dagblog - Comments for "Here's Why I Never Warmed Up to Bernie Sanders"

Quel dommage. "Garçon, is

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 01 May 2016 20:53:45 +0000

In reply to Customer: "Waiter I'd like

Quel dommage. "Garçon, is that a fly in my soup?" "Mais oui, monsieur, but not to worry - he doesn't tip either."

I suppose you'll be wanting some of that wine now.

Customer: "Waiter I'd like

Flavius — Sun, 01 May 2016 20:07:15 +0000

In reply to Cher A non y mouse,

Customer: "Waiter I'd like the daily special ....and a few kind words."

Waiter:"Coming right up ,sir".

Customer "How about the kind words?"

"Don't eat the cheese.".

Cher A non y mouse,

PeraclesPlease — Sun, 01 May 2016 10:57:00 +0000

In reply to Breathe

Cher A non y mouse,

Mais oui, les boissons et du soleil - tres bon avis. But I'm looking for a piece of cheese, please. I have a nice Claret and a Bordeaux when that runs out, but a piece of fromage would make tout complet (with a baguette at hand, bien sur).

I appreciate your perspicacity and would value any sage advice.

Merci from a wee souris

Terms that describe negative

ocean-kat — Sun, 01 May 2016 10:43:11 +0000

In reply to Nothing I wrote suggests that

Terms that describe negative behavior are inherently negative and will offend some people when used. They are also indispensable to discuss negative behavior. Racist, bigot, sexist, misogynist, all are likely to offend someone. I imagine Andrew Dice Clay was offended when his comedy routine was called sexist, racist, and misogynistic. He might claim it's all just a joke. I'm guessing even the Grand Wizard of the KKK might be offended when called a racist and an antisemite. He might even claim he has nothing against Jews and blacks he just wants to keep the white race pure.

Mansplaining is a very clear descriptive term for a type of negative behavior, just as racism. antisemitism, and misogyny etc are. It's impossible to eliminate all nouns and verbs that describe negative behavior nor should we want to. Negative behavior exists and must be discussed in clear terms to understand and deal with it. The important point is whether the use of any of these negative terms can be shown to be true when used in a specific instance with at least a convincing argument.

You know, It wasn't my intention to discuss the legitimacy of the term mansplaining. I tried to move the conversation into other issues but you kept pulling it back. My original point was the point Inigo made in the Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Breathe

Flavius — Sun, 01 May 2016 03:57:55 +0000

In reply to Here's Why I Never Warmed Up to Bernie Sanders

Breathe

Bernie's OK. He was re-elected as mayor with increasing margins. He had most of the problems of any major city without the staff that, say,Lindsay had to (not) plow the streets.

Madeleine and Gloria are OK. They've paid their dues. The remark about Bernie's young women fans just looking for a date was dumb. So shoot them! Who hasn't made a dumb remark? Read on I'll make several.

Kevin Drum's OK. Mostly says stuff that we mostly agree with .And if we don't we can civilly disagree. Or play "You say you want a Revolution".

Although what we really need is not a revolution but a new tax code. Or rather an old one like the one pre Ronnie. See my favorite blogger's Walk down Memory Lane just to the left.

Signed

A non y mous

Have a good weekend . Get out in the sun. Or drink a lot. Whatever.

Nothing I wrote suggests that

HSG — Sun, 01 May 2016 03:57:12 +0000

In reply to That is one of the largest

Nothing I wrote suggests I don't believe racism and sexism are pathologies we should do our best to eliminate. In fact, that is exactly what I (and Bernie Sanders) believe. I also believe that both flourish in an environment where there are vast disparities in wealth and power and lose much of their power and impact where there is economic justice. That's one of the biggest reasons I supported Sanders for President.

Does the fact that racism and sexism remain problems justify using words attributing bad behavior to gender and race? Are whites and men the only demographic groups that provide long-winded often irrelevant or flat-out incorrect explanations for various phenomena? Do only whites and men tell other people how they should live their lives? Do all or nearly all whites and men engage in these actions? Does using terms like whitesplaining and mansplaining lead to better or worse relationships between groups of people? Do those who use them sometimes employ them for the purpose of closing off or shutting down arguments they don't like but which aren't necessarily wrong?

Obviously my questions are designed to provoke in the reader's mind the idea that the terms whitesplaining and mansplaining are offensive, inappropriate, counter-productive and mostly unilluminating. To the extent they may have explanatory power, that power is greatly outweighed by the harm they do.

That is one of the largest

ocean-kat — Sun, 01 May 2016 03:06:25 +0000

In reply to I am very familiar with the

That is one of the largest problem many have with Sanders. It appears to many that Sanders sees those common economic interests as by far the most important issues and rarely speaks or attaches much importance to racial or gender disparities. When he does address them it appears he doesn't really understand and trivializes their concerns. Some think racial and gender issues are as important as economic issues. rmrd has put considerable time and effort trying to explain that to you.

I am very familiar with the

HSG — Sun, 01 May 2016 01:47:36 +0000

In reply to Mansplaining is a common term

I am very familiar with the term "mansplaining" just as I am with its cousin "whitesplaining." I oppose the use of both portmanteau words and any others that attribute bad behavior to immutable (or nearly immutable) characteristics like sex and race. Likewise, I believe the "words" are ill-advised since they often serve to and in fact are consciously used to divide people whose common economic interests should make them political allies. I addressed this very issue at length here and here in articles I never cross-posted at Dagblog. One more reason to bookmark halginsberg.com.

Mansplaining is a common term

ocean-kat — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 23:43:50 +0000

In reply to Thanks Michael. Of course

Mansplaining is a common term in feminist writings. It's well understood within that community. It refers to men who spend time telling women how they should think, feel, or act often in the context of gender based issues. It's similar to Sanders white supporters telling blacks how they should think and feel about their racial concerns. One might call that whitesplaining.

I found it amusing that michael would use it in a way that was so out of context, as if anytime a man speaks to anyone about anything it's mansplaining. I understand that some men object to the term. That may be a legitimate discussion. But don't you guys bother to read feminist women writing about feminist issues? I ask because you clearly don't understand how the term is conventionally defined in that community.

Before weighing anchor...

oldenGoldenDecoy — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 19:34:52 +0000

In reply to Rankled indeed and proud of

Before weighing anchor...

I must point out one more thing. When it comes to the political evolutionary stance of a Kevin Drum or the so-called revolutionary stance of Bernie Sanders neither one would make a pimple on this mans butt who authored this.

If you haven't read it... read it.

Evolution and Revolution 1891

From: Anarchist Archives
Dana Ward - Professor Emeritus of
Political Studies at Pitzer College

"As the world revolves ... societal politics evolve..." Quack!

~OGD~