Questions About the Way We Are Now
by Clyde N. Wilson
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“American culture is an infinite regression to moronic vulgarity.” —Thomas Fleming
Napoleon famously called the English “a nation of shopkeepers.” Can we say that Americans are a non-nation of shoppers?
Are you ready for our first Luo-American president?
Are you ready for C-H-A-A-A-N-G-E!?
Are you ready for a President who got his start in politics with the Chicago machine?
Are you ready for (another) President who jokes about war?
After a Luo-American Democratic President we should have a Republican Kikiyu-American President. It’s only fair.
Thought experiment. According to widely accepted folklore, the Northern States fought the Southern States in 1861-1865 in order to free the slaves. If the South had freed the slaves after seceding, would the North have attacked them? (The answer is yes. The North attacked not to free the slaves but to “preserve the Union,” i.e., in order to keep the South captive for economic exploitation. The slaves being freed would have increased the incentive to attack and control the South because the Northern ruling class believed, mistakenly, that free blacks would provide cheaper and more profitable labour than slaves.)
According to the news, Ted Kennedy had three hours of brain surgery. I doubt if it will help. No cure has ever been found for Massachusetts.
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1 Comment by Robert Borne on 16 June 2008:
“American culture is an infinite regression to moronic vulgarity.” —Thomas Fleming
Personally I’m refreshed (always) by people capable of disappointment about that which only concerns them tangentially; rather than say ‘oh gosh I didn’t make enough, or lost money on such and such’…like swine.
Having said so, I’d like to take issue or qualify where I’m not in agreement. American culture is not capable of being infinite…nothing is capable of that in the fininte world/universe. God perhaps is ‘infinite’ – I don’t know ask Him if you ever get there – but in this world of His there are full stops or parameters. We can of course if we choose, thank Him for that if it limits, as it does, ______________, or in this case moronic vulgarity.
I hate to disappoint the youngsters but it’s not ALL in this regard ‘good.’
A friend of mine kids his kids when they mimic the times (what they hear and say to him) – ‘it’s all good, dad.’ And being a loving dad he goes with it and adds, ‘I know, except when it’s bad.’ … Then the kids also get it… they ain’t dumb.
2 Comment by Daniel Maxwell on 16 June 2008:
“Are you ready for C-H-A-A-A-N-G-E!?”
Dr. Wilson, I do believe we deserve the punishment of a horribly leftist non-hereditary elective monarch. We can hope it will proceed a true conservative revival, but the past has shown it has yet to produce one.
3 Comment by Robert Borne on 16 June 2008:
DAn why do you ‘deserve’ it? If god forgives and says it’s always now once repentant (of whatever?) why do you yet ‘deserve’ that?
I’m just asking. I’m NOT the media (your media) that was taken over and has brainwashed you …
… For example – into ‘believing’ you deserve it.
I, in honesty only ask?
4 Comment by Brock H. on 16 June 2008:
Who is dumber, Ted Kennedy or George W. Bush? They have both gone to great lengths in their race to the bottom. Their collaboration in enacting No Child Left Behind into law, another proud and defiant violation of the 10th amendment, proves that birds of a feather flock together. Both are dumb enough to believe that federal government oversight and dictation of the education system will produce anything to show that public education in the United States is improving.
5 Comment by Daniel Maxwell on 16 June 2008:
“I’m NOT the media (your media) that was taken over and has brainwashed you …”
Excuse me? Who, sir is the one ‘brainwashed’?
Your post is so asinine I fail to grasp most of it. You completely missed my point.
6 Comment by Robert Borne on 16 June 2008:
“I do believe we deserve the punishment of a horribly leftist non-hereditary elective monarch. We can hope it will *proceed a true conservative revival, but the past has shown it has yet to produce one.” -Daniel Maxwell
I know you meant *precede (I often misspell as well) … but unless you were being facetious you say also: “we deserve the punishment of a horribly hereditary elective monarch.”
I was only clearly wondering, I thought – if god forgives – why do you, even i.e. you ‘universal’ or your likes or your compatriots “deserve” it once having repented? It seems like you have already?! Maybe only yourself? But others see it too no doubt.
Are you God, sir? Deciding now it’s ‘deserved.’
If you choose to respond please only answer within the context you set for yourself above. thanks.
7 Comment by Leo on 16 June 2008:
The comedian Al Franken is now running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.Mr. Franken’s qualifications include a sometimes funny stint on Saturday Night Live and a failed radio show on the failed Air America.Actually I forgot,he wrote a sarcastic book about Limbaugh that not a whole lot of people read or if they did remembered.Franken,a true professional clown,will probably raise the level of decorum in the Senate.I praise the Democrats for getting to it;rather than wait for your elected rep to BECOME a clown while in Washington,why not just send the real thing.Dr.Wilson ,the big O,will not be the first president who got his start with the Chicago machine.That distinction probably belongs to Abe Lincoln when the Wigwam put him on the Republican ticket…and the rest is history or tragedy.Until then I’m not sure Lincoln had much of a start.De Maistre said a people get the government they deserve.Does America really deserve better than these two ambitious frauds?
8 Comment by Robert Borne on 16 June 2008:
in my opinion most of the decent americans i’ve met “deserve” much, much better. no one has the cojones to do anything about it, err the one’s who seem to believe they can ‘decide’ who deserves, what?! they’re already nullified so it’s the consolation prize to say well they don’t ‘deserve’ it. neither do You, then.
9 Comment by Patrick Hall on 16 June 2008:
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
I predict a John McCain win in November, simply because most people will vote for the guy that looks like their grandfather/uncle/elderly neighbor over the guy that looks like their co-worker/brother-in-law/fellow-in-the-apartment-next-to-them.
There are enough of these “most people” in Florida and Ohio to push McCain into the White House. Meanwhile, the Republican Party will continue to self destruct. Deo gratias.
Just yesterday I was praying (for our dearly departed) by the graveside of Lt Colonel John Pelham here in Jacksonville, Alabama; praying our Republic comes to it’s senses. The romantic soul of Lt Colonel Pelham was correct: it is better to die an American Southerner than live as an American Yankee. Unfortunately, we do not have the choice to die honorably, we must endure until the choice is offered…
10 Comment by Leo on 17 June 2008:
Exactly what “cajones”,Mr. Borne, has it taken over the past 50 years to simply go in a voting booth and elect a better government? Where were the “cajones” in 1964 when only 39% of the voters-in a secret ballot with clear choices-chose Goldwater.If we are a colony today with no real choices,and we don’t somehow deserve the thorns and nettles we have sown,then pray tell us who the real enemy has been.If you don’t know who De Maistre was or why he reacted to French Revolution as he did,get a copy of Augustine’s City of God and reconsider(or consider for the first time) his commentary on the fall of Rome.Whatever an individual American may deserve is a different concept than a “people” or a “nation”.Try to understand what others are actually saying,so you can make a useful reply instead of the usual freshman bull that tries to be witty about the teacher instead of explorative of the subject.
11 Comment by James Murphy on 17 June 2008:
Dear Clyde,
Obama has about as much to do with the Luo tribe as JFK does with the Iverni tribe in Ireland. Martin van Buren spoke Dutch before English, and was the first American citizen US president. Now there was a change from the Scots-Irish-English-Welsh tribes! How many Luo tribesmen would you say get Harvard Ph.D.s? Is your dyspeptic comment meant to have a point or are you just beating the toms-toms? I would be intrigued if you would expound on the connection between the Luo heritage and Obama’s potential course as president. Not that I support Mr Empty Pants or his empty message.
12 Comment by Roy on 17 June 2008:
From the content of the post above my guess would be that James Murphy is a Yankee.
13 Comment by Theodore Van Oosbree on 17 June 2008:
Thought experiment: what if the Confederate States of America had announced a gradual emancipation plan in 1861 and started forming regiments of black troops. Would their secession have succeeded? You know the answer.
14 Comment by SEMPRONIUS on 17 June 2008:
A few questions for Mr. Wilson.
Firstly let me say that I’m not a Southerner and I dont know much about the South.And while I dont mean to be disrespectful nor provocative I honestly dont see the great value you seem to store in the old Confederacy,either as a basis from upon which to resist modern degeneracy,or as a model of human achievement to uphold for all of Western Man.Since you are a scholar and a gentleman,would you kindly answer a few questions that have been puzzling me?
Why,if they were so virtuous,did Southern planters join with New Englanders in their revolt fron Britain in the first place?Even without the benefit of hindsight it doesnt seem like the wisest political move a planters aristocracy could make.
Why did virtuous Southerners import African slaves to begin with? Couldnt they have filled up the south with yoeman farmers from all across Europe?
Finally,in what meaningful way is the South a part of Western Civilization? How is Tennessee connected with Tuscany,or Virginia with Vienna?
15 Comment by Rick on 17 June 2008:
Why did the virtuois Norhterners sell them?
16 Comment by SEMPRONIUS on 17 June 2008:
Dear Rick,I’m trying to elicit serious commentary from a scholarly old gentleman.I respect Wilsons opinions,and as I mentioned in my post I meant no disrespect either to C.W. nor to Southerners in general.Furthermore I never said nor did I imply that Yankees are virtuous,quite the contrary;I’m trying to discover how the South may have avoided being trampled upon by Yankee imperialism.
Go outside and get some fresh air.
17 Comment by Rick on 17 June 2008:
Dear Sir while I appreciate your post it appeared to me just another in long line of excoriation of the South. Your term virtuious Southerner,was taken by me to be sarcastic in intend. As for going out into the air its too humid in my neck of the woods today
18 Comment by Robert Borne on 17 June 2008:
“The comedian Al Franken is now running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.Mr. Franken’s qualifications include a sometimes funny stint on Saturday Night Live and a failed radio show on the failed Air America.Actually I forgot,he wrote a sarcastic book about Limbaugh that not a whole lot of people read or if they did remembered.” -Leo
You know Al Franken americanized his name by dropping the stein at the end of it. But if his advisor I’d say put it back on, that’s truly american. A monster & jewish what more could you want it’s your country; you’ll be floating in MONEY. Take out dual citizenship if you don’t have it already Al Frankenstein in America i.e. Senator Al Frankenstein; and in Israel citizen Al Franken. Wow. I just want my usual 10% of the money I raise for you. [Deal or no Deal?] He’ll say 8% … I’ll say 8.75 he’ll say 8.5% – I’ll say DEAL.
Then when I raise him $100 Million bucks … I’ll get my $8.5 million this year. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Senator Al Frankenstein.
Enjoy!
_______
19 Comment by Christopher Baldwin on 17 June 2008:
Three hundred thousand Yankees are stiff in southern dust.
We got three hundred thousand before they conquered us.
They died of southern fever and southern steel and shot,
And I wish it was three million
Instead of what we got.
—”Ahm a Good Ole Rebel”
20 Comment by Daniel Maxwell on 17 June 2008:
Mr Borne.
I apologize for snapping at you. I think there was a misunderstanding on both of our parts. Now, to your questions.
“I know you meant *precede (I often misspell as well) … but unless you were being facetious you say also: “we deserve the punishment of a horribly hereditary elective monarch.”
Ha. See you did miss it. There is a myth, usually promoted in government schools, that the President ‘answers to the people’. As Dr. Wilson has shown throughout the years, the President does what he wants, and God bless you if you have the courage to stand in His way. In that way, he more resembles, as I said, a ‘non hereditary elective monarch’.
“I was only clearly wondering, I thought – if god forgives – why do you, even i.e. you ‘universal’ or your likes or your compatriots “deserve” it once having repented? It seems like you have already?! Maybe only yourself? But others see it too no doubt.”
By ‘deserve’ I was partially echoing an essay by Dr. Paul Gottfried on the topic. America, by foolishly voting back in Bush the Second, probably needs (ok, that sounds better than ‘deserves’) a horribly leftist Presidency to wake up.
21 Comment by Paul D. Alexander on 17 June 2008:
Dr. Wilson, I rather doubt there’s a cure for California, either.
22 Comment by James Murphy on 18 June 2008:
Dear Roy,
You’d better watch who you’re calling a Yankee. I am a Texan born and bred, and a states-rights Southerner that would kick the ass of any Yankee. What kind of non-sensical reply is that? Where do you get the idea in anything I said that I could be a Yankee? I demand that you explain yourself, sir.
23 Comment by PcH on 18 June 2008:
Oosbree:
Why are Northeasterners always snotty?
(1) Owsley and others already proved that slavery was over; it cost more to keep a slave than to let him go.
(2) The South did have Black troops. Where’ve you been?
The US has always been divided into two main parts: slaver-states and farm-states. Slavery has always been a Yankee thing. Farming belonged to the South and her daughter, the West. Yankee slavers brought the slaves to America and built factories with the profits. The Triangular Trade was really Yankee trade: rum for slaves, slaves for sugar, sugar for rum…
Northeastern capitalism was built by Puritan alcoholic slavers.
As Dr. Wilson noted, the War was started because slavery was over in the South. The slavers’ solution to its end was to replace regional Black slavery with universal grey slavery. That means we’re all slaves now since the North got rid of the US Constitution in 1861.
When the South had tried many times to free the slaves that the Yankee slavers had brought in, the Yankees states threatened to do away with the Constitution. In 1861, the slavers made good on the threat.
Sold to sin, the Yankee slave-nation died out. They have been replaced by their own despised slaves, the Irish and Italians they brought in to do the work that they, being Yankees, were too good to do.
But if you don’t like it, you can’t leave. They won’t let you. The only thing worse to a slaver than slavery is secession, ie., trying to get out.
That means that the post-1861 America is a roach hotel, and every post-1861 city looks and smells just like one.
24 Comment by robert m. peters on 18 June 2008:
Dr. Wilson,
Your words:
“preserve the Union,”
I have gradually come to understand that the movers and the shakers in the North in 1860 had some really concrete notions about the war: money and how to get it and keep it at the South’s expense; yet, they led the true believers and the masses with these abstractions which had no real objective correlative, i.e. the notions such as “union” and “nation” were estranged from real people and blood and soil. They stole sacred language and couched essencelessness in it and then asked Northerners to sacrifice themselves for it and to kill for it.
I can only speak for my Confederate ancestors; but they went to war to protect home and hearth, kith and kin. In Reconstruction, they saw how well placed their fears had been. I do not believe that the book has as yet been written about the death, disease and loss which Louisianans along with their fellow Southerners suffered in Reconstruction. Yankee soldiers, no matter how well intended, could not have fought for such concrete things because no one was threatening in any way their homes and hearths and their kith and kin. All that might have been threatened was a vague notion, a idea or some fabricated vision; nothing real and truly valuable and nothing worthy of such sacrifice and murder.
25 Comment by Roy on 18 June 2008:
“Sold to sin, the Yankee slave-nation died out. They have been replaced by their own despised slaves, the Irish and Italians they brought in to do the work that they, being Yankees, were too good to do.”
PcH: Your statements are based on historical fact it seems.
I’m reading an online publication of the Journal of Heredity by the American Genetic Association (circa 1914). The name of the article is “Differential Fecundity: How Various Races of The United States are Altering Their Positions- Native Americans Dying Out in New England- Whites Supplanting Negroes in the South- Influence of Cities on the Birth-Rate.”
It is fascinating to how many publications there were in the early 20th century that documented the high birthrates of white Southerners compared to everyone else. I wonder what the exact situation is now?
26 Comment by paul c graham on 18 June 2008:
Ahhhhh!
I love it when Dr. Wilson stirs-up a hornets next!
Good post, good heated responses, even a few lines from “I’m a Good Ol’ Rebel.”
All this entertainment and I didn’t have to spend one thin dime!
27 Comment by Roy on 18 June 2008:
Has anyone ever seen this map of the largest reported ancestry per county in the United States from the 2000 Federal Population Census? I find it striking as to what “American ancestry” corresponds to. The Southern nation?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County.jpg
28 Comment by Clyde Wilson on 19 June 2008:
Mr. Peters, #24. Beautifully stated. There is no hope for the U.S. until the majority understands and repudiates the hysteria of “preserving the Union.”
29 Comment by MAP on 19 June 2008:
I find it astonishing how the northern masses, as truly ignorant as all masses, could be so motivated and manipulated as to commit the atrocities in Kansas/Nebraska or condone the actions of the wacko John Brown. They were led to foaming at the mouth fanaticism by a group of agitators and propogandist, all to create a war for which we are all the losers. I’ve been studying Jefferson Davis’ ‘Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government’. The atrocities, crimes, usurpations, and illegalities of Lincoln, Seward and the rest of that scum staggers the imagination. Those in the north who were not ignorant and could not be led like sheep to the slaughter, were tossed in prison without trial as dissenters, traitors. This is how the out of control monstrocity in Washington came to birth. Sadly, ignorance still prevails. I have heard it stated that the north was the actual rebel, since they sought massive changes to the nature of the union and the sovereign states within it. Such is certainly the case! Sad, sad, sad.