Inaugural Priorities...

[fajrdrako]

A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. - Dwight D. Eisenhower, Inaugural address, 20 January 1953

Comments

[dewline.livejournal.com]

A good choice of quote and substance there.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Definitely agreed.

It is the insistence on "privileges" that (IMNSHO) is one of the hallmarks of the "nanny state" amd why I agree with Barbara Amiel's criticism of it. [I mention this here because you, dewline, apparently have read her book Confessions (http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=amiel%2C+barbara&sts=t&tn=confessions&x=43&y=13). Many of Amiel's critics have not. I know auriaephiala has read it, but I don't know of others.]

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I love you people is that you've read things I haven't.

That's one I have been meaning to read - oh, that towering 'to be read' pile in my mind!

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Haven't gotten to it yet, although it feels like I've read enough of her magazine essays to have a problem with her thinking.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I', not sure what 'nanny state' means but on the face of it, it's probably something I'd like - though that reads a lot of assumptions into the phrase that may not be warranted.

Barbara Amiel has the reputation of being right wing, does she not? Is it warranted? (Not that I approve of such 'quaint categories' of political simplification... even when I say it!)

[dewline.livejournal.com]

It's another phrase for "welfare state".

And I'm not quite sure about Amiel, although given her marriage to Conrad Black, there may be some assumptions you can safely make.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's another phrase for "welfare state".

As a pejorative, or as a good thing?

I wouldn't blame people for their husband's misdoings, but this isn't a good sign. (Beware the company you keep?)

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

"Nanny state" is normally used as a pejorative in the US. You asked about dichotomies in American culture - I think they've gotten a lot stronger in the past 30 years, since Reagan and Lee Atwater developed this concept of "dividing and conquering" the electorate, and using Orwellian rhetoric to sharpen the differences. We hear a lot of adjectives that cluster around Democrats (feminine, nurturing, weak) and Republicans (masculine, stern/strong, rigid) that can be spun to be positive or negative.

But I do also think it falls into American rhythms of speech, particularly Southern religious phraseology - I think that's one reason Obama tends to use it. It's musical. You'll notice that he tends to build them up - two at a time, then three at a time, and at a peak, he'll string 4-5 together so that they rise.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You asked about dichotomies in American culture - I think they've gotten a lot stronger in the past 30 years

That's been my impression. More division, and more extemism on both sides. Also more name-calling.

using Orwellian rhetoric

I hear way, way too much of that.

We hear a lot of adjectives that cluster around Democrats (feminine, nurturing, weak) and Republicans (masculine, stern/strong, rigid) that can be spun to be positive or negative.

How... sexist.

It's musical. You'll notice that he tends to build them up - two at a time, then three at a time, and at a peak, he'll string 4-5 together so that they rise.

Yes, it's great fun to listen to.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

More division, and more extemism on both sides. Also more name-calling.

You can thank Republican political operative Lee Atwater, who pioneered many of these tactics (now often called "Rovian" - Karl Rove was a disciple). The reaction from the left has been just that - reactive, which is frustrating and probably escalates the tension because Democrats, at least, have never wanted to get down in the dirt with the Republicans, and end up not responding quickly enough: classic case, the Swiftboating of John Kerry. He foolishly believed that the fact that the lies were so clearly lies would mean that people wouldn't believe them. Even when the false claims were disproven, the right-wing outlets kept drumming up the lies. (I'm not really arguing this one-sided - Democrats are chronically too late and too weak in responses. Obama has been a surprising exception, and surprisingly subtle.)

How... sexist.

Yep - Atwater et al planned it that way. They were macho thugs. It was all very sexist, and at times sexual ("Drill, baby, drill" anyone?)

Yes, it's great fun to listen to.

Isn't it? It's gospel, baby.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

They were macho thugs.

There seem to be too many people getting away with that. Hopefully this will change.

I want a parliament of grown-ups.

Lies in public get a momentum all their own, and a lot of people believe "where there's smoke, there's fire". This is one reason I hate lies so much.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

I want a parliament of grown-ups.

No kidding. I don't know if it reached Canada, but there was quite a popular meme going around the media about the Obama Administration coming in that "the adults were in charge now." A very good thing, too.

About lies, you're absolutely right. One of the things I was most pleased about in this recent election campaign was that the sort of lies that worked in 2004 didn't work. People were starting to see through them. Better late than normal!

BTW, I remember seeing something on your LJ a few days/weeks ago about wanting new Nine/Jack/Rose - believe it or not, I posted the latest chapter of my ongoing long-drawn-out epic/intimate saga yesterday (the last one was in August ::headdesk::).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

"the adults were in charge now."

I like that. I hope the thought spreads northerly.

One of the things I was most pleased about in this recent election campaign was that the sort of lies that worked in 2004 didn't work. People were starting to see through them.

Hooray!

I remember seeing something on your LJ a few days/weeks ago about wanting new Nine/Jack/Rose - believe it or not, I posted the latest chapter of my ongoing long-drawn-out epic/intimate saga yesterday (the last one was in August ::headdesk::).

Oh, happy day. Congratulations! I thought it had been a while, wondered if I missed something. Okay, I'll go now to scoop it up with a big smile.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Can you send me the URL?

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Ah! We just crossed in the post. Most recent chapter here (http://ninamusing.livejournal.com/5892.html), with links to previous chapters if you've missed any.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd bookmarked them, but I hadn't read any - I was waiting for the story to be finished, as I like reading WIPs when they are finished. But. A Jack/Nine/Rose story is too important to delay, you know?

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Barbara Amiel has the reputation of being right wing, does she not? Is it warranted?

Yes. I'd describe her as an early neo-con.

She can turn a phrase, but that's not enough IMHO. The last few columns I read by her in Maclean's were most whining -- not even up to her previous standard.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The last few columns I read by her in Maclean's were most whining -- not even up to her previous standard.

That's a shame.

Occasionally people leave a Maclean's in our laundry room; it's been a while since I picked one up and actually read it.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

The most interesting part of that book was about Amiel's wardrobe.

Reading it was a waste of time.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

LOL. Okay, I will keep that in mind.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Nicely said, I thought. Sometimes epigrams are more clever than true. This is both.

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Eisenhower is largely considered a mediocre president at best, but some of his speeches were really good, and eerily prescient - he's notoriously the one (a Republican general, no less) who warned against the military-industrial complex.

I'm watching the Inauguration, and they're playing Holst's English Suite. I absolutely love that piece, it's can reduce me to mush, but it seems an odd choice!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Eisenhower is largely considered a mediocre president at best

I remember him only vaguely, and don't hear much about him.

some of his speeches were really good

So it would seem!

he's notoriously the one (a Republican general, no less) who warned against the military-industrial complex.

Hah! he was in a position to know.

I'm watching the Inauguration

I am envious. I'm at work, no access to TV or live streaming.

it seems an odd choice!

Maybe they saw it as sort of politically neutral?

[nina-ds.livejournal.com]

Possibly. Also? Standard band rep. They can probably play it in their sleep - heck, I could, and I haven't been in a band since college, and that's now a frighteningly long time ago.