We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Freud waxed creative on the topic of cultural taboos, identifying them as unconsciously or consciously interesting, but forbidden, fruits. He never, to my knowledge advocated violating cultural rules and taboos.
Homosexual temptation has been around forever, but sometimes illegal and sometimes it has been impolite to mention the topic so the taboo in that case had more to do with conversation than with behavior. In many cultures, adultery, fratricide, patricide, and matricide are basic taboos. Judaism and Christianity have abundant taboos.
Psychiatric organizations are challenged by the gradual cultural acceptance - to some extent, anyway - of behaviors once considered taboo or debauched by the culture, and perversions by Psychiatry. Despite media attention, most people still regard much behavior with revulsion. To turn the tables, often those with discomfort or revulsion are now labeled neurotic "phobics." Thus a gradual normalization of fantasy translated into real behavior.
I suppose parts of our culture have arrived there, even without Communism.
Here is a run-down of some of the outlandish things going on these days, often reminiscent of Nero and the Roman Empire. As the narrator says, nothing "sweet and innocent" here. Or loving, either. The entire "I identify as..." trend is a curious turn of phrase. I think it means "I like to pretend...". The unbound human imagination at work:
While there are sectors within Libertarian circles who might approve of this, most wouldn't. It's like the few Libertarians who (for one reason or another) are currently stumping for Bernie Sanders.
A Libertarian who condones a "Anything Goes" culture, or supports Bernie, is really confused about the nature of Libertarian thought.
The reason it isn't Libertarian is because as a Libertarian, I'd happily say to anyone who wants to be a 'masker' or Bruce Jenner, or any of the other groups presented - go ahead, feel free to be weird.
Where Libertarians draw the line is in demanding that these people get treated, through law, edict, or regulation, in whatever special way they ask.
You want to dress up like a doll? Sure, go ahead. But don't run around town dressed like one and demand that everyone treat you like a normal person and demand laws to support your lifestyle. Life doesn't work that way.
Want to be transgendered? Fine - get the surgery and spend the money. But don't demand that everyone treat you like something you aren't, and ask for laws to be passed to treat you that way. Don't demand that tax money be made available (as it is) for all prisoners who want sex change operations to get it. Don't demand tax money be made available for your psychology sessions because you feel "left out" of society because of you choose to employ a fringe identity.
All people, even eccentrics, deserve a level of respect and civility as long as they show respect and civility in return. What they don't deserve, and should not demand, are laws to make them special and promise them special treatment.
If Libertarianism is saying "you want to identify as a seven foot tall Sudanese transgendered woman? Go ahead." Then count me in - I'm Libertarian. I don't care how you identify.
But I will not agree to have special bathrooms for you, or make all the entryways higher for your perceived seven foot head (which is only 5'10") or allow you to apply for scholarships for African women, or anything which might be open to real seven foot Sudanese women. Because what you identify as, if it's not what you are, is not who you are.
"...often reminiscent of Nero and the late Roman Empire."
Nero ruled from 37 to 68 AD so he was clearly part of the early Roman Empire; if we start with Augustus, Nero was the fifth emperor.
When we talk about the "late Roman Empire" we generally mean the period 250-450 AD. In other words, the empire rolled along for almost another four centuries after Nero's death.
moreover, throughout the maelstrom of the late western empire and afterwards, it was the concept of Roman ideals (gravitas, pietas, dignitas and virtus) that survived and remained a bright light with which he germanic confederations fused to form european civilization.
using depraved roman emperors as an analog for 21st century American politics is way over done.
#2.1
Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz
on
2016-04-17 21:56
(Reply)
What personal choices people make, unless those choices directly infringe on the rights of others, are simply not the business of law or government.
Others, however are under no obligation to approve of these behaviors. This is where the current situation goes wrong: we are told what to believe, and what to accept.
