Sunday Rant – 0315

PN:

In 1985 Norman Tebbit, British politician, expressed his condemnation of the “permissive society” in a lecture.  A quote –
“Bad art was as good as good art. Grammar and spelling were no longer important. To be clean was no better than to be filthy. Good manners were no better than bad. Family life was derided as an outdated bourgeois concept. Criminals deserved as much sympathy as their victims. Many homes and classrooms became disorderly – if there was neither right nor wrong there could be no basis for punishment or reward. Violence and soft pornography became accepted in the media. Thus was sown the wind; and we are now reaping the whirlwind.”
His concerns 30 years later seem legitimate.  The proverbial phrase from the book of Hosea (Hebrew bible) “they that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind” reflects the feedback many of the well meaning programs of the last century have generated.  How powerful is the base nature of “human” behavior.
Humane, caring, supportive, “safety net” programs that no one in their liberal mind would protest, have become the anchor around the neck of a dynamic, free and happy culture – the age of the Albatross is born.
What is the cost of abandoning the moral compass of your culture to appease whichever minorities or special interest groups clamoring for “exceptional” recognition?  Is the body of law so corpulent with meaningless statutes that the compass spins without direction?
The clash of “civilizations” we are experiencing, the clash of “cultures”, is a manifestation of rudderless purpose, a drive to appease no matter how absurd the demand be or how incongruous.  The drive to elevate the importance of “feeling good” to the lofty category of “right”.   A belief that the hip bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone, that the huge inefficiency of such policies and programs do no damage in terms of blood, treasure, or human capital.  It is not so…..
Who will pay for this folly?
The whirlwind will be reaped by the commoner, the common man, as it always has in the past.  Across the world evil forces have been ravaging the innocent for as long as there have been humans.
I no longer think much of the idea of a “religious war”, for it is incomprehensible to me that men should war over the ideologies purported by their selective “invisible friend(s)”, for that is what defines a God. It is a struggle for power and control by men who are convinced life is a zero sum enterprise, no more no less.
The unintended consequences are deadly for the advancement of civilization.  Or the common man!

Are there solutions or stop gaps or salvation to be had?  A few suggestions: cheap energy, secularism and accountability in political office, moral integrity…… you know, all things beyond grasp or probability.  If you are a common man (woman), prepare for tough times.  

 POLITICS, POLITICIANS, WACKJOBBERY, HUMOROUS, STUPID

Joe Dan at Intellectual Frog Legs is a treat:
[vimeo 116458452 w=500 h=281]

 

 

 

THE CULTURE (THERE IS ONLY ONE)

Australia seems to have taken a hard stand on illegal immigration.  Are Canada and the United States tough enough to do the same?

The elephant in the room when discussing “black lives matter” –

Not saying this is totally accurate (’cause I’m a universally despised “white man”with no cred), but???? –

Cultural conundrum – pretty damn funny for something so trivial –

 

 

PHILOSOPHERS, PHILOSOPHY, SMART THINKING

 

 

GUNS, GUNNERS, GUNNERY

 

 

THE RELIGION OF PEACE (ON ALL OF US)

A pertinent Pat Condell via cousin Delsie:

 

 

SUNDAY SERMON

Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about religious education and the best selling book by Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life):

 

WEATHER (OR NOT)

For the second week running I’m opting for OR NOT….  The two + feet of snow we received last week lingered all week.  And another 4 inches last night.  Enough to make a fella yearn for time to travel faster.  March 21st isn’t that far away is it?  65 winters and I’m not getting any better at it….  Small consolation that political cartoons for all seasons abound –

 

Joe (permafrost) Mekanic
p.s.  Ramirez is on a roll –