Politics

Sproul Plaza in the Genteel World

/ Norman Eric Peterson / Leave a comment

Some of you older folks may remember the ‘free speech’ movement in Berkeley back in the 60’s.
There were all sorts of speakers ‘for the people’ declaring the freedom to say anything they wanted to and thus, enabling everyone to do the same.


Mario Savio, Jerry Rubin and others were up there on the steps at the college,ripping up the air with
megaphones and every filthy word they could muster up. The lizard was let out of the cage and it really
still belongs in there today. I have noticed things that are acceptable nowadays that were not so a short
time ago. Movies, literature and people on some sort of insane voyage seem to be heard and amazingly, understood and endorsed by many. It seems as though Allen Ginsburg and his ‘man/boy’ agenda has been given a new look and found politically correct this time around.


It appears that insanity and the collapse of thinking is here. Turning our children into the opposite sex
and actually having people in Washington unable to define the difference between a man and a woman.
That sort of thing happens in fantasy movies. Usually it is some sort of super power that appears in those
kind of films.

Now, the super power is saying things that are not real and people that hear these things
believe them. These new believers get angry when those of us see absurdity spoken and written. Easily
seen if you haven’t drunk the cool aid. Feminine personal products available in men’s public toilets just in
case they are needed. Men competing in Women’s sports events because they have changed their
names to female and wear clothing to match.


Our country is on a acid trip that Timothy Leary stated would be so cool if LSD was put in all the water
we drink. Conspiracy theories abound. Free injection needles for drug addicts. Creating ‘safe zones’ for
rioters we now call disenfranchised and troubled youth. Shootings every night by criminals that ‘we
created’ because of our racist history (which is being re-written by George Orwell’s ministry of truth)

Now we have criminals from other countries who just drifted in to enjoy the home of no savings and the land of free stuff. It is insane and we wait to awaken again in the morning to unlock the doors and peer out down the driveway to see it is still calm. Even here in rural American farmland.


I experienced the tip of that iceberg a few years ago at night. I was at a public reading by a university
professor with many endorsements and accolades from the usual foundations and politically correct
intellectuals. Books for sale too. Autographed as soon as the cash was given. An author that I worked alongside decades ago in a local food co-op we put together. It’s still there. I was eager to see her again and reminisce.


It was Sproul plaza again. This time without the megaphone. A totally inadequate sound system and
refreshments for those of us who need those sorts of things. It was put on by a government funded
institution, the St. Croix Falls Library. We were out in the delightful perfect summer evening on a plaza. Nice chairs and very friendly people.


A lot of them were friends too. The main speaker, my old friend, was reading a book of her own and it began to segue into language that is now free to use. Language of bar habitués in questionable parts of cities.


The small gathering of intellectuals began to titter and appreciatively express their delight in the continual use of curse words and the denigration of our Lord. As though He was the cause of sorrows and arbitrary wrong doing. “Is He safe? Of course not, He’s a lion but He’s good” A.


The lemonade and grapes and crackers were leaving traces to follow the crowd along. It was a
courtesy by the staff to comfort us and prepare us for the endorsing of the cool-aid of the times. How
exciting to hear an endorsed intellectual (with the mandatory book signing afterwards) speak those words
that we all want to speak casually. Polite society is not ready for that yet. It was sad for me to experience such drivel and ‘worldliness’ from an old friend.

Before I left, I asked why she used so many F bombs and added I was offended. She replied, “I was just reading a book!” That disconnect was incomprehensible. She wasn’t reading an old Ginsberg book, she wrote this one and she owns it.

I had brought some of my columns for Sharon, my friend and fellow author, to enjoy later but I tucked them back into my journal and left. It was not very good. I was sad. Norm Peterson / Jack Gator

A. C.S. Lewis. ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe.

The Straw man Argument

/ Norman Eric Peterson / Leave a comment

It’s good timing and it’s also a perfect time to expose the illogical rumors, rumors of rumors and downright lies that can circulate around the drain. Spinning around and around until they are hopefully, flushed down where they need to go. Let me clarify that: Just because these lies are being flushed does not make them good fertilizer for growth. They still smell bad.

There are many ways to lie, but the most effective way is to think you are speaking the truth. To believe the lie so well that you would pass most lie detectors. It’s the lie of non logical thought.

I have recently been studying logic and philosophy and this straw thing is huge in our society. Let’s start with an easy example. One starts with what is called a ‘premise’ An uncontested piece of information we can describe as a truth. Our first premise then will be: “Water is wet” Second premise “Everyone needs water” Both true statements. The intersecting straw man that tries to join these would be: “ Everybody likes to get wet” We do it a lot, most without thinking.

I will put a few sarcastic comments in now but they also apply to him, the not thinking statement. You make a straw man argument out of that as well. Try it on someone and see if they get the illogical. “ Most people read about a lot of things” “Reading is a good thing” “ Not reading is a bad thing” A little more subtle. That’s the way it sneaks in.

A common but false etymology is that it refers to men who stood outside courthouses with a straw in their shoe to signal their willingness to be a false witness. The Online Etymology Dictionary states that the term “man of straw” can be traced back to 1620 as “an easily refuted imaginary opponent in an argument.”

These days the straw men are lining our roads with signs. They tell each other tales of struggle and hatred perceived in their minds. It sounds logical until you draw three interlocking circles. You draw one circle with a true precept naming it. Same thing for the second precept. These are two things that are known truths. Then you interlock a third circle encompassing one and two. Call it what you want to come forth as you think your logic is correct. We do it a lot, more than we remember.

So…here is the straw man that is tumbling our area like a berserk raccoon trapped in a washing machine.

Precept 1. Farmers own a lot of land which they use to support their families.

Precept 2. Huge factories of animal production want to use this land to build factories upon.

Conclusion: Neighbors who don’t want the factories hate farmers. Another Straw Man argument.

Precept 1.I have lived in this area a long time and so has my family. We own a lot of land

Precept 2.You have lived in this area for a short time and do not have a lot of land.

Conclusion: I am more important than you because of my wealth.

We do these things without even thinking about them. We think we know truth. These things can be seen and heard and avoided if you listen. It’s pretty good. Jack Gator Scribe

Leftovers From the Last Parliment of Power

/ Norman Eric Peterson / Leave a comment

An appropriate time of the month for leftovers from the Thanksgiving feast. Solidifying green bean casseroles, dry stuffing and aging pumpkin pies. The mashed potatoes are also dry and in desperate need of hydration. The mince pie ages on the counter quite well and is attended to by Gator in most gracious manner. It’s gone. The turkey was perfectly roasted, due to lasting oddness from the latest plague, is dry and tasteless. No sense of taste unless spicy, sugary or well salted. Very good for a dish that is sweet with hot peppers and inordinate amounts of salt. With powerful dill pickles and green olives. The pertinacious experts of these things say that the sense of smell and taste will reappear in a few weeks to never. Sort of like the weather on TV.

So, with the election of high offices, there are a few leftovers as well. New and in the usual fashion, clusters of officials that may wind up tasteless and unpleasant soon afterwards. Also useless and in plain site, left on the shelf or counter of the power of the new regime. Leftovers that were somewhat tasty at the outset. Fresh out of the oven of ascendancy, too soon reheated and unsatisfactory to the countries fickle pallets. It has always been so. To quote the biography of Queen Victoria’s court, The nasty old men, debauched and selfish, pigheaded and ridiculous, with their perpetual burden of debts, confusions and disreputable behaviors. ”1

There are, of course many of these ‘leftovers’ that are quite nice and have survived the transfer of powers and influence. Courtiers and advisors too of the utmost reliability and honesty. Appointed for that very reason. Governors that actually consider the people they are responsible to from the highest court to the very local satraps and heads of small townships. Effective or out of expiration dates in many instances. More leftovers to be closely examined and even tasted to ensure their continued good functionality. Some forgotten on shelves of uselessness until the decay and mold gives them away. Into the big trucks with flashing lights and interesting hydraulic gathering devices.

The curious thing about leftovers is the preservation and care given to them. The really good ones such as pecan pies and managers of sound fair behavior, are still good and usable. It matters not at all whether they have ‘connections’ such as lineage or the reputation of their kinfolk. Decay is usually easy to discern (except, of course by the bad deviled eggs all together) Throw them all out, the others will soon go bad as that is their obvious nature.

So the leftovers can be suitable for a long time, some even put back for continued use. (cranberry sauce and beneficent landlords) The true nature of them and the care and skill of the cook can ensure no waste and the satisfaction of a job well done. Both advisors and their companions.

Saltykoff’s story of the two generals illustrates things with great clarity: “The generals served all their lives in some registry office or other; they had been born there, reared there, had grown old there, and consquently they understoood nothing whatever” 2.

Our choice. Back in the larder for usefulness or out to the big green, plastic container of wheels for quick transport to the compost pile of decay out of sight and memory. It’s pretty good, Jack Gator

1, Lytton Strachey 1880-1932 Queen Victoria’s Accession 2. Micháil Evgráfovitch Saltykóff (1826-1889)