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November 26, 2007
Nanny State: zero tolerance, word inflation and 30 is the new 17
It is interesting to note the seeming contradiction when schools find it necessary to teach all the best ways to have "safe" sex to minors who cannot legally consent to have sex in the first place and yet also find it necessary to suspend students for legal handholding or hugging. The same contradiction is observed in schools allowing profane t-shirts as "freedom of expression" but suspending a student who used the word "noose" as a racial slur.
However, it really is part of the Nannystate mindset, the continued infantilization of American society, lead in no small part by the contemporary American Left which, above all else, defines their own brand of "freedom" and demands it be divorced from obligation and responsibility.
Please take at least 10 minutes to listen to the first part of this 34 minute segment of Dennis Prager's show with Dr. Stephan Marmer, UCLA clinical psychiatrist about the making of happy adults. The biggest obstacle to happiness is the refusal of adults to actually grow up. He states that the majority of the patients he sees, people already into their 30's, have refused to let go of their child-like expectations. The expectation of being taken care of, of having all needs met, of unconditional love and acceptance and never being required to do anything in return. This is the proper expectation of infants, but we wean infants from the breast long before they start school.
As Dr. Marmer further explains, part of this is a generational problem. Those that grew up during the Depression wanted to spare their children the pressure of not having money. So the baby boomers were raised with all their material needs met but were expected to achieve and that achievement was under the pressure of time. The Boomer parents wanted to spare their children of the pressures of money and time, so we have increasing numbers of 30, even 40 year old adults living with their parents. Current parents are now trying to spare their children even the pressure of achieving. From "no score" sports, to "no grading" report cards, to "no valedictorians", to "everyone gets a trophy" the movement to cocoon children and adults from the merest disappointment in life is endemic. Ban dodge ball or tag because someone's feelings might be hurt. Ban monkey bars and swings, even recess itself least a scraped elbow or bruised shin cause undue pain ... and you are raising people unequipped to deal with the vagaries of adulthood.
Look at the sheer volume of unhappiness and vindictiveness manifested on leftist blogs. There are demands that medical care is an unfettered right, along with homes and jobs (that pay a "living wage") and education. All to be provided by Big Mommy Government (i.e. someone else). Observe the shrill demands for the revival of the [un]Fairness Doctrine that are decorated with claims of controlling "hate" and "offensive" speech -- translated: a childish demand that means "Spare me the pain of having to listen to a point of view I do not agree with."
And few words are more "offensive" to the childish Left than responsibility. Like a child that throws a tantrum, screaming at the parent "you're nothing but a big meany!" after being told no TV because s/he hasn't picked up his/her toys, the Left demands license to engage in any behavior without risk. Point out the risks, point out the relevant factors outside of the chorus of "me me me" and one will have attributed to them all manner of dark and nefarious motives.
Pandagonian St. Amanda declares a price increase of contraceptives on college campuses a conspiracy to control females' sex life. Quest-poster Cara on Feministe has made up her mind that it is wrong to have laws that consider a fetus a separate entity worthy of a count of murder when the fetus is killed during the assault or murder of the mother because that "takes away" from a woman's "autonomy". Indeed, in that threads comments, zuzu declares fetal murder laws are the "thin wedge" to deprive women of their rights.
We expect silliness of babies and small children. It's disturbing when seen in ostensible adults and it is alarming when it is promulgated as public policy.
Posted by Darleen at November 26, 2007 12:28 PM
Comments
Darleen,
Gee, you're right. What a brilliant thesis, to make that link between the problems of Americans today with their generation's parenting.
The next time I see a 9/11 emergency worker complaining that he was denied health insurance I'll tell him to GROW UP.
The next time I hear a senior complain that she can no longer afford her prescription drug medication I'll tell her to GROW UP.
The next time I hear an Iraq veteran complaining about the conditions in his vet hospital I'll tell him to GROW UP.
The next time I hear someone complaining about the quality of their child's public school education I'll tell them to GROW UP.
It's all the Nannystate mindset. It's all the fault of Leftists. Leftists are to blame for everything: the economy, Big Government, health insurance costs, the 5 million illegals who crossed into the country since 2000, the Katrina homeless, Abu Ghraib, Haditha, terrorism, the Palestinian "problem"...I could go on and on. It's all the fault of Leftists.
In fact, I can't think of anyone who is more unhappy and vindictive than Leftists.
Except maybe you Darleen.
Posted by: Brad at November 26, 2007 02:27 PM
There isn't an actual argument here. It's just a rant against a bunch of liberal strawmen, with some weak armchair psychology as the pretext.
Posted by: Josh at November 26, 2007 05:45 PM
Standing O to you Brad for helping prove my point and, Josh, RANT?
Maybe you should look the word up in the dictionary.
but thanks, guys, truly.
Posted by: Darleen at November 26, 2007 07:40 PM
Rant:
And few words are more "offensive" to the childish Left than responsibility. Like a child that throws a tantrum, screaming at the parent "you're nothing but a big meany!" after being told no TV because s/he hasn't picked up his/her toys, the Left demands license to engage in any behavior without risk. Point out the risks, point out the relevant factors outside of the chorus of "me me me" and one will have attributed to them all manner of dark and nefarious motives.
Posted by: Josh at November 27, 2007 06:47 AM
That's not a rant, that is opinion. Ranting has more swear words.
Brad provided the strawmen.
Posted by: Chris at November 27, 2007 01:59 PM
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a rant as
"Extravagant or bombastic language or sentiments; magniloquent and empty declamation"
I think most thinking persons would qagree that the following words encompass a sentiments which are in the least overgeneralized, lofty and grandious -- and empty of citations:
the sheer volume of unhappiness and vindictiveness manifested on leftist blogs
Like a child that throws a tantrum...the Left demands license to engage in any behavior without risk
the chorus of 'me me me'
The real question here is not whether Darleen really has a valid point (grandiose as her fellow idiotarian Prager's shrink theory is) but whether her persistent attempts to pick a fight with the apparently intimidating writers over at Pandagon and Feministe have succeeded. I check those sites occasionally and never do I see them engaging Darleen...she is like a gnat on their windshield. Her blog does not register. She is not relevant.
Darleen, perhaps it's time you abandoned this effort. You can't piss off your Leftist colleagues over at Pandagon and Feministe. Your obsession with them is unhealthy too.
Posted by: Brad at November 28, 2007 11:43 AM
How is it, that trying to make a better life for you and your kids is somehow "infantilizing" them.
Posted by: Carl W. Goss at December 1, 2007 09:06 AM