And it's not only talking. When your nearest and dearest can't take it anymore, it's sign waving on street corners. Who ARE these people? And from what well springs such ugly beliefs and this need. I keep referring back to Ernest Becker's "The Denial of Death." Which has been expanded on in the documentary "Flight from Death." (available on hulu for free). For me, Becker's theory that death consciousness drives human behavior, explains the needs and drives that otherwise completely baffle this poor soul.
Stickup, the Becker sounds very interesting. I'll try to take a look.
These people: my worry is that there seem to be more of them than I previously thought (pre-2008, maybe). AH, that's probably right, but I can't help wondering if such an absence of thought might also be a continuous holiday of meanness. But where does it come from? I really would be interested in biographies of some dozen or so of them. Lots of abuse maybe? When you consider what we know about infant bonding and imprinting and the mammalian need for warmth, I kinda doubt that such hatred grows on trees. Somebody creates it. How? Where? Who chose not to step in? Oh, I forgot: each of us has the inalienable right to turn a baby into a psychopath.
Then again, some of this is no doubt nature--just bad--no, terrible, horrific--wiring. Like Ted Bundy and Mr. Dahmer: When nature and nurture conspire.
RuneE, it's embarrassing. And just when we got a president who can speak his native tongue (rather eloquently, in fact).
RuneE, absolutely. And you know we've been down a similar road several times.
Now there's talk of arming teachers here--as if there are no lunatic teachers, and as if teachers can learn how to handle a gun when given the kind of 5-minute instruction we got for CPR. Those people would have brain surgeons training for a week because they don't want to be taxed to train them properly in public universities. I haven't heard such moronic talk since our war in Vietnam.
Thanks for your nice comment on my cedar waxwing photos. As I scrolled through your blog (I generally am more interested in photos rather than narrative) I was aghast at the photos in this post and at first I thought you were endorsing these ideas. Then I thought, no, Brenda of Arizona is a friend of mind and she wouldn't have any of it, so I'm so very glad I read the comments and set myself straight on who you are! Whew! I live in Deep East Texas in the heart of redneck country and you wouldn't believe the talk one hears at the beauty shop (I take my 92-year-old mother every week). We are constantly hearing about more and more schools in this area which are allowing teachers to carry guns during class! These people are nuts!
And it's not only talking. When your nearest and dearest can't take it anymore, it's sign waving on street corners. Who ARE these people? And from what well springs such ugly beliefs and this need. I keep referring back to Ernest Becker's "The Denial of Death." Which has been expanded on in the documentary "Flight from Death." (available on hulu for free). For me, Becker's theory that death consciousness drives human behavior, explains the needs and drives that otherwise completely baffle this poor soul.
ReplyDeleteI think it must be hell to live inside their heads.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I admire the "American Way". This is not one of those times.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the gray haired men in the upper photo, my first reading was "BLESSED BE THE PACEMAKERS"
ReplyDeleteStickup, the Becker sounds very interesting. I'll try to take a look.
ReplyDeleteThese people: my worry is that there seem to be more of them than I previously thought (pre-2008, maybe). AH, that's probably right, but I can't help wondering if such an absence of thought might also be a continuous holiday of meanness. But where does it come from? I really would be interested in biographies of some dozen or so of them. Lots of abuse maybe? When you consider what we know about infant bonding and imprinting and the mammalian need for warmth, I kinda doubt that such hatred grows on trees. Somebody creates it. How? Where? Who chose not to step in? Oh, I forgot: each of us has the inalienable right to turn a baby into a psychopath.
Then again, some of this is no doubt nature--just bad--no, terrible, horrific--wiring. Like Ted Bundy and Mr. Dahmer: When nature and nurture conspire.
RuneE, it's embarrassing. And just when we got a president who can speak his native tongue (rather eloquently, in fact).
PA, that's good. Hey, whatever works.
Just an addition - we felt the effect of that kind of people on July 22. 2011. 77 innocent people lost their lives.
ReplyDeleteRuneE, absolutely. And you know we've been down a similar road several times.
ReplyDeleteNow there's talk of arming teachers here--as if there are no lunatic teachers, and as if teachers can learn how to handle a gun when given the kind of 5-minute instruction we got for CPR. Those people would have brain surgeons training for a week because they don't want to be taxed to train them properly in public universities. I haven't heard such moronic talk since our war in Vietnam.
I wish I could wash these images out of brain. Damn.
ReplyDelete"out of MY brain", I meant to say.
ReplyDeleteThis image almost looks photoshopped....so many messages being flung at us. The first image is especially infuriating....
ReplyDeleteB and H, of course I agree. Maybe I should apologize for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your nice comment on my cedar waxwing photos. As I scrolled through your blog (I generally am more interested in photos rather than narrative) I was aghast at the photos in this post and at first I thought you were endorsing these ideas. Then I thought, no, Brenda of Arizona is a friend of mind and she wouldn't have any of it, so I'm so very glad I read the comments and set myself straight on who you are! Whew! I live in Deep East Texas in the heart of redneck country and you wouldn't believe the talk one hears at the beauty shop (I take my 92-year-old mother every week). We are constantly hearing about more and more schools in this area which are allowing teachers to carry guns during class! These people are nuts!
ReplyDelete