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Utterly Disgusted

Today I read an article extolling the virtues of being childless. You can read this article here. I disagree thoroughly with the author. It is indeed self-absorbed to be childless in order to pursue 'real' fulfillment. Those who recognize they are poor parents are making a merciful choice not be them, and I have great compassion for those who want to be parents and cannot be. But that is not the point of the article. The author states choosing to be childless allows women to contribute to society with their minds and careers.

That is a contribution, of course. But it is not a contribution that perpetuates our species. And I'm not even thinking about class, or intellect, or race, but species. I hope all self-absorbed, narcissistic women who 'choose' to be childless will awaken to the essential vacuity of a life without any legacy. What will you leave behind you- your work? Being a paper pusher, or an academic feminist? Who will you leave it to? A foundation for the care of unwanted children? maybe a university which, if enough people choose not to have children, will not need your money.

We continue to reach what I see as new lows in making the peculiar normal. Have we no duties to society? What holds us together as a society? Not church. Not children. Not language. We have become nothing by accepting everything and everyone. There is a big difference between respecting all and accepting as desirable all. Not all things, accomplishments, behaviors and choices are equally acceptable. I believe we as a society and a species will look back on articles like Filipovic's and decry it, if not mourn for lost values and opportunities.

Combined with my disgust at this article is my complete disgust at our government. Like childlessness, the misbehaviors of our politicians are so rampant and so bad that we shrug our shoulders over behavior that led to resignation 40 years ago. When we have discussed presidential semen on a dress what should be the measure of misbehavior? We paradoxically vilify a man who has sex outside his marriage but blandly accept gross misuses of power.

I don't see how anyone can minimize the evil being done at this time. We have a president who is simply making up the rules. He is not enforcing the law as written, his duty. I think signing statements are unconstitutional, but his behavior is well past that. He is unilaterally deciding how and when to enforce law. What's the point of making it a law then? He has strayed well away from presidential power into imperial power.

Furthering this image is his think skin with regard to speech and acts that make fun of him. a rodeo clown is condemned for wearing an Obama mask. There is a tradition of rodeo clowns wearing presidential masks. I've seen ones for both Bushes and Clinton. What's next, no Obama Halloween masks? If you report on him the wrong way your phones are tapped.

Then there are the illegal uses of government. The IRS is used to delay or functionally defund opposing political groups. The NSA is collecting many thousands of records on American civilians in violation of law. And the financial corruption. Stimulus money given to bankrupt companies run by friends. Gerrymandered bankruptcies. And to add to all this, a demeanor during speeches of a hectoring, defensive, supercilious boor and goad. Obama constantly whines about resistance to his program, runs out old ideas as new ideas, and ultimately really only asks for increased taxes and some vague middle class enhancement program.

This man has never run anything. Never made a company. Never met a payroll by not taking his own salary. And he apparently believes that privately earned money should be given to the government for the good of all. Reminds me of the Beatles from 1966 in 'Taxman'- let me tell you how it will be. Here's one for you, nineteen for me. If five per cent appears too small, be thankful I don't take it all.

I am utterly horrified by our private decisions and public acts. Cream has a song whose words express how I feel-
Please, open your eyes
Try to realize
I found out today
We're going wrong

Please, open your mind
See what you can find
I found out today
We're going wrong
We're going wrong
We're going wrong
We're going wrong

And we are. We are declaring our values with every choice we make, with every outrage we accept. We are like the lazy wife in Proverbs, who eats, wipes her mouth and says she has done well. Guess you forgot about tomorrow, didn't you? So have we.

Ted

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