I wonder if the Covington Catholic HS imbroglio will turn out to be a defining event in the “culture war”.
Given how so much of the media -- especially the (allegedly) conservative media -- has spun it, it feel to me like something has irreparably shifted in a bad direction culturally. I’m concerned we’re soon going to learn what an American cultural war looks like when it goes “hot”.
I’m amused by the longer, more academic/reflective pieces, trying to understand the reasons why pundits/media/academics/celebrities got the Covington story wrong and why the reactions to it. Much soul searching.
The short answer, and always the best answer, is that you guys are assholes. No lengthy analysis required.
Happy Wednesday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, and Sven!
I’ve got an all-day meeting/training/professional development day with all of my colleagues. The last one wasn’t too bad, and I’m hoping this one is better.
Sven -- I think your analysis of the punditry, et al. is spot on.
I do think that Convington is a watershed moment in these culture wars, but it isn’t one where we all come to our senses and take those first steps towards mutual respect or at the very least, civility. This is the moment that the battle lines are clearly drawn and to paraphrase Bush 43 -- you are either with us or you are against us.
This is a defining moment for those on the Right, but not for those on the Left. There’s no lefty prog who is thinking “Whoa…I really went too far and shit, what’s wrong with me that I went down that road? Maybe I need to rethink a few things.” Not a single one. This is just one more incident, not as clear cut a narrative as originally thought, but still one that proves to them that progressive values, social justice, and intersectionality are the correct world view and that America is still that racist hateful country filled with little white hitlers wearing MAGA hats and keeping them down because of their privilege.
For Conservatives and other right-leaning folks, it’s time to make up our minds. How many more times do we want to turn the other cheek and pretend like there’s common ground with these assholes? Or that reconciliation is possible? Or that they have valid points to make?
I’m not happy with Patterico’s take on this. For example: “There’s plenty more to pontificate about, but I’m going to wrap it up here. There’s work to be done for sure: some young men who could behave with more decorum in public settings, several chaperones who ought to take seriously the idea that their charges are representatives of the school and community, plenty of activists who have to stop thinking that they can intimidate and harass with impunity, lots of media members who really should quit falling for stories that neatly confirm their deeply-held biases, and uncountable numbers of outside observers who need to stifle themselves rather than regurgitate some predictable hot take that is appropriate to their side.”
What offends me is this false equivalency of actions. This group did this bad thing and that group did that bad thing and those folks over there could have acted better…so it’s all equal -- we all need to learn to get along better. All of us.
And that’s bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit. There’s no comparison between what these high school kids did or didn’t do and what this asshole “Elder” did -- what the black Israelites said and did -- what the media said and did -- what the social media mob said and did. None at all.
Humpy Hap Day, Wheelizens.
I wonder if the Covington Catholic HS imbroglio will turn out to be a defining event in the “culture war”.
Given how so much of the media -- especially the (allegedly) conservative media -- has spun it, it feel to me like something has irreparably shifted in a bad direction culturally. I’m concerned we’re soon going to learn what an American cultural war looks like when it goes “hot”.
To quote one of my great-granddads, “Not. Good.”
BBL.
Is that a pun thread pic? On a Wednesday?
Hi, Fatwa. Good glorious morning, GN!
I’m amused by the longer, more academic/reflective pieces, trying to understand the reasons why pundits/media/academics/celebrities got the Covington story wrong and why the reactions to it. Much soul searching.
The short answer, and always the best answer, is that you guys are assholes. No lengthy analysis required.
Happy Wednesday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, and Sven!
I’ve got an all-day meeting/training/professional development day with all of my colleagues. The last one wasn’t too bad, and I’m hoping this one is better.
Sven -- I think your analysis of the punditry, et al. is spot on.
Hey, Sven and Paddy!
IMO, “pundits/media/academics/celebrities” are largely assholes and
partisan hackspropagandists.Also: Orange Man Bad!
I do think that Convington is a watershed moment in these culture wars, but it isn’t one where we all come to our senses and take those first steps towards mutual respect or at the very least, civility. This is the moment that the battle lines are clearly drawn and to paraphrase Bush 43 -- you are either with us or you are against us.
This is a defining moment for those on the Right, but not for those on the Left. There’s no lefty prog who is thinking “Whoa…I really went too far and shit, what’s wrong with me that I went down that road? Maybe I need to rethink a few things.” Not a single one. This is just one more incident, not as clear cut a narrative as originally thought, but still one that proves to them that progressive values, social justice, and intersectionality are the correct world view and that America is still that racist hateful country filled with little white hitlers wearing MAGA hats and keeping them down because of their privilege.
For Conservatives and other right-leaning folks, it’s time to make up our minds. How many more times do we want to turn the other cheek and pretend like there’s common ground with these assholes? Or that reconciliation is possible? Or that they have valid points to make?
Me, I’m done.
I’m not happy with Patterico’s take on this. For example: “There’s plenty more to pontificate about, but I’m going to wrap it up here. There’s work to be done for sure: some young men who could behave with more decorum in public settings, several chaperones who ought to take seriously the idea that their charges are representatives of the school and community, plenty of activists who have to stop thinking that they can intimidate and harass with impunity, lots of media members who really should quit falling for stories that neatly confirm their deeply-held biases, and uncountable numbers of outside observers who need to stifle themselves rather than regurgitate some predictable hot take that is appropriate to their side.”
What offends me is this false equivalency of actions. This group did this bad thing and that group did that bad thing and those folks over there could have acted better…so it’s all equal -- we all need to learn to get along better. All of us.
And that’s bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit. There’s no comparison between what these high school kids did or didn’t do and what this asshole “Elder” did -- what the black Israelites said and did -- what the media said and did -- what the social media mob said and did. None at all.
Patterico seems to have a real problem with Trump. I can’t even look at most of his posts because I am so tired of it. Orange Man Bad!!
The mask slips, and we see how thin the veneer of conservancy was.
It is sad to see some people I respect have rather irrational opinions where he is concerned.
Well said, Sven, well said.