tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post9208259040991261207..comments2024-03-18T16:50:00.003-07:00Comments on Old Geezers Out to Lunch: The Fetish of FreedomThe Geezershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12132213545989946724noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-61274923149843809812014-02-06T18:57:28.647-08:002014-02-06T18:57:28.647-08:00Geez, I might have done a little proof reading bef...Geez, I might have done a little proof reading before I posted this...Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-19718832037826673542014-02-06T17:58:59.241-08:002014-02-06T17:58:59.241-08:00I totally get the Scarlett Johansson fetish, but n...I totally get the Scarlett Johansson fetish, but not the other. <br /><br />Who do we think we are? We still have a lot of work to do ourselves and it wasn't that long ago that:<br /><br />2013, yes 2013<br />- The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. That action pretty much gave the go ahead for voter suppression. <br /><br />1967 (46 years ago)<br />- It was still against the law to marry a person out of your race in SIXTEEN states. The Supreme Court ruled in that those states must strike down those laws.<br /><br />1965 (only 48 years ago) <br />- The day known as "Bloody Sunday" occurred in Montgomery, Alabama on March 7th. A non-violent and passive Black march in support of voter's rights, was attacked by police with whips and clubs. Over fifty marchers had to be hospitalized. There were many incidents like this one, but not as famous.<br />- Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, outlawing the widespread voter suppression policies that drastically restricted black voting in southern states.<br /><br />1964<br />- The 24th Amendment abolishes poll taxes, which that had been put into place to impede black voting in 11 states (all of them southern).<br />- The Civil Rights Act became law. It prohibited discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law also gave the federal government the power to enforce desegregation. <br /><br />I can go on and on with this stuff and maybe even throw in some stats about the "pacification" and slaughter of the American Indian, slavery, forced internment of Japanese and others (most were U.S. citizens) during WW 2 and maybe even how blacks were barred from serving in anything but support units in that same war.<br /><br />I guess all I'm trying to say is that we don't have a very good track record ourselves in the areas of civil rights and/or freedom.Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-19485803003227888902014-02-06T17:56:27.376-08:002014-02-06T17:56:27.376-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-41508825117889564282014-02-01T21:07:11.145-08:002014-02-01T21:07:11.145-08:00Well said, Geezers. Pearl, I agree with you.Well said, Geezers. Pearl, I agree with you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-33092198866566803442014-01-31T12:50:29.051-08:002014-01-31T12:50:29.051-08:00Whoops, sorry! You already did, and I even replied...Whoops, sorry! You already did, and I even replied. Derp.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-24611624402646498852014-01-31T12:49:47.140-08:002014-01-31T12:49:47.140-08:00Spot ON. Loved every word. The way "freedom&q...Spot ON. Loved every word. The way "freedom" has been appropriated by a particular political faction in this country is odd, in that the meaning of the word has wandered so far as to be unrecognizable. I end up looking sideways at people who use it, in the manner of Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride: "You keep using this word. I think it does not mean what you think it means." Check out my post on "Freedom vs. Communitarianism" from a few days ago, if you haven't already ... it's relevant.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02187854108656107958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-38805329767284681512014-01-30T12:57:30.380-08:002014-01-30T12:57:30.380-08:00Right on.
Perhaps one of our goals -- aside from ...Right on.<br /><br />Perhaps one of our goals -- aside from outfitting teddy bears with American flags and ensuring that everyone who wants a gun has one -- should be cultivating empathy. Too often, I fear we (Americans) look at things only from our own points of view.<br /><br />PearlPearlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05261369905176088917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-73335210565634233212014-01-30T08:10:24.825-08:002014-01-30T08:10:24.825-08:00The last world-affecting policy we did (that turne...The last world-affecting policy we did (that turned out well) was the Marshall Plan, the re-building of Europe after WW2. Interestingly some of the same people, such as George Kennan, were responsible for our following the 'domino theory' that led us to Viet Nam. <br /><br />It's also interesting that later Kennan said that we had followed the tenets of the domino theory too far, that diplomatic efforts should have precedent over military action. And, one of the major hawks of the 60's, Henry Kissenger, was asked after he had retired what we could do in the middle east (referring to Israel and the 'Palestine Problem', he replied "Nothing.". <br /><br />As to Scarlett....after watching her in 'Lost in Translation', I understand the obsession all too well. Should Fish Morehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18400586203204886095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-45340499167279705322014-01-30T06:52:48.232-08:002014-01-30T06:52:48.232-08:00Interesting point—about the Civil War, I mean; Ms....Interesting point—about the Civil War, I mean; Ms. Johansson's status is undeniable. <br /><br />Professor's argument applied at the time could be construed to suggest that war with the South to abolish slavery should NOT be endorsed. Then again, plenty of scholars will tell you that that really wasn't the reason the North declared war at all, but was rather a convenient public-relations excuse....<br /><br />—Mercurious—The Geezershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12132213545989946724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-25961009288258787362014-01-29T19:25:01.997-08:002014-01-29T19:25:01.997-08:00It's true that we as Americans fetishistized f...It's true that we as Americans fetishistized freedom, but that's what we as Americans hold dear. It's at the core of who and what we are. Unfortunately most people don't realize how important freedom is, and they're willing to giver over control to those who are more than happy to minimize and control whatever freedoms we as Americans have left. Most people have never been in the military or served overseas. They have no idea at what price freedom costs. Today's generation is more than willing to barter away freedoms for perceived security, and that sort of attitude also comes with a cost. In the end, we'll have to pay up, one way or another.<br /><br />Great post! You got me thinking as I'm winding up for the day. HermanTurniphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15448138758753193112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-39729233181160435092014-01-29T14:21:00.957-08:002014-01-29T14:21:00.957-08:00I can add little to this discussion, except that I...I can add little to this discussion, except that I found it to be an excellent, well-balanced post with very good responses. I will continue to mull over the points made here. Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09028121782477111901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-27478786208182441482014-01-29T14:02:29.186-08:002014-01-29T14:02:29.186-08:00Our own history probably gives us the best example...Our own history probably gives us the best example of the insanity of the "freedom fetish," since one of the key arguments leading to secession and the Civil War was that the freedom of Southern states to permit slavery was being infringed upon by the tyrannical Federal government. And I totally don't get the Scarlett Johansson obsession. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-19216314767257852342014-01-29T13:03:11.223-08:002014-01-29T13:03:11.223-08:00I was in London back in July and felt quite safe a...I was in London back in July and felt quite safe and relaxed even amongst that many people. I understand your point about freedom not being for everyone and having observed our foreign policy for a long time, I would agree that something less than total military intervention might be just the ticket. If only I could shake the image of Scarlett from my alleged mind. Jonohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18170214396483091419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274757246538504796.post-15426013066170759702014-01-29T11:13:32.497-08:002014-01-29T11:13:32.497-08:00Well Professor, I find you at least 75% right on i...Well Professor, I find you at least 75% right on in this essay. <br /><br />Given the definition of fetish as "an inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit" I think you're correctly using the term for the American obsession with it's own, and other cutures', freedom. <br /><br />But Ms. Johansson is by no means an inanimate object, and hence you really cannot accuse me of this Obsession perhaps, but not fetish. And besides, it's actually Scarlett who is obsessed with the Geezers, as you well know. <br /><br />But beyond this,I'd also say that my recommendation in an earlier piece wasn't that we can or should necessarily "fix" the Syrian situation by enforcing some version freedom on them. As you rightly point out, that hasn't worked well in very situation in the past, though I think you could argue that it has worked in some locations. Some of the former Soviet States seem to have approved genuine freedom, and there are other places. <br /><br />But just because you might be hesitant to demand freedom in other cultures, doesn't mean you can and should enable tyranny. And I fear that's what we're doing lately in the name of 'not making global waves.' Could we not take a stance that categorically says we will not support Assad even while we do not demand democratic freedom there? <br /><br />I suspect your essay will ignite some interesting commentary....let the games begin. The Geezershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12132213545989946724noreply@blogger.com