Our Betters Hold Firm
And so, Dr Louise Raw, a suitably woke BBC-employed writer and historian, denounces “virulent class prejudice” as a self-evidently bad thing, and then, in the very next tweet, is publicly amused by the thought of “rich, white, middle-aged men” being killed in disproportionate numbers, complete with smiley-winky face.
And when other Twitter users point out this contradiction, with varying degrees of liveliness, our woke historian and BBC employee doubles down and dismisses those objecting, en masse, as “fascists,” “neo-Nazis” and “right-wing” crayon-eaters. Presumably on grounds that no-one else, none of her enlightened leftist peers, would register a contradiction. Or anything unsavoury.
Update, via the comments:
It’s worth taking a moment to ponder what it must be like to inhabit a milieu in which public expressions of racial disdain are not only aired with expectations of impunity, but also as a marker of status. A way of signalling one’s social credentials and general modishness. And being so accustomed to this environment, so steeped in its values, that, when challenged, the obvious response is to construe any demurral – all of it, wholesale – as the work of “neo-Nazis.”
It’s a complicated dance. Quite a contortion.
Via [+] in the comments.
Wink wink, nudge nudge.
a suitably woke BBC-employed writer and historian
Raw is, or at least until recently has been, a regular contributor to the Morning Star, formerly known as The Daily Worker, and described by the New Statesman as “Britain’s last communist newspaper”.
Raw is, or at least until recently has been, a regular contributor to the Morning Star,
And my shocked face is in the wash.
To borrow a phrase from Instapundit, the Garbage People are now self-identifying in droves.
And “Dr” my ass. She’s just another non-medical phony parading this dubious honorific.
If I should say something like, “There should be a weekly decimation of all white Karens on Twitter every week, with their heads being lined up on top of the city walls.”, would that be considered more racist or misogynistic?
To borrow a phrase from Instapundit, the Garbage People are now self-identifying in droves.
It’s another one of those times when there’s an urge to say, “You know everyone can hear you, right?”
According to her own bio, she’s both a broadcaster, appearing “every week on BBC Radio London,” and a “historical consultant” to the BBC. So, your license fee at work.
If I should say something like, “There should be a weekly decimation of all white Karens on Twitter every week, with their heads being lined up on top of the city walls.”, would that be considered more racist or misogynistic?
Misogynistic. It’s well known in progressive circles that you can’t be racist towards a white person because as a white person I am inherently more privileged than say, Oprah Winfrey or the Obamas.
Mark Twain wrote sadly in Pudd’nhead Wilson:
“To all intents and purposes Roxy was as white as anybody, but the one sixteenth of her which was black outvoted the other fifteen 33 parts and made her a negro. She was a slave, and salable as such. Her child was thirty-one parts white, and he, too, was a slave, and by a fiction of law and custom a negro.”
Today’s “progressives” still take the same view but they glory in it.
It’s strange to think that the ideas of the reviled racists of the slaveholding South are shared by the revered anti-racists of the East and West coasts and every beacon of civilisation inbetween.
The history of the soi disant ‘anti-racists’ indicates they are aspiring slave-holders, seeing nothing wrong with enslaving those they disdain.
Today’s “progressives” still take the same view but they glory in it.
Looks like people are noticing — thread.
Today’s “progressives” still take the same view but they glory in it.
One more time. When progressive piety meets Gorillas in the Mist.
Again, do they not hear themselves?
I know this is an erudite, cultured blog, but damn, what a cunt.
I know this is an erudite, cultured blog,
[ Slides coaster under drink. ]
When progressive piety meets Gorillas in the Mist.
When I want the Black Experience™ I visit the forums at Lipstick Alley, but I certainly don’t talk about it. Except here. Under another name.
If you visit, check out the thread “Lana Del Rey continues to dig her own grave”. Not sure what she did (my adblockers are stopping her original instagram post) but the responses are lit.
It must be the day for it. Our very own Clementine (batshit crazy) Ford tweeted this, the original tweet has been deleted and replaced with a sorry/notsorry thread, so I have pasted one of the more amusing replies.
https://twitter.com/ToomeyWright/status/1264360937231806465?s=20
Do they really believe it? Is it just attention seeking? Do they just post these tweets in order to get hate mail so they can claim victim status?
“There should be a weekly decimation of all white Karens on Twitter every week, with their heads being lined up on top of the city walls.”, would that be considered more racist or misogynistic?
I love these boys, giving it to all of the Karens, Clementines and Louises of this world in the best way possible. Todays word: belligerent
https://twitter.com/JoshManMode/status/1263637559873277955?s=20
OT, but David was looking for interesting web content. I found the YouTube channel of exurb1a, having ordered one of his collections of sci-fi stories. A mix of physics and philosophy…
https://www.youtube.com/user/willunicycleforfood
Thanks, MC. Will take a peek.
To borrow a phrase from Instapundit, the Garbage People are now self-identifying in droves.
It’s worth taking a moment to ponder what it must be like to inhabit a milieu in which publicly disdaining white men, and being publicly amused by the thought of their deaths in disproportionate numbers – while simultaneously denouncing “virulent class prejudice” – is not only acceptable, a thing one does with expectations of impunity, but also a marker of status. A way of signalling one’s social credentials. And being so accustomed to this environment, so steeped in its values, that, when challenged, the obvious response is to construe any demurral – all of it, wholesale – as the work of “fascists,” “neo-Nazis” and “right-wing” crayon eaters.
It’s a complicated dance.
Why would anyone eat crayons?
OT, but David was looking for interesting web content.
Ah, yes. They’re not the short content you were looking for but they’re quite entertaining:
Connections, the first set
The Day The Universe Changed
A bit back I was describing to someone an occasion of seeing James Burke give a talk in person.
but David was looking for interesting web content.
Science, astronomy, and history documentaries in particular. In case any of you heathens have a stash of such things.
It must be the day for it.
It’s a complicated dance.
Everyone’s favourite activist, healer, and radical intersectionalist slam poet Titania McGrath, makes an urgent plea
“Connections, the first set”
Unquestionably the best TV series ever made. It amazes me that I must have been seven years old when these first went out, yet I vividly remember being absolutely riveted by every episode.
One thing the BBC used to be absolutely brilliant at was not talking down to its audience. These days it can’t help itself.
In case any of you heathens have a stash of such things.
<Cracks knuckles, looks askance at 9TB storage array>
Bronze Age Greece, Roman Republic/Empire, Heptarchy, Tudor Britain, or Mesopotamia, guv?
Science, astronomy, and history documentaries in particular. In case any of you heathens have a stash of such things.
Seen “The Ascent of Man”?
I saw this in high school in the late ’70s. They showed an episode a week in the auditorium, and while it was a way to get out of the hell that is high school, it was fascinating.
It was from there that I found “Connections,” which was like reading “Finnegan’s Wake” and discovering “Dubliners.”
The end of the last episode, called “Knowledge or Certainty,” is particularly powerful in a way I won’t give away. There’s a four-minute clip on YouTube if you want to see it.
Bronze Age Greece, Roman Republic/Empire, Heptarchy, Tudor Britain, or Mesopotamia, guv?
Heh. Blimey. The Other Half has lifted his head from his game and suggested that you make a selection – a greatest hits, maybe. Do you have a Google Drive or OneDrive or Dropbox?
Seen “The Ascent of Man”?
The Other Half saw it millions of years ago. I haven’t. Only brief clips.
Connections, the first set
Thanks for that, Hal. Only just spotted it. I saw some of it as a wee seedling.
Science, astronomy, and history documentaries in particular. In case any of you heathens have a stash of such things.
Have you heard of The Teaching Company, David? Very good.
Have you heard of The Teaching Company, David? Very good.
No. Will take a look. Thanks.
The Ascent of Man?
Coming late to the party, but “The Power of Myth” with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers from the late 80s PBS is a great study of mythology and how it ties to human lives. A must see for all the comic fan boys out there.
Jordan Peterson’s Maps of Meaning lecture series?
WTP, I’m reminded of this the night Philosophy was on the menu:
WAITER: Oh, uhh, you folks want me to start you off?
MR. HENDY: Oh, really, we’d appreciate that.
WAITER: Okay!
MR. HENDY: Yeah.
WAITER: Well, ehh,…
MR. HENDY: Mhmm.
WAITER: …look. Have you ever wondered… just why you’re here?
MR. HENDY: Well, we went to Miami last year and California the year before that, and we’ve–
WAITER: No, no, no. I mean, uh, w– why we’re here… on this planet.
MR. HENDY: Hmmm. No.
WAITER: Right! Aaah, you ever wanted to know what it’s all about?
MR. HENDY: Nope.
MRS. HENDY: No. No.
WAITER: Right-o! Aah, well, uh, see, throughout history,…
MR. HENDY: M-hmm.
WAITER: …there have been certain men and women who have tried to find the solution to the mysteries of existence,…
MRS. HENDY: G-reat.
WAITER: …and we call these guys ‘philosophers’!
MR. HENDY: Ohh.
MRS. HENDY: And that’s what we’re talking about.
WAITER: Right!
MR. HENDY: Yeah.
MRS. HENDY: Ohh, that’s neat!
WAITER: Well, you look like you’re getting the idea, so why don’t I give you these, uh, conversation cards? They’ll tell you a little about philosophical method,…
MR. HENDY: Oh.
WAITER: …names of famous philosophers,– Uh, there you are. Uhh, have a nice conversation!
MR. HENDY: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
MRS. HENDY: He’s cute.
MR. HENDY: Yeah, real–
MRS. HENDY: Yeah.
MR. HENDY: Real understanding. Mmm.
MRS. HENDY: Oh! I never knew Schopenhauer was a philosopher!
MR. HENDY: Oh, yeah! He’s the one that begins with an ‘S’.
MRS. HENDY: Oh.
MR. HENDY: Umm, like, uh, ‘Nietzsche’.
MRS. HENDY: Does ‘Nietzsche’ begin with an ‘S’?
MR. HENDY: Uh, there’s an ‘s’ in ‘Nietzsche’.
MRS. HENDY: Oh, wow. Yes, there is. Do all philosophers have an ‘s’ in them?
MR. HENDY: Uh, yeah! I think most of ’em do.
MRS. HENDY: Oh. Does that mean Selina Jones is a philosopher?
MR. HENDY: Yeah! Right! She could be! She sings about the meaning of life.
MRS. HENDY: Yeah. That’s right, but I don’t think she writes her own material.
MR. HENDY: No. Oh, maybe Schopenhauer writes her material.
MRS. HENDY: No. Burt Bacharach writes it.
MR. HENDY: But there’s no ‘s’ in ‘Burt Bacharach’.
MRS. HENDY: Or in ‘Hal David’.
MR. HENDY: Who’s Hal David?
MRS. HENDY: He writes the lyrics. Burt just writes the tunes, only now, he’s married to Carole Bayer Sager.
MR. HENDY: Oh, waiter. This conversation isn’t very good.
WAITER: Oh, I’m sorry, sir! Uhh, we do have one today that’s not on the menu. It’s sort of a specialty of the house, you know.
MR. HENDY: Oh, yes.
WAITER: ‘Live Organ Transplants’.
Connections, the first set
Thanks for that, Hal.
Yer welcome—and noting that The First Set is specified, ’cause there’s also a two and three . . . where given Burke, I expect they’re excellent, but I haven’t seen ’em.
The Teaching Company
I’m a huge fan and long-time patron. I wish I knew what was up with the constant name changes, though. And they’ve removed some excellent courses from their catalog over the years, possibly due to rights issues I imagine.
My only real niggle with them is that their offerings tend to stop at the 100 and 200 series survey courses. I’d love some more in-depth stuff at the 300 and 400 level. But I’m weird that way.
On my bookmarks tab is a series of sites which I visit most days: this blog is there and so is Astronomy picture of the day:
http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~apod/apod/archivepix.html
Which often sets off a trail of investigation into anything that piques my interest.
and Velvet Glove Iron Fist
https://velvetgloveironfist.blogspot.com/
Daniel, thanks for emailing the enormous list. Will wave it at The Other Half and get back to you.
Connections, the first set
We watched the first episode last night. I quite like Burke’s enthusiasm, and the late-70s aesthetic is oddly entertaining.
If you like podcasts, the History of the World in 100 objects is pretty good.
the History of the World in 100 objects is pretty good.
Thanks. I’m mainly looking for visual material, TV documentaries to be watched at the end of the evening. A sort of mental detox from… well, from the kinds of things covered here.
Slightly off topic but in the context of (US) Memorial Day and interesting information in general…Wife and I watched the movie “Hell to Eternity” last night. Fictionalized story of USMC Pvt. Guy Gabaldon, a Mexican American who was raised by Japanese Americans and used his knowledge of Japanese to get hundreds of IJA and civilians to surrender on Saipan. Known as the Pied Piper of Saipan. I pay somewhat close attention to the war in the Pacific theatre but had never heard of this story. Here’s his obit from back in 2006.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14671810/ns/us_news-military/t/diminutive-wwii-hero-gabaldon-dies/#.Xsu94YZq2f2
My only real niggle with them is that their offerings tend to stop at the 100 and 200 series survey courses. I’d love some more in-depth stuff at the 300 and 400 level.
A number of universities have been putting lectures online, including MIT, Princeton, Berkeley and Yale. Not sure how many upper level courses are to be found.
. . . and the late-70s aesthetic is oddly entertaining.
The definite advantage with Burke and all others of that ilk is being able to Just Watch The Content, and not get distracted by any antistylistic and pretentious fiascoes . . .
—I remember one occasion some number of years later where a couple of friends announced that I Just Had To See Some Show, so one time when I was over at their place, I did . . . Unfortunately for the show, by that time we all had descended deep into the all time, absolute, butt ugliest decade of the 20th century . . . To this day I have no memory of what was going on in that particular show, all that was noticeable was characters in the show wearing surreally tacky costuming. My hosts attempted to claim, But that’s what people are wearing!!! . . . except that, no, that was not what people were wearing. Only very limited children of adult size were wearing the really odd costuming, regardless of how visible any such was—-I also remember a related thought at the time, that for “people” who are supposedly to be admired because of being and wearing “the best”, why were they all always scowling???
Around the same general time, I remember watching through Hill Street Blues and never getting distracted by any of the detailing . . . but then HSB was about people, and the people, non cops included, were all wearing clothing . . .
Setting apart the unflattering display of this silly woman’s cock-a-doodle responses about ‘snowflakery’ (if you can’t dream up any succinctly withering psychological perjoratives of your own, then merely turn the enemy’s guns around onto them, that way you’ll be though intellectually pert and saucy) then it seems she cuts a poor figure as a historian if she doesn’t realise that she is grafting 21st C conceptions of middle age onto the early 16th. I should have thought that if one had ample statistical credence then middle age in, say, 1510 would have been about 25 years old or thereabouts. That is not the fault of men or women, but the consequence of living in 1523. Childbirth was particularly risky back then due to the neo-natal practises (particularly amongst older more superstitious midwifery) But of course, nuance is of no consequence when you are held in the aspic of social justice exultancy. It’s beguiling mirror usually results in a kind of Dorian Gray scenario in reverse, reflecting back always a beautiful soul, even if the one looking into it is a withered, toothless old hag.
I used to eat crayons in Senior Kindergarten. There used to be a commercial on TV back in the 1970s for Kellogg’s Sugar Corn Pops. The slogan was “Big yellow corn cereal — big yellow corn taste!” So I wanted to find out what yellow tasted like.