I once worked with a guy named Stupid Steve in an architecture office - he did drafting. Yes, I called him that to his face "Stupid Steve" and he didn't seem to mind. He was not stupid IQ wise just in life's lessons.
His most famous quote was: "Hitler ain't a bad guy." Why did he kill all the Jews, he said "To prevent them from starving." Steve was of German ancestry, no surprise there. He had many other stupid beliefs about the Nazis. No matter how I tried I couldn't change his mind...sort of like some of you readers. I learned from Steve some things are futile. It would be like trying to convince Anthony Verdugo to accept a gay person's rights.
Anyway, Steve was always amusing. I asked him once to name one Supreme Court judge and he said: "What is the Supreme Court?" I said "Do you vote Steve"? When he said no, I said "that is very smart of you." He was very proud.
After about two years he comes in and tells me he is going on a ski trip with some of his friends. He said "there will be 3 ladies there named Millie, Tilly and Toots." He laughed and said their names a few times, laughing each time.
What he didn't know, they were my aunts. Aunt Toots was my favorite aunt. They are all dead now. Fortunately, I lost touch with Stupid Steve. I hope he isn't bringing up children.
14 comments:
No one denies a gay person's rights. But special rights, on the basis of publicly depicting one aspect of their life...., why?
Do you happen to have a google alert on the word "Stupid"?
Steven probably suffered a mild degree of autism.
Steve was the product of a 2nd generation German family who tried to explain away any part played by German folks in the Holocaust. He had no abnormalities, he built a spec house by himself. He was normal except for his beliefs and lack of knowledge of what we might consider important.
Many autistics are also savants and can function in daily life and excel in some aspects. The fact that he didn't know what the Supreme Court is and cracked stupid jokes often reflects mental inadequacy unable to be detected by coworkers, etc.
I have learned in life to listen more than I speak. People are the sum total of their training and life experiences. I listen to determine where they are on life's journey. That assessment determines if I speak or not. It is a waste of time to try to give advice or to share different views with some people, the gap between their reality and how they see the world is vastly different from mine. They could barely understand the concepts I would use to explain the new information, and certainly not understand or agree to new or different ways of thinking about things. But to people who have moved further along on their journey, who realize that there are multiple realities, a number of possible ways of looking at the same thing, discussion might be worth it. And I think this blog reaches some of those kind of people.
Above anon I think your journey analysis cuts both ways, people on the left viewing journey one way and people on right another.
I honestly don't give a rats arse who marry's who or where consenting adults put their private parts.
The thing I find interesting is the uproar over the proposed Arizona law I think business owners should have the right to serve or sell to whomever they please. If they are smart (A lot of business owners are) they will realize everybody's money is green and take it, If someone didn't like me because of what or who I was then I'd want to know so I can take my business and money elsewhere.
Private property rights are just as important as any other civil right.
I think Cato is missing the point. A public business means open to the public, not at the discretion of the business owner. The roads and sidewalks to the business are public and supported by tax dollars. The business owner does not have the choice of who he will take money from in most instances, there are a few exceptions;i.e.. underage purchases of adult products or bars with drunk patrons etc. The business owner can for a "club" of members and can that way control who comes and goes.
"Club" "Business" Different wording same underlying concept.
Taxes pay for the sidewalk and road in front of my house but that doesn't give you the right to sleep in my bedroom (though depending on your looks I may not mind, though my wife might).
The "I pay taxes" argument also cuts both ways, the business owner pays taxes both as an individual and as a business, plus he pays for licenses and all other kinds of BS.
Public property is exactly that which is maintained by the taxpayer, sidewalk, streets, parks etc etc etc and that should be open to absolutely everyone. But business are privately owned and operated (not the Mom and Pop Grant grabbers), telling them what they can or can't do leads us down a very slippery slope which we are already on. Like I said if they're smart they'll take everyone's money and most (the ones that will stay in business) will.
I am tired of the bible thumpers just as much as I am tired of those that have to wear their ethnicity, race or sexuality on their sleeve and want to shove it down my throat.
What does this have to do with Stupid Steve and Millie, Tilly and Toots?
Cato, your house is not open for business, it is a private residence, your logic is flawed. No one is shoving anything down your throat. The US Constitution says all men are created equal, and that has been upheld by Supreme Court decisions. A public business should be open to anyone willing to pay. That is the price you pay for living in a free country.
Stupid Steve ? Isn't that the guy the bible thumpers always bring up you know "Adam and eve not Adam and Steve."
As Milly Tilly and Toots I thought they were the characters in To Wong Foo or whatever that Patrick Swayze movie was called.
NEVERMIND!
Anon that insist on arguing with me NOTHINGS FREE!!! If you don't believe me go to Walmart.
Is confused :o/
There's no accounting for taste. Some find Mel Brook's "Springtime for Hitler and Germany" funny.
In the case of Virgil Sollozzo's "Try the veal, it's the best in the city" and substituting "orange flavored
acrylic floor polish" for "veal", some might find sardonic humor in the description of the colonoscopy prep med...
Post a Comment