant...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 02:44 PM
Nov 2015

... I am always reflective on 11/11, since I think WWI glaringly shows the inadequacy of what some of us are pleased to call "Western Civilization." In another venue, I posted Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" and have been having a fruitful conversation on the impulse to create poetry. I think one might easily find a correlation between the violence and fury of 100 years ago and today's (not that this doesn't equally apply to violence in any era).

I think much of the current crop of violence, both internally and externally to the country, come from the perception of those at the top of the food chain that there is a threat to the status quo. (One could extend that to the conflicts between supporters of this or that candidate for the Democratic nomination, but I'll leave that correlation be, it hardly requires imagination) Though it is interesting that much of the retail violence is acted out by persons who, in fact, are only marginally closer to the top of the food chain than their victims. This is, in a manner of speaking, the first smokescreen, for one can always find an argument that race hatred is subsumed in class hatred (and thus we have bootless arguments about social and economic justice, as if one could exist without the other). Did you encounter the argument, in re Trayvon Martin, that Zimmerman could not have been motivated by racism, because he "isn't white?" That one left me with my jaw on the floor, because so many assumptions are contained within it. Yet more than just ignorant, gun-slinging rednecks will offer variations on that theme, when they want to prove that racism does not exist (or anyway, that they aren't racist), and that All Lives Matter even though the black ones are the ones most consistently at risk. But then, it is also true that All Lives Matter, or even that Cop Lives Matter, so one is really being partisan if he neglects to voice that truism. Actually, I think that's rather similar to those who demand we "support the troops" while agitating for them to be sent to Syria to fight ISIS and/or overthrow Assad. How easy it is to hide behind platitudes!

"Perception," though, is key. How many of our gunmen and lawmen perceive themselves to be at the top of the food chain, and thus threatened by the ambiguity of equality for those further down, even while those who really do sit at the top are laughing up their sleeves at such ignorance? But because they perceive themselves to be at the top, or aspire to be at the top, aspire to be accepted in the club (which acceptance will never happen, however many millions they may make, or people they may kill), they act as if they are, and act out the fear that the top just won't be so exclusive if we let "them" in. That's one of the reasons I think schadenfreude is too-often neglected as a motivation for bloody-mindedness. The whole essence of having an "other" consists in the ability to look down on them, and thus build ourselves up on their bodies, which motivation has especial poignancy if we have a gnawing suspicion that we really aren't at the top, anyway.

And of course, it isn't just gunplay where we see this acted out, but in sexual assault (almost invariably a result of the kinds of aggression we're talking about here), and even, perhaps, in milder form, in debates on a political board. How much of conduct, I wonder, is dictated by the perception of the standards of the group with whom we wish to be identified? And indeed, how much of conduct is dictated by wanting to do such a thing, or act in such a way, that that group will accept us, and that it will be defended from the pollution of the "other?" It is sad to contemplate that murdering a young man, or raping a young woman, or dropping bombs on a perceived "enemy" might all just be variations on the desire to say "what a good boy am I!"

-- Mal

Count Down [View all] H2O Man Nov 2015 OP
I'm also reading and dreaming suffragette Nov 2015 #1
Thank you. H2O Man Nov 2015 #2
It can be easy to get stuck in a pattern and hard to get unstuck suffragette Nov 2015 #26
Good points .... H2O Man Nov 2015 #45
also dreaming. unapatriciated Nov 2015 #3
Very good! H2O Man Nov 2015 #6
Nicely said. K & R .. you have hit upon a key difference in Dem vs. GOP candidates. Persondem Nov 2015 #4
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #7
Wise words from a wise man. Skidmore Nov 2015 #5
Well, thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #8
Eloquent and articulate... gregcrawford Nov 2015 #9
Thanks! H2O Man Nov 2015 #14
Enduring success is built on the solid foundation of small victories... gregcrawford Nov 2015 #20
Thanks! H2O Man Nov 2015 #56
Brilliant. Thank you. Liberal Jesus Freak Nov 2015 #10
Thank you, my Friend! H2O Man Nov 2015 #19
Was that Reuben "Hurricane" Carter by any chance? gregcrawford Nov 2015 #22
Yes. H2O Man Nov 2015 #23
I envy you that honor! gregcrawford Nov 2015 #24
Right. H2O Man Nov 2015 #27
I notice... gregcrawford Nov 2015 #41
"Rubin" was what H2O Man Nov 2015 #43
Thanks for the clarification... gregcrawford Nov 2015 #44
Our conversation here H2O Man Nov 2015 #97
I was not aware of the Canadian episode... gregcrawford Nov 2015 #98
As usual Old Codger Nov 2015 #11
Exactly! H2O Man Nov 2015 #21
A potential seldom realized these days DFW Nov 2015 #57
Much needed and well stated.. recommended AuntPatsy Nov 2015 #12
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #25
Best post of the last month SCantiGOP Nov 2015 #13
Thanks! H2O Man Nov 2015 #28
One Can Dream - Even Hope - Won't Change The Dynamic Of This Election Cycle - The 99% vs The 1% cantbeserious Nov 2015 #15
Respectfully agree & disagree. H2O Man Nov 2015 #29
Kick and R BeanMusical Nov 2015 #16
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #30
Could not agree more. Bluenorthwest Nov 2015 #17
As unpleasant as it H2O Man Nov 2015 #31
K&R one_voice Nov 2015 #18
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #32
K&R. You're not the only dreamer ms liberty Nov 2015 #33
"Let It Sink" H2O Man Nov 2015 #34
Meh. I'm not ready to sing kumbaya. aikoaiko Nov 2015 #35
That's fine. H2O Man Nov 2015 #36
Ahhhh, thanks. MuseRider Nov 2015 #37
And thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #38
Very good ideas! MuseRider Nov 2015 #40
Thanks for putting into words Dem2 Nov 2015 #39
Thank you. H2O Man Nov 2015 #42
Bernie Sanders is to Hillary Clinton as Hillary Clinton is to a Republican. Zorra Nov 2015 #46
An apt parable... Ino Nov 2015 #49
Completely agree Kermitt Gribble Nov 2015 #47
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #51
Now that I'm reading through the entire thread, I see you once again bringing out the best in DU Hekate Nov 2015 #48
I'm impressed with H2O Man Nov 2015 #53
Making a strong case for, say, Mr Huckabee would be more challenging malthaussen Nov 2015 #95
kicking for as many annabanana Nov 2015 #50
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #54
I agree, it was a delightful forum. lark Nov 2015 #52
Well said! H2O Man Nov 2015 #55
I remember 1968 well DFW Nov 2015 #58
Evil Jinns - good way to describe it rosesaylavee Nov 2015 #59
McCarthy was also an influence DFW Nov 2015 #63
Very interesting. H2O Man Nov 2015 #66
I'm of two minds about online registration DFW Nov 2015 #70
I was near Watertown H2O Man Nov 2015 #74
My father's paper was the Watertown times DFW Nov 2015 #79
Interesting! H2O Man Nov 2015 #85
It's certainly possible. DFW Nov 2015 #90
Wow- you actually got to talk with Bobby Kennedy? Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #60
Well, sure, but don't forget: DFW Nov 2015 #61
Cool! Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #64
Bayh only briefly, but Dirksen was a hoot DFW Nov 2015 #65
OMG Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #67
I only remember Grin and Bear It DFW Nov 2015 #71
In used to watch that show with my grandfather on Sundays in the '60s Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #72
Larry Spivak used to run MTP as his own personal fifedom DFW Nov 2015 #81
So it actually was "an unrehearsed press conference" Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #84
Grin and Bear It Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #73
The incomparable Senator Snort! Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #78
I still have H2O Man Nov 2015 #68
Cool! Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #75
A couple of years ago, H2O Man Nov 2015 #76
Wow! Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #77
Right. H2O Man Nov 2015 #80
I'll tell you one thing Art_from_Ark Nov 2015 #88
My younger daughter graduated Pace Law in 2010! DFW Nov 2015 #82
Now, ain't that something? H2O Man Nov 2015 #86
Small Democratic board, too, don't forget DFW Nov 2015 #87
Right. H2O Man Nov 2015 #92
I never met Cuomo DFW Nov 2015 #93
Outstanding OP! BlueMTexpat Nov 2015 #62
Well, thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #69
I've left here except for perusing for good articles and found your post. mmonk Nov 2015 #83
Thanks, Buddy! H2O Man Nov 2015 #89
Indeed. Your speculation may very well be right on point. mmonk Nov 2015 #91
"The change needed will not come from the parties or status quo." antigop Nov 2015 #102
Yes. mmonk Nov 2015 #103
Not unlike you, I don't choose to participate in these bunfights malthaussen Nov 2015 #94
Well said. H2O Man Nov 2015 #96
I wonder how much this trend towards extremism malthaussen Nov 2015 #112
That is key to H2O Man Nov 2015 #114
Today is a day for being ruminant... malthaussen Nov 2015 #115
Lovely post iwillalwayswonderwhy Nov 2015 #99
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2015 #104
By the way, check your PM DFW Nov 2015 #100
Very much appreciated! H2O Man Nov 2015 #105
You would relate to the subject matter, I was confident DFW Nov 2015 #106
Very impressive! H2O Man Nov 2015 #108
You posted this: Maedhros Nov 2015 #101
Thank you for H2O Man Nov 2015 #107
While much of what you say is true, mmonk Nov 2015 #109
Endless arguing over facts... malthaussen Nov 2015 #113
I'm dreaming with you! NastyRiffraff Nov 2015 #110
Thanks! H2O Man Nov 2015 #111
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