Every School Day in Every Community

 

How in the name of all that is righteous can we look at this and not be incensed? 

 

Bring on the Dueling

In an article published here a few days ago, the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton was mentioned in passing.  My sister, Vee, commented that ” [The duel] doesn’t fit my narrative of a civilized society.”  So how does the “civilization” of the American nineteenth century compare to twenty-first century America?  200 years ago a public figure shooting off his mouth, insulting an opponent, if you will, might easily lead to the offended party demanding “satisfaction.”  This in turn could well lead to a meeting on a remote river island with pistols at thirty paces.  Someone might die.

In today’s America, insults are bandied about with impunity, the press picking up the duel of words as the offended party responds with what he hopes is a greater insult than the one he received, all done under the guise of exposing the truth, of course.  The louder, then, and more extensive the words, the more the media love it and the pot boils.

200 years ago, the principals and their seconds trudge home from the dueling grounds, perhaps carrying a body, or perhaps not, and the matter is settled.

In what way is that “less civilized” than the character assassinations our current leaders engage in?  In what way is the 19th-century response less civilized than the pot-stirring public display of animosities the press and the public engage in today?

Currently, our biggest problem would be finding enough remote river islands in which to conduct the hostilities.  But perhaps on the Capitol steps in full view of the cameras?

I wonder.  I wonder how long it would take some people to gain control of their tongues and introduce some civility into their discourse were we to revert to some earlier practices.

Book Review

A few days ago I was browsing the "new acquisitions" shelves in our local library. My eye was taken by, then assaulted by, this attractively artistic cover with its insultingly rude title. I picked it up and leafed through it. I ascertained rather quickly (darned little reading material inside, and much of it not really fit to print) that I would be ashamed to have the thing inside my home. And none of the letters in the nasty little words are x-ed out. Other than the artwork, which I indicated is attractive, the book lacks creativity in swearing, cussing, or scatology, for the same tired old words that we have all known and have avoided using throughout our entire lives make up much of the text.

I pointed out to the librarian that the booklet was sorely lacking in creativity with regard to language; and that it was obviously the product of a feeble, if warped, mind.

It is only after I leave the library that I discover the truly awful truth about this trash. It is a bestseller*. It is being reviewed seriously by the "intellectual elite". It is being represented as "literature" with deep sociological and psychological implications.

In truth, it is probably representative of the depths to which we have sunk as a society.

*Update: The most recent release shows this title to be number four on the hard-cover non-fiction best sellers list. Reflect on that. Non-fiction. Exactly. This sad little man is capitalizing on the basest of human behaviors.

Not All Change is Progress

At the crest of the generational divide we find another example of technological progress, casting off the old and clasping the new.

That penmanship and spelling are skills that have served us well for generations is indisputable. That they are disciplines requiring assiduous attention to detail and practice, practice, practice is evident. That the young reject it is as much a rebellion against discipline as it is an adoption of technological advances.

The older set, of which I am representative, is as averse to adopting the "new" as the younger set is to dragging with them the luggage of a past era.

So we have submitted. They win. Of course it never would enter the imagination that everything that relies on electrical power will be so much ash in the hand when there is no power.

True Gall

Who, in his warped and delusional mind thought that Jeff Bridges could reprise John Wayne's role as Rooster Cogburn? Who, for that matter, is Hailee Steinfeld and why does she get to be Mattie in Kim Darby's role?

Perhaps for Peoria Playhouse Community Players, but give me a break. Some people will do anything for a buck.