Mea Culpa? Well Maybe…
Based on the response to my most recent post, Feats of Clay, it is obvious we’re going to have to clear the air here at TAH if I’m going to continue posting. As an old soldier who first began writing for the Internet in support of the Swift Boat Veterans back in 2004, I’ve come in for my fair share of criticism. When it comes from my liberal detractors I shrug it off as meaningless and inconsequential. For them I’ve developed a hard shell. I must confess, however, when it comes from fellow soldiers and veterans, it tends to sting a bit, especially when it is misdirected friendly fire.
First off, I am, in fact, a cantankerous old fart (a recent examining physician referred to me as irascible) with little respect for timidity or false bravado. If you believe something then be prepared to stand up and say so and then, more importantly, be able to defend what you say. I realize that many people aren’t capable of doing that by lack of forcefulness in personality. However, I’m not one of those which is why I sit here pounding this damned keyboard into expositions of my views which many of you seem to like but some of you don’t.
As has been pointed out to Ol’ Poetrooper by editors, if your humorous writing is not perceived as humorous by the majority of your readers and you find yourself having to explain it, then you are not a very good writer of humor, so it is best to stay away from that genre. That’s good advice. However, irascible old bastard that I am, I find that constraint upon my writing difficult to observe, having been possessed since childhood with a bent toward dark, sarcastic (yes some would call it black) humor that resulted in my Army superiors frequently referring to me as Sergeant Wiseass and more than a few of my professors, especially the lefties, definitely unamused by my caustic observations.
So periodically I return to the keyboard, hell-bent on being darkly (dare I use that word, Insipid?) funny. Obviously with this most recent piece, Feats of Clay, I failed. Few readers understood the word play of feats for the black idiomatic usage, “feets,” and the references to Greek mythology were over the top, with the upshot being I was called from the very first comments a racist and my supposedly humorous piece attacked as a racist rant and diatribe. Worse, some of you questioned Jonn for allowing the posting of such a racist rant.
If you read my own comment following the post, you will see I am not about to allow the Left to control my speech. When the liberal trolls such as Insipid, feel free by dint of their liberal bonafides to smack us in the face with the term Nigger, which by rules of political correctness only liberals like Insipid and blacks may use, I say screw you. If I want to use that term of invective in my writings to make a point, I damned well will, liberal scorn be damned. A society where only certain persons and groups within that society can use a specific word is not a free society. Here’s what LTC Allen West, a black politician I support, has to say on the topic:
“I don’t care about my critics; I understand that my country is at a very perilous situation and I’m going to use the type of words that are necessary to get the attention of the American people.”
Bravo, Master-Blaster, a paratrooper politician who always wears his master parachutist wings on his suit lapels, something no other of his congressional colleagues can or would do.
Colonel West also said this:
I really feel that it is demeaning to me to think that I need some individual to justify me and my existence. Look, I went through 22 years being in the military, I rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel, I have a bachelor and 2 masters degrees. And for these white liberals to believe they can have this condescending manner toward black conservatives that we need to have approval from our quote unquote, I guess “masters”, for us to be able to speak–see that’s where the true racism really lies, governor, is with the white liberals who don’t want to see someone such as myself that broke away from their dependency class and is out here and able to possibly contend against them with the policies that they are promoting that’s destroying the black community. I know I’m their #1 target and it just emboldens me to speak out even stronger.”
Sorry old racist bastard that I am to some of you, I’m getting ready to send the good colonel another campaign contribution and I’m ready to write another supportive blog post for him. While I don’t think he has the political experience to be Romney’s VP selection, I do think he would be an excellent Secretary of the Army in the Romney Administration. I have little doubt that he would do a tent fumigation of the Pentagon, sending all those politically correct roaches entrenched there running to a well-deserved drowning in the Potomac. Maybe he could just have orders cut sending them all to Ranger School, male and female alike. Yeah, that ought to please all the libs agitating for the feminization of our military. Gee, maybe I am self-censoring: the first expression that came to mind was the castration of our military.
So those of you who were too quick to label Ol’ Poetrooper a racist, need to walk away from this with a couple of thoughts: I’m not a racist and being called one by liberals doesn’t faze me a bit. However, when it comes from fellow warriors I feel the bite. I kid you not, it hurts. Secondly, and more importantly, just like Allen West, I won’t curb my opinions or my writings to conform to some liberal (or too-sensitive conservative) imposed concept of civility. I do not write to offend needlessly but I sure as hell will not self-censor because my writings might hurt some tender sensibilities on either side of the political spectrum. Consider the Poetrooper to be an equal opportunity offender.
And from my observation of TAH postings, if you’re too eager to be offended, you’re probably at the wrong blog.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Bloggers
Maybe it’s because I do not judge others by their skin color that I found nothing racially biased in your Feats post and was surprised by the cries of racism in the comments. How have we come to the point where any criticism of a half black-half white person automatically is assumed to be directed at the black half, as though the two can be divorced from each other? Your comments were spot-on. People need to get beyond their hypersensitivity about race and read opinion pieces with an unjaundiced eye.
I have a very sarcastic side, that’s why I love reading this blog. I saw nothing racist about Feats of Clay. Charlie Mike to you.
I also didn’t find anything racist in your post. I might think you lean far more heavily on political rehetoric than I would, but there’s really nothing wrong with that.
#3 was me….switched work stations…again.
I didn’t find you last post racist. But I did miss out on something when I replied (feat = feet?). I guess I’ll have to go back & re-read. But later in the day. Something about early morning and not all synapses firing, I occassionally miss a concept.
I didn’t look at the comments on that particular post but I didn’t take anything racist out of it either. I guess we need Insipid to come and tell us what we can and can’t say….
PoeTrooper, I applaud you for sticking to your guns. I didnt find anything out of line with your original post, actually I was quite amused by it.
No mea culpa necessary. I would opine that those who were crying racism need to do a little case of, “Physician, heal thyself.”
You are spot on with your “politically correct roaches” in the Pentagon.
Keep posting!
If they were offended….good.
Being offended is a selfish act. It means you did not do something or say something that the other person wanted you to. Therefore they were offended by what you did/said.
screw them.
I am a liberal former paratrooper that’s growing equally cantankerous as I age, though I haven’t crossed the threshold into irascible quite yet. One of my “bones to pick” with my liberal contemporaries is the thin-skinned approach to dialog, which only leads to hypocrisy. It’s okay, for instance, for Bill Maher to throw up Wayne Brady as a model of non-threatening blacks, but G-d forbid a conservative say something even approximating such a statement. I hate Bill Maher, btw. It’s really easy to be smug when you construct a barrier between yourself and opposing voices, and lob hand grenades in front of a sycophantic audience. I despise Maddow, because she clearly favors liberal idealism, and yet with a straight face says she’s an objective journalist. There was a time when I felt I could be proud of liberal intellectual luminaries; the best we have now are limp-wristed milquetoasts. I am saddened that you have to shield from accusations of racism by invoking LTC West. I understood what you were saying in your post, and I think liberals really need to look at intent and context when they start reflexively deriding legitimate criticism as racism. It stifles meaningful debate when the main point gets lost somewhere in the faux outrage. If they want to make President Obama’s presidency a “black presidency,” then they have to be prepared to weather criticisms on the merit of that premise. I do have to offer up one thing from the late Molly Ivins. She once opined that only Republicans and fools could confuse Clinton for a liberal. I would say the same about Obama. Liberalism as realized in the Democratic party platform has become nothing more than espousing positions that are nonthreatening to a perceived constituency. There is nothing in traditional liberal ideology that required defending entitlement programs and positions that have negative ramifications to the aggregate good of the nation. I don’t get to define what is liberal, unfortunately. I recall participating in a “turn your back on Bush” initiative with a lot of fellow veterans at President Bush’s inauguration. Then, when I met… Read more »
As a not too old (remember Regean but not Carter) but fellow cantankerous bastage. I applaud your last post it was honest, witty, and spoke the truth on many levels. One of the biggest problems people like Insipid have with your prose and referances is that they went so far over their people’s heads, that the moon was closer in their radar. They only saw the words at face value and not the message.(Yes there is a differance) For this I blame the public screwl system and people’s willingness to remain chattle to their own ignorance. (In case some of you think I misspelled the tasty four legged critter, think again, get a dictonary and look it up.)
Then again Insipid will try to play the race card for my use of the term chattle, but if people would just stop for one minute and think: “What exactly is the author saying here?” “Are the historical referances what I think they mean or could there be some other meaning (context) behind those words/referances?”
Then again asking people to think for themselves seems to be asking too much of them these days.
-Ish
I posted this in the feats of clay thread, but I think I should post it here, also: I have been mulling a response to the commenters, in this thread, who look at this as racist. On another blog, the race card was being thrown about the discussion with regularity and I stopped it with a question. Now, to qualify my question I will first give a little background, since I have been called a racist by several leftists that thought they could stop a discussion and take the win by calling me a racist on this site. My younger brother is half black and as he puts it, he has more African black blood in him than Obama does. He also considers himself a proud redneck that listens to Charlie Daniels and Hank jr. I have never been one to go on a person’s looks or the color of their skin or even their gender. I listen to what they say and what they think and how they act. Didn’t a famous civil rights activist once tell us to judge a man not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character? It seems we have forgotten that in this country, because everything these days is about race, or gender, or who they’re sleeping with. When we started “celebrating diversity” we actually lost the ideal of just being an American. We became the hyphenated American. African-American, Hispanic-American, gay-American, etc. What’s wrong with just being an American? We have tried so hard to prove we are down with the diversity thing that we even elected the most inexperienced candidate ever to the highest office in the land and we did it based on the color of his skin, not the content of his character. He is the Affirmative Action President. Then, and I knew this was going to happen, anything that someone says that is negative against this President is racist. If you don’t give blind support to him, you are racist. Well, sweet Polly Whitebread doesn’t want to be called a racist, so they don’t… Read more »
Russ, I didn’t much care for for your post, myself.
Nothing to do with racism or being a cranky old fart.
I just get annoyed when someone else says what I’m thinking… and says it better than I can.
I’m guilty of seeing the words before the message, I apologized afterwards last night in your original post. I am also in no danger of ever being accused of being really funny so I am aware I missed the humor and will most likely in the future as well…I do promise to pay more attention for what that’s worth (on the internet, and since you don’t me anymore than I know you that promise is probably worth not much to you…) The point I was poorly attempting to make yesterday was that I would disagree with that method of making a criticism as it doesn’t advance the arguments regarding Obama’s fitness for a second term, in my opinion only. Independent voters will decide who gets into office, you don’t need to convince conservatives to vote for Romney, you need to convince independent voters that there is a reason to vote for the Obama light (white?) choice and vote for Romney. I live in Massachusetts and was here when Romney was governor…he’s no conservative but he’s not Obama which is why Republicans will vote for him….his record doesn’t separate him from Obama by much in terms of the general public’s perception. Reality is a bit different. To my way of thinking, you have to concentrate on how Obama’s lack of experience has brought us triple our debt, double digit real unemployment, continued loss of economic stability for the middle class, no end to programs we can’t afford, and the introduction of a program so massive that if implemented along with the GWOT will bankrupt the nation sooner rather than later…those are the words I would choose to use. You clearly believe in a different approach, I can respect that your ideas and your words are what you believe will make a difference. In my posts yesterday I believe the term I used was rhetoric and not racist…I wouldn’t use this rhetoric and I am nobody, since this blog seems about expressing opinions I was expressing my reaction to your opinion as written and disagreeing with the use of those words only… Read more »
I don’t get offended as I find getting offended, offensive (wait what?). However, I can at the least see how people read your post and drew the conclusions they did.
When your first descriptor used for a person is the color of their skin, what other assumption were you expecting people to make? Further defending yourself here by pointing out “I support THIS black guy!” is to me, just as silly. I am of the ilk that get severely annoyed if someone refers to themselves or others as “African American” or any other similar phrase. Unless you hold duel citizenship, your ass is American, shut the fuck up. However, I also attempt to avoid referring to people by the color of their skin because it’s completely fucking irrelevant to me. Yes, I understand that our country is still jaded by our past and we as a whole still look through the lens of the past to view the present, that doesn’t mean that you must stoop to the level of the masses to make a point. There are plenty of ways to insult Obama and his socialist politics without bringing up the color of his skin. I understand that you’re a verbose old coot who says what he wishes because, by god, you’ve earned the right! And I support you to say whatever you wish, and always will! My disagreement with your choice of words does not affect my ability to pick up what you were putting down, however, if you wish to avoid false accusations it may be worth some self editing before throwing such things up on the internet.
@11 What’s not to hate about Bill Maher….a more self indulgent media whore is hard to find, his unique ability to completely ignore contrary evidence to make a point he supports is unparalleled in the media….hypocritical douche bags in the media are not unique to the liberal side however….there are some well know hypocrites making nice money broadcasting daily on the right….
There is little journalism right or left that is “unbiased” but our nation’s first journalists at the time of the revolution were a lying, hypocritical bunch as well so we have a long history of speaking and publishing untruths…there’s a good book called “Infamous Scribblers” that discusses the beginning of print journalism…many folks might be surprised to find out just how little truth was actually told from 1770-1812 in the papers…
@17
You’re quite right. The media of that day was far more biased and horrendous than the media of today. The only difference I see is that today many things are not well researched by a lazy media (not all, obviously) while the media in the early years of our founding were intentionally putting out half truths and outright lies. I read John Adams Biography recently and it was amazing to see how vile the media of that day truly was…
Racism? Didn’t even occur to me until I’d read comments. Had to go back and figure out WTF they were talking about.
I guess I’m not sensitive enough.
I just don’t give a flying rat’s fuck about color. Unfortunately, it continuously gets shoved in my face.
I’m guessing instupid destroyed his pc in a violent, effeminate rage after reading Poetrooper’s post. Good riddance.
20+ years in the Army made me favor those of us that are “Green” in color. LTC West happens to be a true American and one that I absolutely want in Government. I, however, believe he would make a great VP. I do agree with you on making a clean sweep of the Pentagon of all of the pucker lipped, politically correct, castration specialists and dump them into the Potomac!
Agree with #21 100%, and I got a chuckle out of “feats of clay”. Of course, I also laugh at Rush when he uses humor, so what do I know.
@ #16: Your observation about concern with/mention of the color of one’s skin has some merit. Funny thing is that I have never heard a conservative bring up anyone’s skin color. (Well, until yesterday when viewing a clip of an interview with Allen West in which he defensively expressed disgust at the racist white liberals saying that anyone should justify his opinions.) You hear libs do so all the time. Every day. On any channel.
These days, they are so transparant that I now assume that anyone who accuses me of being racist is admitting to (or bragging about) being a racist themselves. Any other assertions or statements are just so much blah, blah, blah.
Limbaugh bugs the sh1t out of me…draft dodging, hypocritical drug addict…he made a huge bump in his living in the 90s painting Clinton as a dope smoking, draft dodger when Limbaugh turned out to be exactly that kind of guy…but he does prove the adage that America loves a reformed liar…all you need to do is apologize and we forgive all…
He took a college deferment in the 60s and when he dropped out college a year later and knew he would be a 1-A he was able to get his doctor to write a nice report about a cyst on his 4ss and a bad football knee that made him ineligible to serve his country (he never took a military induction physical)….that’s why Limbaugh loves Cheney so much, they both dodged the draft but talk a lot of sh1t about being patriots….at least Cheney’s not a doper, although he did shoot a buddy while they were hunting in a petting zoo (I’m sorry, game refuge)…
I like my conservative voices to be honest, reputable, and relatively drug free when possible….in other words I want my conservative voices to not be just like the Bill Mahers and Rachel Maddows and lying sacks of sh1t like Keith Olberman…
As a not too old (remember Regean but not Carter). . .
Shit, I’m getting old. For me it’s (remember Kennedy but not Eisenhower).
@25 sounds like we’re in roughly the same age group, I remember leaving school when Kennedy was assassinated and watching the funeral on TV…I remember all my teachers crying, it seemed like the world was less after that than it had been before…but I don’t remember Ike either…
VOV: I think you’re right. I can remember a little about some events prior to Kennedy’s assassination (the Cuban Missile Crisis, a couple of the early Mercury missions), but nothing from the Eisenhower administration.
Getting old sucks – but it still beats the alternative. (smile)
@27 Yes from what I see the alternative sucks…
Poetrooper,
I’ve reread my comments initially from yesterday, and I owe you an apology. I believe in ‘Judge not lest ye be judged’ and I find my comments judgemental. So my apologies to you. Next time I will try and think more before rushing off to post something.
I still don’t get the darksided humor, but that’s more my issue then an issue for you.
Respectfully,
Jon
Poetrooper, I was raised in the deep south, so I’m afraid the reference to “black” in your post automatically brought race into the mix for me. Old habits die hard, particularly in old dogs.
I did pick up on your “feat = feet” reference.
You are a thoughtful writer, and I enjoy reading your posts. Your opinion is your opinion, and while I might not agree with everything you say, I enjoy everything you write. And I hope Jonn always sticks to his guns, and never censors you or any of his contributing writers for examining hard truths. That’s what I enjoy about this blog.
Lastly, if anything I said stung, you have my most sincere apology. I hope you will stay with us, and post many more times here at TAH.
I also saw absolutely nothing racist in your post! In fact, I enjoyed the dark humor it contained.
Anyone who ranted against it has to be a liberal who cannot see anything beyond his or her narrow-minded programming.
Keep it up!
Serious comments here — GOOD.
I like Poetrooper .
I remember PRES Eisenhower .
—
I can stand anyone EXCEPT — phonies, liars, weaklings .
(NO, I do NOT care for the painting of Paul Klee.)
Well boys n girls, being a “minority”, in the last 7-8 months that I’ve been posting here, I have yet to see anything I would consider “racist”. Some “trolls” and “visitors” maybe but not from member’s of this ‘merry band’! Anyone who says otherwise is LOOKING for an excuse to spout their PC BULLSHIT!!!
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