I wrote the second half of today’s post in the wee small hours this morning, after awakening from my less-than-refreshing sleep of the depressed. And then I went back to bed. Now that I'm up again on this bright and sunny Sunday morning, I’ve spent the past two or three hours reading the Right side of the blogosphere’s critiques and analyses of United 93, which premiered this weekend. And there’s a lot out there to be read (if you follow the link to memeorandum, scroll down). For my money, Gerard van der Leun has the best and most poignant essay on the film. Gagdad Bob also writes a rather long, but worthy, analysis and offers the psychologist’s insight on the role envy plays in the Left’s mindset, in general, and specifically where United 93 is concerned. Bob also reads the Huffington Post on United 93 (so you don’t have to, of course) and offers up some comments he found there. Hint: they ain’t pretty. Surprised? I thought not.
I won’t go see United 93 in the theatre. At the very least I’ll rent it when it comes out on DVD; I might even buy it. But, as I noted in a comment I left over at Lex’s place the other day, I think it’s very unseemly for an elderly man to cry in public. I am, unfortunately, wired in such a manner that I find it impossible to control the water-works when my emotional hot buttons are pressed firmly and repeatedly. It’s a frickin’ curse, and I’m not proud of this trait…not at all. So, I’ll watch the movie in the privacy of El Casa Móvil de Pennington where I’ll feel free to let it all hang out. In any event, United 93 is a movie that must be seen, based upon what I’ve read over the past few days.
Iowahawk is quite good this week, beginning with “The First Annual Earth Week Cruise Night,” a virtual cruise whereby readers send in “candid pics showing how you get your freak on with that saucy pagan eco-tart.” Some pretty cool reader-rides, more than a few I’d like to own, anyway. The phrase “saucy pagan eco-tart” is a take-off on his meme that Gaia is the “ultimate MILF.” (Don’t get the acronym? E-mail me; I’ll explain. If you DO get the acronym, please don’t try and explain in the comments. I’m trying, semi-successfully [see below], to run a PG-13 blog here.) Keep scrolling on down (at Iowahawk, not here) to get to the latest guest blogging from the Zarkman (“I Hate Email”); you’ll be glad you did! Exerpt:
Yeah, email. I gets me lots and lots of email. Like the two dozen daily spaz-o-grams from those loveable choads I call my direct reports. Questions about the new $50 funeral copay, leave requests, desertion reports on the French twats. Want a taste? Here’s one I got yesterday:
TO: A Zarqawi
FROM: M Abdulraman
SUBJECT: RE: School Bombing Status
Per your request, I investigated lack-of-detonation problem with martyr school attack wave yesterday. Likely cause is C-6 wire, incompatible with 2.3.0 version of InfidelBlaster switch. Or possible electrical short due to urine.
Please advise on next steps.
M Abdulraman
Al Qaeda in
Guess what? These are the literate ones.
TO: M Abdulraman
FROM: A Zarqawi
SUBJECT: RE: School Bombing Status
I didn’t ask you for a bunch of goddamn geek jargon, I asked you to FIX IT. Now turn off the Star Trek reruns and get to work if you don’t want a transfer to Martyr Dept.
Three minutes later:
TO: All School Bombing Martyr Associates
FROM: M Abdulraman
CC: A Zarqawi
SUBJECT: Equipment upgrade
Please bring your belts and detonators to IT Services Shed at
M Abdulrahman
Al Qaeda in
After the IT Services Shed vaporized at
And I thought that idjit in the CDW ads gave IT a bad name! {insert big smiley here}
Ashamed that you cry? That's so sad that I could cry. It's an unfortunate sort of machismo that's still prevalent in American culture that expression of emotions is considered a feminine characteristic and it is considered unmanly for men to express any sort of feminine characteristics. If you delve into Mediterranean cultures, it is acceptable and even expected in many situations. Men should be able to express their emotions. (I've dated a handful of Greeks and Turks) I'm interested in hearing/reading more about this. How do you feel when you see a man cry. Do you see weakness in him?
ReplyDeleteI don't make the culture's rules, Kyaroko, I just live with them/under them. Have you seen this?
ReplyDeleteI'll quote a piece of it for you:
Women are clinging a little more tightly to stereotype, however. For instance, the new paradigm of the sensitive man aside, breaking down during "The English Patient" is more likely to do you harm than good - women find men who cry at the movies unsexy by a two-to-one margin. (Though Democrats are more likely than Republicans to find cinematic sobbing a plus.)
I agree, in a perfect world, men should be able to express their emotions, all their emotions. We just don't seem to be there yet. As for myself, I don't consider it "unmanly" or "weak" to see a man cry, mainly because I can relate to that. But, I'm definitely in the minority.