Comments on: How Things Change Out From Under Us http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/ Your home for traditional conservatism. Thu, 24 May 2012 08:19:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mikael http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189735 Mikael Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:35:54 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189735 I sympathize with the general ideas expressed here: society has taken an ill turn, with the tumorous growth of the socialist nanny state, out-of-control feminism, and various other negative developments. But guys, reminiscing of the good-ole days of getting harassed by the local bully in your youth strikes me as nothing but senile ramblings! I bet those days weren't as happy as you wish to remember them. Thinkin being harassed was romantic, is senility raising it's ugly head. Fight it! Besides, nothing much has changed anyway. I am 42 years old, and when I beat up a bully that had been pestering me for a long time, the teachers chose to look the other way. They knew he had it coming. I guess they were secretly happy to see someone put him in place. That was in the late seventies. Fast-forward to last week, when my youngest son beat up a bully that had been pestering him for a long time, his teachers reacted in the same way. They chose to see nothing, and do nothing. For the same reason. My son had the teachers' full blessing in defending himself. Just not spoken aloud. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The ideas you are fighting are primarily found in the media, not in the minds of the people. People know they have to look like they obey the new rules in front of the boss, or they get into trouble, but that's all. At least this is the case in my country (Sweden), which is the undisputed world-leader in feminism and state nannying, so I can't imagine things being much worse elsewhere! I sympathize with the general ideas expressed here: society has taken an ill turn, with the tumorous growth of the socialist nanny state, out-of-control feminism, and various other negative developments. But guys, reminiscing of the good-ole days of getting harassed by the local bully in your youth strikes me as nothing but senile ramblings!

I bet those days weren't as happy as you wish to remember them. Thinkin being harassed was romantic, is senility raising it's ugly head. Fight it!

Besides, nothing much has changed anyway. I am 42 years old, and when I beat up a bully that had been pestering me for a long time, the teachers chose to look the other way. They knew he had it coming. I guess they were secretly happy to see someone put him in place.

That was in the late seventies. Fast-forward to last week, when my youngest son beat up a bully that had been pestering him for a long time, his teachers reacted in the same way. They chose to see nothing, and do nothing. For the same reason. My son had the teachers' full blessing in defending himself.

Just not spoken aloud.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The ideas you are fighting are primarily found in the media, not in the minds of the people. People know they have to look like they obey the new rules in front of the boss, or they get into trouble, but that's all.

At least this is the case in my country (Sweden), which is the undisputed world-leader in feminism and state nannying, so I can't imagine things being much worse elsewhere!

]]> By: scrybe http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189731 scrybe Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:27:38 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189731 I'm 29 now but I can remember seeing gun racks (with guns) in the back glass of pickups when I was very young. I grew up with several guns in the house. I knew where they were, and I knew where the ammunition was. I was 8 years old when my father took me out to shoot for the first time. He taught me how to load, aim and shoot but most importantly, respect for weapons. I have to agree, guns haven't changed. People have. I'm 29 now but I can remember seeing gun racks (with guns) in the back glass of pickups when I was very young. I grew up with several guns in the house. I knew where they were, and I knew where the ammunition was. I was 8 years old when my father took me out to shoot for the first time. He taught me how to load, aim and shoot but most importantly, respect for weapons.

I have to agree, guns haven't changed. People have.

]]> By: Mike http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189730 Mike Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:45:48 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189730 Of the posts I've read, a few mentioned how when somebody stood up to the bully, the bully was beaten and never bullied anyone again. Evidently where you come from, the bullies are wimps. Where I'm from, if you stood up to a bully, you got your face smashed in. The reason they're bully's is because they can beat everybody !! All these story's sound like something from an Andy Griffith episode. Of the posts I've read, a few mentioned how when somebody stood up to the bully, the bully was beaten and never bullied anyone again.
Evidently where you come from, the bullies are wimps.
Where I'm from, if you stood up to a bully, you got your face smashed in. The reason they're bully's is because they can beat everybody !!
All these story's sound like something from an Andy Griffith episode.

]]> By: Rick http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189729 Rick Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:23:44 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189729 1) Whether intentional or not, there has been a transfer of power and responsibility from the individual to authority over the last fifty years. This began with the return of the WW2 vets who were, correctly, seen as a threat from the grassroots. Well armed and battle seasoned, they were, indeed, a real threat (see http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1985/2/1985_2_72.shtml) that had to be defused carefully. Gradually, a tactic of "frighten and comfort" was adopted starting with the "Cold War" right on through the "War on Terror". The basic message was the same - the dangers of the world are too great for the individual so authority must assume control. 2) The Sixties saw a genuine interest among the young in making the world a better place. This particularly attracted those who, today, would be labeled "geeks". Well-intentioned but easily manipulated due to their inexperience, they filled the teaching posts of America and thus determined the mental future. 3) The decline of our economy forced the one wage earner model aside and women were forced to the workforce from the home. The same pressure blocked the option of the stay-at-home Dad. Feminism had little to do with it. The net result was to weaken family in favor of authority. 4) The media was enlisted to encourage overall fear and insecurity while simultaneously desensitizing individual reaction to violence. Thus the society as a whole found itself quaking before the lone gunman. What we have seen is the adoption of a tactic of terrorism, not by some swarthy foreign power but by our own. The 9/11 attacks were driven into the public mind with a sledgehammer as the tapes rolled again and again. Today the mediawaves are shouting "Flu!" Tomorrow it will be something else. How do we change this? Can we? No guarantees, but a start might be made by holding the media accountable. Perhaps a pooling of financial resources to hammer them with quixotic but high profile lawsuits forcing bebate over what they have done. And back on the playground, perhaps a conscious attempt to use the same forces that instilled the fear into us to promote the idea that when confronted with a bully (whether in school or Washington) a valid response is to mob the SOB. 1) Whether intentional or not, there has been a transfer of power and responsibility from the individual to authority over the last fifty years. This began with the return of the WW2 vets who were, correctly, seen as a threat from the grassroots. Well armed and battle seasoned, they were, indeed, a real threat (see http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1985/2/1985_2_72.shtml) that had to be defused carefully. Gradually, a tactic of "frighten and comfort" was adopted starting with the "Cold War" right on through the "War on Terror". The basic message was the same - the dangers of the world are too great for the individual so authority must assume control.

2) The Sixties saw a genuine interest among the young in making the world a better place. This particularly attracted those who, today, would be labeled "geeks". Well-intentioned but easily manipulated due to their inexperience, they filled the teaching posts of America and thus determined the mental future.

3) The decline of our economy forced the one wage earner model aside and women were forced to the workforce from the home. The same pressure blocked the option of the stay-at-home Dad. Feminism had little to do with it. The net result was to weaken family in favor of authority.

4) The media was enlisted to encourage overall fear and insecurity while simultaneously desensitizing individual reaction to violence. Thus the society as a whole found itself quaking before the lone gunman.

What we have seen is the adoption of a tactic of terrorism, not by some swarthy foreign power but by our own. The 9/11 attacks were driven into the public mind with a sledgehammer as the tapes rolled again and again. Today the mediawaves are shouting "Flu!" Tomorrow it will be something else.

How do we change this? Can we? No guarantees, but a start might be made by holding the media accountable. Perhaps a pooling of financial resources to hammer them with quixotic but high profile lawsuits forcing bebate over what they have done.

And back on the playground, perhaps a conscious attempt to use the same forces that instilled the fear into us to promote the idea that when confronted with a bully (whether in school or Washington) a valid response is to mob the SOB.

]]> By: TH http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189727 TH Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:56:08 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189727 If guns werent made to be so taboo in America, then a gun would be just like any other tool in ones hands. I think the worst thing possible, is trying to control the way people bare arms in this country. If guns werent made to be so taboo in America, then a gun would be just like any other tool in ones hands.

I think the worst thing possible, is trying to control the way people bare arms in this country.

]]> By: Dan Branson http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189719 Dan Branson Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:59:45 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189719 What we have in the US is a double sided sword...one side is the conservative, "build more prisons, put em all in jail forever, But praise jesus types". Then you have the other side filled with the "there are no winners and losers, everyone is equal just take some prozac and ritilan and talk about your feelings"types. Both of these are wrong, and therein lies the problem with the dualistic, good vs evil, us vs them thought pattern that has been programmed into the typical americans brain. It's a "heads we win, tails you lose system. I am an atheist, gun owning, White male that believes in the constitution and in the legalisation of drugs for all adults, and that if gay folks want to be married have at it. We need more than a two party system in our country the dual mindset is BS. Everything shouldn't be illegal and we don't need anymore prisons, kids don't have add or adhd or any other made up sickness and it should be illegal to give them anti deppressents. What we have in the US is a double sided sword...one side is the conservative, "build more prisons, put em all in jail forever, But praise jesus types".

Then you have the other side filled with the "there are no winners and losers, everyone is equal just take some prozac and ritilan and talk about your feelings"types.

Both of these are wrong, and therein lies the problem with the dualistic, good vs evil, us vs them thought pattern that has been programmed into the typical americans brain. It's a "heads we win, tails you lose system.

I am an atheist, gun owning, White male that believes in the constitution and in the legalisation of drugs for all adults, and that if gay folks want to be married have at it.

We need more than a two party system in our country the dual mindset is BS.

Everything shouldn't be illegal and we don't need anymore prisons, kids don't have add or adhd or any other made up sickness and it should be illegal to give them anti deppressents.

]]> By: Dedalus http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189716 Dedalus Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:58:55 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189716 Perhaps what we need is a little Intellectual, Psychological, and Emotional toughness. A toughness that excessive reactions to violence, for or against, would only work to inhibit. Perhaps what we need is a little Intellectual, Psychological, and Emotional toughness. A toughness that excessive reactions to violence, for or against, would only work to inhibit.

]]> By: Dedalus http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189715 Dedalus Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:51:19 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189715 I'm a huge PCR fan. But honestly, the argument presented here is a bit too Either/Or for me. Some students just don't defend themselves as well as others and that is not a bad thing. And conversely there are an awfully lot of sadistic bullies who don't care that the other person can't defend themselves or are just no good at fighting. But it says a lot about America that it went from the way Mr. Roberts presents it, to its equally foolish polarized opposite. My point is both responses are the result of the same culture, ie; The Culture of Over-Simplification, itself a result of our Frontier history. I thought Civilization meant the circumnavigation of the use of force, not the glory in violence that could easily be avoided, or the hysterical and prissy resistance to it. I'm a huge PCR fan. But honestly, the argument presented here is a bit too Either/Or for me. Some students just don't defend themselves as well as others and that is not a bad thing. And conversely there are an awfully lot of sadistic bullies who don't care that the other person can't defend themselves or are just no good at fighting. But it says a lot about America that it went from the way Mr. Roberts presents it, to its equally foolish polarized opposite. My point is both responses are the result of the same culture, ie; The Culture of Over-Simplification, itself a result of our Frontier history. I thought Civilization meant the circumnavigation of the use of force, not the glory in violence that could easily be avoided, or the hysterical and prissy resistance to it.

]]> By: Emily Cragg http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189712 Emily Cragg Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:39:19 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189712 The past two generations have been taught there is no way to know if something is true. Therefore, there is no truth to stand up for, anymore. And that's what we have come to. Ideology is more important to us than the facts. The past two generations have been taught there is no way to know if something is true.

Therefore, there is no truth to stand up for, anymore.

And that's what we have come to.

Ideology is more important to us than the facts.

]]> By: Karen Buley http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/2009/04/20/how-things-change-out-from-under-us/comment-page-2/#comment-189711 Karen Buley Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:59:59 +0000 http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/?p=1587#comment-189711 I was raised in the 60's where it was common for high school boys to bring their guns to school on the rack in their pickup during the fall. One afternoon, during football practice, on a clear fall day a pheasant was spotted. The kid looked at the coach, nodded and went and got his gun. Took aim fired and hit the pheasant, retrived it and then went on to finish practice. Very common, no harm done and something for dinner. Today, he would probably be arrested. Why with the anniverary of Columbine, have we not heard of all the drugs the boys were on (anti-depressants and such)that are so common today but unheard of in my day? I was raised in the 60's where it was common for high school boys to bring their guns to school on the rack in their pickup during the fall. One afternoon, during football practice, on a clear fall day a pheasant was spotted. The kid looked at the coach, nodded and went and got his gun. Took aim fired and hit the pheasant, retrived it and then went on to finish practice. Very common, no harm done and something for dinner. Today, he would probably be arrested. Why with the anniverary of Columbine, have we not heard of all the drugs the boys were on (anti-depressants and such)that are so common today but unheard of in my day?

]]>