American society
Eric Huss of Aurora writes:
This letter has not been edited.
Few things are worse than an arrogant boomer.
Posted by Bob on May 3, 2007 02:43 PMVIVA MEXICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by on May 3, 2007 03:09 PMBring back the Stratgic Air Command and nuke em all!
Posted by Curtis Lemay on May 3, 2007 03:46 PM"As I read the newspaper today, I was absolutely disgusted by how whiny and weak this nation is."
This episode of the Kettle and Pot brought to you by Eric Huss, of Aurora.
Posted by Charles B on May 3, 2007 03:50 PMCharles B if you use that same line one more time you'll sound just like a skip in the record, a skip in the record, a skip in the record, a skip in the record...
Posted by KW on May 3, 2007 04:01 PMKW,
By my count it's the second time I've used it.
I'm glad to see you're closely monitoring my posts though. Should I worry about you stalking me?
Posted by Charles B on May 3, 2007 04:20 PMI remember B because you used it on me first.
Most people would've seen the humor in my previous post. At least, those old enough to remember what an LP is.
Posted by KW on May 3, 2007 04:26 PMJust have to tell myself . . . not to cry . . .
Posted by Bruised Feelings on May 3, 2007 04:52 PMMr. Huss,
You had until yo mentioned the Baby Boomers.
I do believe as a nation, we need to adopt Stoicism as our common philosophy.
Posted by John II on May 3, 2007 05:28 PMGod I love all you guys. The 4:01 post was beautiful.
Posted by Sharon B. on May 3, 2007 06:54 PMYou make a pretty big mistake (i.e., undermining your own argument) by making such blanket generalizations. But since you started it ... The Baby Boomers may have taught their kids some pretty good things, but if you look closely at the children of Baby Boomers, you'll see that the most self-centered generation in history raised their children to be the same way. Boomers' children were raised on platitudes such as "as long as you're happy, that's all that matters," and "you have to do what's in your best interest." It has created an environment of rampant entitlement.
While I think some people tend to over-romanticize "The Greatest Generation," I have to admit that it's hard to picture the Boomers or their children, en masse, making the kids of sacrifices for the collective that TGG made during WWII.
Posted by Jeff on May 3, 2007 07:27 PMKW,
"Most people would've seen the humor in my previous post. At least, those old enough to remember what an LP is."
I was too busy feeling all defensive and stuff.
Posted by Charles B on May 3, 2007 08:51 PMI have adopted ignoring the tedious ramblings of John II as my personal philosophy.
Posted by B. Drunk on May 3, 2007 09:34 PMEric,
I'm disgusted too! We used to be a
courageous group here in the U.S.A,
proud of our culture! Now we have
the weakest group "the America bashers",
its constant. They are not even decent
enough to call him President Bush.
How can other countries respect us,
when the liberals constantly denigrate
our Constitution, and our President and
our soldiers.
Thank-you for writing.
I hate to say it, but us (the baby boomers) created these self centered, stupid, arrogant punks that we now have to face.
We tuned out. We ignored who was getting elected, who was gaining control, who was getting greedy. We were a selfish generation that produced an even more selfish generation.
We created these morons, and now we watch as they begin the final assualt on logic and reason. We can't put this genie back in the bottle, all we can do is get involved and try to correct at least part of this mess we have created.
Forget about a lazy retirement. We did not earn it.
Posted by truthy on May 4, 2007 06:48 AMJohnII said ” I do believe as a nation, we need to adopt Stoicism as our common philosophy.”
Whoa!
A right-wing plutocrat advancing Zeno of Citium!?
I don’t see it JohnII, abandoning patriotism, big-screen TV, muscle cars?
Just can’t imagine Americans as foregoing the vulgar, putting aside the passions, and leading lives based on material physics and naturalistic ethics. Give up religion, I don’t see it.
Besides, where would the US economy be if its people did not overindulge in everything?
Mr. Skank,
"Give up religion, I don’t see it."
We don't need to give up our religion. As Epictetus said:
"All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way. "
I believe America should put it's own stamp on Stoicism. Patriotism is compatible with Stoicism. It's all a matter of the standards we define for ourselves and how we hold ourselves to those standards.
But, you're right. Stoicism would be a tough sell in this country.
Perhaps, someday when King John II rules this land, a new American Stoicism will be our national philosophy. ;)
Posted by John II on May 4, 2007 09:45 AMThe only form of religion or patriotism compatible with Stoicism would be very quiet, staid, and somewhat cynical forms.
Tolerate yes, but not practice with passion.
Can you see Ted Haggart, James Dobson, etc telling us about faith in a demure, soft, and passionless way?
I like it, I just don’t see it ;)
btw JohnII, you sound a lot like Jeff Cooper.
A real Republican's Republican.
Bango, you mentioned Zeno, I love his stuff.
Stoicism is too much like the Puritan Work Ethic, where everyone works hard, spends little and saves to invest in more businesses.
That only works if a few people do it and all the others spend wildly.
I almost thought John II was making a joke.
The America bashers are usually refering to the CIA and various presidents messing around in the afairs of other countries. We don`t bash Americans, just those who use our system for personal gain, and to spread their ideology. Think United Fruit, the Shah of Iran, arms for hostages, etc.
Posted by Sharon B. on May 4, 2007 10:26 AMMr. Skank,
I don't get the sense that passion, in the modern sense of the word, is to be omitted from the Stoic's actions.
Stoicism does not mean to be emotionless, it simply means not to be ruled one's emotions. Speaking in a passionate (again modern sense of the word) manner is not incompatible with Stoic principles. As long as what is spoken is based on truth and reason.
And as for God, Zeus was referred to often in Marcus Aurelius' Meditations and even Epictetus's Discourses.
It's the 'go ahead and cut my head off if you must' part that will be the tough sell...
Posted by John II on May 4, 2007 10:56 AMMr. Skank,
Since, you have actual military experience, I think you may appreciate some of the writings of Admiral James Stockdale. Have you read his thoughts on Stoicism?
We need more Americans like him.
Posted by John II on May 4, 2007 11:04 AMIf I'm not mistaken, this Eric Huss character is all of 28 years old. That being the case, he is a child of boomers and not a boomer, himself. That being the case, he is in the age group of parents that he claims to despise: those that are irresponsible and not talking to their children. I would strongly suggest that he NOT have children. (or, if he has already had children, is he guilty of not talking to them, as he claims parents 'nowadays' aren't doing?)
Furthermore, Mexico isn't in any position to 'take over' as you claim. I'd watch out for China.
Mexico can't take over, but it can send all of it's jobless,under-educated, disease ridden, pregnant, felonious, citizens to the U.S. for you and me to deal with. And China already has us by the you-know-what's.
Posted by A on May 5, 2007 12:38 PMJeff said
"You make a pretty big mistake (i.e., undermining your own argument) by making such blanket generalizations.
Boomers' children were raised on platitudes such as "as long as you're happy, that's all that matters," and "you have to do what's in your best interest." It has created an environment of rampant entitlement."
The Boomers are a pretty large group in terms of the years covered.
I fall in the last third of the Boomer group. My kids were not raised that way. In fact, the only children I know of from Boomer parents that were raised that way were the ones from those we used to call "Hippies." You know, the ones that are now college faculty.
(Another broad generalization?)
Posted by RU Serious on May 5, 2007 12:51 PM