America the Hateful: Why the F-bomb Epidemic?
Yesterday, the following “charming” missive arrived in the PJ Media inbox. It was obviously meant for me.
FROM: Truth Teller
EMAIL: n?a
WEBSITE:
MESSAGE:
I think Roger Simon’s turn to the right has more to do with the color of Obama’s skin than anything else. Everybody knows Jews don’t like blacks. Hitler was right about the Jews. They are all greedy, lying, sneaky snakes just like Roger Simon. Fuck you Jewboy and fuck Isreal [sic].
Meanwhile, over at Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds has been getting mail as well:
I cannot emphasize this enough: your brand of public discourse is hurting our country. It us poison. So fuck you, you GOP utensil, and fuck your mother for bringing you forth.
I’m not sure what a “GOP utensil” is (sterling silver serving bowl?), but, forget the Swine Flu, we may be in the midst of an F-bomb epidemic.
So whence all this hate? Is it actually growing or is it just another manifestation of the routine contempt we human beings have always felt for each other – “Hell is other people,” as Jean-Paul Sartre famously wrote? There’s certainly nothing new about the rancid anti-Semitism the (naturally anonymous) “Truth Teller” directed in my direction. Nor does the hot head who slammed Glenn seem particularly original. Moreover, the Internet, since its inception, has been a prodigious incubator for drive-by epithet-hurling of the more extreme sort. Godwin’s Law exists for a reason.
And yet somehow – hard as it is to believe after nearly a decade of invidious Bush-Hitler comparisons – I think things are getting worse. The Age of Obama, which was supposed to have been one of post-racial purple state comity, has turned into an era of mutual disgust approaching perpetual hostility. Furthermore, the level of the hatred is increasing and is not restricted to those employing the F-bomb. Far from it. In fact, blue language is the least of it. That is just the bile of the linguistically impoverished. More genteel types can be even worse. Everybody is under attack, often for reasons that have little to do with reality. We live in a world where virtually everyone is accused of racism and almost always without any evidence (except perhaps that someone else accused them of racism ten years ago and that accusation never got erased from the Internet – nothing ever does.)
Who is to blame for all this? Well, like everyone else, I have enemies and could name names. But I won’t. Because there is a bigger villain. And it is self-hatred. I am certain the contempt “Truth Teller” expressed toward me is a powerful projection of his hatred for himself. So does this mean we will live in a time of growing self-hatred? Could be. With high unemployment and a stagnant economy, there are a lot of people out there who don’t like themselves. Check your email.
Don’t over analyse this thing. Hatred of some group has been a symptom of the left, like, forever. The five minute hate wasn’t an Orwell invention, he just made it literary. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had some personal experience with it yourself back in the day. And the Jews are always available, especially after the USSR played a little real politic and switched sides in the Mideast. Where the USSR led the left was sure to follow. That’s not to say the phenomenon is unique to the left. It does, however, seem to play a central role in the whole leftist thing.
The now defunct blog Done With Mirrors asked before the election whether the commenter thought the election of Obama would improve or worsen race relations. I said that it would make them worse in the short run because the race card would be played at every opportunity. But that they would improve in the long run because the race card would become a joke.
We live in a time of Cultural decline. The 60′s have come into full bloom. The Church, civic organizations and general national consensus are a shell of what they once were. I ‘m afraid we will have to see a collapse of our society before we see another Springtime.
It is the “substitute of choice” for those with no ability to write a rational point of view; and is invariably a perfect self description…
Not to be mistaken for a presenter of facts/reason who then concludes others, with faulty invalid views are…
My husband shocked his DEM family many years ago when he announced he was a conservative *gasp*. Since then, his family is more conservative leaning (especially after my Dem father-in-law passed away) and my in-laws are split about 50/50 politically.
I also come from a Dem family (not one conservative in the bunch) but, my sibs are now Conservatives as are many of my cousins.
So, for me, I have the perspective of having family on both sides of politics and so I’m not as insulated from ‘the other side’ as ‘the enemy’ so much.
One thing that has changed rather dramatically though with regards to most of my Dem family members is that they have come around to admitting that they don’t like where the POTUS is taking this country and some have expressed fear and disbelief at how the health-care bill was ‘handled’.
I worry about the polarizing ugliness that is happening to so many of us AMERICANS. We are being divided and I can’t help but think this is being orchestrated on purpose to further weaken our resolve and unity as AMERICANS.
Calling everyone a racist who disagrees with this president and his czars, policies and administration is becoming so disgustingly pathetic. There are even black conservatives blogging about this with disgust and I can’t even stomach Ron Rosenbaum’s histrionics any longer.
Sad times.
P.S. I love ya, Roger! Don’t let those
*expletive_deleted* get you down!“The Age of Obama, which was supposed to have been one of post-racial purple state comity”
I repeatedly warned people that the exact opposite thing was going to occur. It was patently obvious that Obama was going to set back race relations in this country by minimally twenty years. He constantly employed the race card during his presidential campaign. Roughly 96% of all black voters also cast their ballots for him. They did so primarily on racial grounds. The very fact that Obama attended the church of Rev. Jeremiah Wright told one all they needed to know. His political career has revolved around the exploitation of white guilt—and increasing the hostility of blacks and other minorities toward the “establishment”. Obama is existentially committed to throwing kerosene onto the fire. He cares little whether it might burn out of control. A narcissist like Obama is only interested in furthering his control over others.
How much I have learned about the left in the past two years. PJM, I am sorry you received such a hate-filled message but not surprised. Agree with David Thomson, I also expected the election of Obama to bring about a new low in civil discourse and cooperation among different groups. He has embolded thugs everywhere…it’s the Chicago way. Let’s reunite him with the city he loves in early 2013.
This is the Age of Fascism, born in the late 19th century. It is as wide and deep and powerful as the Age of Enlightenment. It has its own angels and devils. Its primary emotion is rage. It exalts perversion and control. Its crimes will be inflicted on those it hates: Xians, the Juice, Rethuglicans, capitalists, whites. Its lineaments are clear: eugenics, totalitarianism, death camps. In the past it would have been confined in space, but the powers of modernity allow it to spread over the earth.
Those who helped to destroy the old world and now regret it will not be spared.
Sadly anti-semitism is only a warm-up, and a play within a play.
As the 60s radicals replay socialist revolution their own way they’ll still follow the old script when the hoi polloi “just won’t listen to them” — they’ll pull out the mobs first, then the guns.
Expect Obama to orchestrate his cold race war into a hot one in order to get the bolshis on the streets this long hot summer.
All this swearing lowers the vibration. How can we ever sing Kumbaya around the campfire this way? It also reveals a poverty of vocabulary. I’m agin it.
I suggest a Hate Mail Website — paid for by all Bloggers who want to contribute (cheap!) (like CNN and the Cable Channels) whence all Hate and F-Bomb type email of any persuasion would be posted.
(Nothing anti-free speech. Posting their nom de plume is okay, but wouldn’t suggest posting their email addresses. And, there would have to be some way of making sure they are genuine, and can’t be used, as for instance was the phony N-word accusation of last week or Trolls being ugly pretending to be the “other side.”)
Then, when any Blogger receives one of these emails, instead of just a rejection, Bloggers would notify the “bomber” that his email has been sent to the HATE WEBSITE.
This would “marginalize” them literally, and would give them pause to think about themselves.
On second thought, calling it the SHAME WEBSITE would be better.
The word “Hate” has been distorted, overused, used as much to attack as to defend, and become Orwellian in its use.
On second thought, instead of “Hate Website” it should be called the SHAME WEBSITE.
The word “Hate” has been overused, distorted, used as much to attack as to defend, and become Orwellian.
I’m not sure what a “GOP utensil” is….
Chafing dish.
In many cases it is a “poverty of vocabular”,however, in other cases it is a lack of self-discipline and control. People are suffering from some level of mental instability.Regular(healthy) people never settle their issues by sending vulgar hate screed, or intimidating messages to their opponents or objects of disdain.
This is just another indication of the breakdown in American morals, culture, society, mental health, or whatever.
Self-hatred? No. The reason so many are reduced to throwing the F word is impotence. I am speaking now of those who are more or less conservative, or traditional if you prefer that term. They have spoken, loud and clear, three times now, in Virginia, New Jersey and most clearly, Massachusetts, and the result from the anointed has been a big eff you. Frustrating to say the least. Maddening actually. So some are reduced to obscenity. As to why progressives or leftists use the F word? That’s been SOP with those who mock “bourgeoise morality” for decades.
I’m saddened by the decline in our cultural civility and hence, our discourse, it has been a long time in the making. And I am also saddened to see the good people at PJM attcked in such vicious ways. But it was ironic to see the side banner ad displayed on my screen to the right of Roger’s post.. It was an ad for an ABC “New Hit Show” 10 things I Hate about you. It’s everywhere… even if it is a comedy show.
Well, so now Eric Cantor and his family have been threateded with death-perp in custody.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t believe the conservatives who are ” reduced to obscenity” will be that much help to the conservative cause in the end.
We are living with a msm and an otherwise leftist double standard that will use those profanities to make their point.
Being in control of your emotions and making reasoned responsesis a necessary element in bring this country back to its senses.
If someone can show me where being provoked or baited into abuse has won the day have at it.I’m waiting. I know how I feel about the use of it from the left and it is major reason I am not impressed with them.
“That’s been SOP with those who mock “bourgeoise morality” for decades.”
Absolutely as you state it- which is a reminder of their early disintegration and why no one should be following that immature reasoning.They have the mindset of the street fighter and are basically low-life.
Never provide them with the ammo to shoot you with.Deny them every satisfaction and any validation.
I’m shocked that Roger Simon is shocked.
For many decades the Left has waged a war against the Center and the Right. This war has only appeared to simmer because the Center and the Right largely refused to engage. Meanwhile, the Left siezed real territory across the terrain, including much of the high ground. While at first this seemed gradual enough, suddenly the Radical Left had sufficient power to catapult Obama into the top slot…
Moderates woke up to discover what a few have been warning about for years. Leftist Radicals now own most of the Academy, including enough of the hard science terrain to successfully perpetrate the AGW hoax. The national media is little more than a retail outlet for the Left’s narrative on par with Pravda. The world is now infested with countless NGOs which are also primarily levers of Leftist influence, and the UN has become a bludgeon in the hands of Global Left totalitarianism and genocidal Islamic Jihad.
Now, in these desperate times, even the amazing man behind PJM indicates he’s shocked to find a war is happening around him — this because the Center and the Right are finally taking up the gauntlet. Earth to Roger Simon: The peace which has been shattered by a rising chorus of incivility was no peace at all. Better to wake up now and fight than remain anesthetized until no hope remains! This is the time to engage!
Aw. Da poor ickle Truth Teller thinks he’s going to fwighten da big bad Conservative wid da big bad f-word. Poor baby has no idea he sounds just like a toddler having a tantrum and screaming “I hate you” at everyone.
Poor dear. Maybe he’ll grow up one day.
My wife, a democrat, is so fed up with her fellow democrats, I’m not sure what she’s going to do.
For her fellow democrats, she’s considered a “far-right” republican. That’s how extreme it’s getting on the Left.
I have made the decision that I don’t want to be around these people. Politics do matter. And the freedoms that has made our country what it is matters too.
I’ve never felt so strongly before, but our country faces scary times.
Dick Cheney, the Senate, “felt good”… do Republicans have no memory at all?
Morton Doodslag #18, I am rather puzzled by your comment. Where does Roger Simon indicate he is “shocked” by these goings on? I don’t see evidence of that in his post. But perhaps I missed something.
It’s simple Roger, the “F” word is what people use when they really don’t have anything cogent to say. It’s a sign of a small mind.
I believe that the entrenched media have added kerosene and lit the match for this brand of rabid, frothing, exchange.
The imbecile writing to you Roger, is unfortunately, exhibiting the “mob behavior” pattern that is incited when someone feels emboldened by the being in a “crowd” and is egged on by “crowd” group loss of societal restraints.
The anonymous nature of the exchange allows for raging, rabid, frothing discourse, because there is a loss of individuality in the behavior.
The entrenched media make “opposing viewpoints” out to be “evil”, “racist”, “homophobic”, “greedy”…and it becomes very much like two large breed dogs passing on a narrow sidewalk. There is tension built into the situation and the “bark in your face” bravado is almost inevitable.
For leftists whose raison d’etre is to create class warfare, racial warfare, gender warfare, …it is the perfect solution to keep fanning these flames.
And the guy that wrote you that note…is one of the bigger flamers around.
The anger and the hostility has just become absolutely sick-making, and it seems to me to have been even worse in the last year; whoever thought that the Obama fans would turn out to be such bitter winners!
I post at Open Salon, more for the literary exposure than to comment on matters political, and the few times that I did say something about being a Tea Partier, and a libertarian-conservative, the response was so venomous that I was pretty appalled. I’ve been blogging since 2002, so I thought I had seen it all – but the illogic, and the absolutely vicious hostility just left me floored. I reached a kind of tipping point after the last go-round: I don’t want to ‘talk’ to these people any more. Ever. About anything. I used to think people who talked about a ‘cold civil war’ were exaggerating; now I’m afraid we’ll be lucky if a cold civil war is all that it is.
Mr. Simon, I can answer the question for you, but I don’t think most of America will agree with the answer. Many conservatives here, yes, but around the country, not so much. The answer for who is to blame for all of this strife and self-hatred is none other than the man we elected to the White House. Indeed, the modus operandi of the community organizer is to foment anger between his target (in our case, those “rich” Americans) and his intended target (read, the goodfornothings who do not want to work and want to be given something at the expense of the “rich”). From this arrangement the community organizer derives power and prestige. Were any of the parties to figure out that they didn’t need the community organizer, well, then the community organizer would be denied his existence. So, the community organizer foments hatred and if it leads to violence well, that’s even better because the community organizer can then justify that all he wants is peace and place himself as the arbiter of peace between the warring masses, further cementing his place in “history”.
The man America elected to higher office is a race hustling, anti-Semitic Socialist and we should not be surprised that before us lie ruin and division. As time goes by we will begin to see the full picture of what Obama is, but what you can piece together now does not paint a pretty picture: redistribution of wealth, class division, hatred towards Israel, self-aggrandizement after forcing your will upon people, ruin after every policy pursued, embellishment of enemies. It does not get better from here.
Roger L. Simon #22, you’re right and I was wrong. Roger L. Simon didn’t express shock, though he (you?) did seem perplexed by what struck him as new levels of vitriol. Perhaps I should have said “I’m shocked that Roger Simon is perplexed.”
The levels of vitriol which he only now seems to be noticing are indeed indicative of self-hatred. But this is merely a tactic, a tactic which has long use in the Left’s relentless war against the Center and the Right. Self-loathing is the enzyme which they deploy to help dissolve historical and social and moral sinews of the West, a means to an end. And what is that ultimate end? Nothing less than the annihilation of the impure West and bring about the nirvana of the Worker’s Paradise.
When Roger L. Simon asks “So whence all this hate?” and concludes “there is a bigger villain. And it is self-hatred” he wildly misses the mark. In mistaking the enemy’s tactics for their goal he commits the same error most in the West commit by confusing the tactic of terror Muslims use to eventually spread Islam. The goal is not the terror, but the spread of Islam.
The goal of Leftist loathing is not the loathing itself, but the overthrow of the West and imposition of Collectivist Totalitarianism.
Roger,
I though “GOP utensil” was delightful; “tool” has become such a hackneyed term. Credit where credit’s due, Roger!
Yours truly,
Neo (just another GOP utensil) Buzz
Take a gander at Ron Rosenbaum’s level of fury. He’s just one F-bomb away from saying what he really thinks.
If I took all the above comments to heart, I’d see a future in which hysterical left-wing mobs battle it out with equally hysterical right-wing militias. The intersection where the Branch Davidians meet Jonestown, and both slug down the poisoned koolaid like it was mothers’ milk.
Remember Ahab? “From hell’s heart I stab at thee, for hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee: thou damned whale!” Even though we are good at hating, we’ve been through worse and survived. The Better Angels of our Nature will still have the last word.
Hmm. On fudda inspecksheon…
Maybe that email was from “Big F’in deal!” Joe Babbling Biden himself!
I guess when culture stop censuring in the 60′s &70′s the people could not censure thenselves so the people looked to the government for the stop. Look where it got the people (me included)
The greatest tragedy of this presidency is that the black man elected is a committed Marxist out of the corrupt Chicago Democrat Machine who , with a complicit DNC and media, concealed his record and agenda from the voters. Millions of Americans felt good about voting for an African-American of intelligence and high character who would govern in the interest of improving our economy and serve the public interest by changing by a drift towards Euro-Socialism and bringing an era of “post-racism”.
Many of them remain unable to grasp the destructive level of his intent.
The terrible consequence is the set- back his performance is giving to racial relations. If he had been, indeed, of man of honest character and truly concerned about improving our economy, serving the good of the public, and defending our freedoms, he could have truly performed a great purpose in reducing racial prejudice and unifying the Republic. Instead he is splitting his party, rejecting bi-partisan legislation, and blindly pursuing a course of destruction of our political and economic system.
When his efforts are defeated, as they assuredly will be, his faithful will claim that it was entirely because of racial bigotry – and they will be bitter and reactionary – irreconcilably.
The grim truth is that, when the smoke has cleared,he Democrats will have brought a terrible tragedy upon their party and upon the nation, and set back the cause of racial unification by decades.
I’ve seen this coming for a while now. In the 80′s we adopted PC as a way of beating down any one who might utter any thing that could be considered offensive. Eventually, the main stream has carried this flag to the point of intolerance.
Sadly, this PC intolerance has evolved into the exact same phenomena that it claims to abhor.
We cannot be totally honest about how we feel without the self righteous long arm of the PC police mis-interpreting every little word in their own way all the while TELLING us what we meant to say instead of hearing what we actually said. eventually, its going to be easier to just keep our thoughts to ourselves.
Here in the 10s, the use of culture as defense for prejudice is also a problem. I see this as another attack on tolerance where one group uses its culture as both a defense and an attack knowing full well that any resistance can be labeled as racist, sexist, or other PC rich derogatory label.
I remember back in high school many years ago when we absolutely hated the rival high school and they absolutely hated ours. Both schools were relatively diverse. College sports has this same sort of prejudice today.
Point being that we all are different and will always have our preference and bias. While I believe it should be acceptable to voice one’s opinion on prejudice without too much backlash, there should also be civility in the conversation. Without having the ability to talk openly and candidly we will forever be forced to withhold our honest opinions until such time it becomes feasible to “vent” or release the frustration. Rarely does this sort of event occur without severe public backlash.
Tolerance is the key. Sadly, there is none.
Mr. Williamson,
I beg to differ. The behavior of President Obama is not a tragedy and its consequences are not terrible. Quite to the contrary. Like it or not, not all blacks are Sidney Poitier characters. President Obama is very much the man his resume told us he was. That Obama sold himself as something he was not is unremarkable. It is how the game is played by pols throughout our political system. The fact that so many Americans were willing to suspend their disbelief just because the words were spoken by a “clean” black man, tells us far more about the electorate than it does about the speaker.
It is time that we learn to judge minorities just the same way we judge the majority: by the content of their character. It is not just one black man, but a diverse triumvirate of political leaders, one a black man, one a white woman, and another a white man, who have orchestrated our great leap backwards. As far as I can tell, the characters of these three individuals are of a kind. This is not a tragic moment, but one of great promise for those of us who have grown weary of the modern reverse-stereotypes. Surely next time the electorate will be more willing to scrutinize the resume and character of politicians regardless of their race or gender. That is a great triumph.
Yours truly,
Neobuzz