|
commentary by
Michael L. Bromley |
Bromleyisms
... of Automobiles
... and Politics
...and of history, of society, and a whole lot more.
| he, he... |
|
Pages: More entries: see Index |
... of Politics
Looking for a cheap thrill I walked Broadway on Black Friday, the Friday after the third Thursday of the eleventh month, to fight through the crowds. Among the varied amusing sights -- always a guarantee in NYC -- was a Times Square protest against consumerism. What a kicker! Reminds me, of course, of 1912. In that whacked-out year, the SPUGs gathered in their common dedication to the "prevention of useless giving." Scrooge, anyone? We might not normally think the most famous SPUG of them all a Scrooge. Time to re-learn your history. That's precisely what he was, and a disgruntled, bitching and moaning one at that. This most famous member of the group was the ever-whacked out Theodore Roosevelt, who had just recently, in November of 1912, had his ass handed to him in a national election. Amidst his post-election blues, he joined up with the SPUGs, giving in, once again, to that temptation of outrage, which he could never resist. SPUGs was a dumb thought then, and it's a dumb thought today. And it comes of the same ignorance that ever deplores material advance. I thank God that the progressives of today are but idiots like these fools on Times Square, and Dan Akroyd -- yes, Dan protests too much giving (Dan Aykroyd is a real-life Grinch), and these fools, who call themselves the "culture jammers" -- circus acts, all, just like that most famous SPUG of them all. [if you are new to these pages, scroll through
the old files to find a little background on
my antipathy for Theodore Roosevelt. It's not so much the guy himself -- he was
an amazing character, for good and bad -- but the way he comes to us through
history. His legacy is not all that it is understood to be, principally because
people tend to read into him what they like to see, be it nationalism,
conservation, "the square deal," or any other of his many platitudes. Here,
then, is an opportunity for you to see a new perspective on early 20th century
history and its legacy for today.] Here for previous entry |
|||