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TRIBES (Folks, there's R-rated language throughout this thing. Normally I can edit it out; this time, not so much. I may do so later, but now I want to leave it as I wrote it.) I�m generally an optimist, and it�s been my pleasure to be able to write mostly about the good and the noble things in our lives. But the events in the Gulf � of Mexico � have brought to a head a summer and a year that has been getting progressively uglier and more painful to watch. Who can not see the way the country has changed, not since 9/11, but before that � since the 2000 election? Who cannot feel the split, the division, that rips like a shredding sail on a broken mast, canvas tearing like the sound of musketry, as the rigging falls to the deck? This breaks my heart. It just breaks my heart into little pieces. I have said less and less as I see more and more, because deep in my core I still don�t want to believe that some Americans could willfully and consistently do such destructive things out of such petty and base motivations, things which in time will make the horrors of New Orleans look like a flea circus in a small tent, with the much larger carnival raging unseen in the background. I�ve taken sides in these essays, obviously � that�s what I do. But I have never, until now, felt the need to take the gloves off and really let fly. I always feared I would regret it, later. I still do. Only now, I fear I will regret it worse if I do not. So now we must look at Tribes. Now please pay attention to this, because I�m not going to state it again, and if you don�t hear it now much mischief will follow: I believe that the human animal � the raw material of our physical bodies � is essentially interchangeable. By this I mean that I could take the children of Fallujah and turn them all into Astronauts, convert Jewish babies into fanatical, mass-murdering SS guards, and shake a generation of the poorest Voodoo-worshippers in Haiti into a cadre of top-flight nuclear physicists, chemical engineers and computer scientists. Race has nothing to do with this � precisely nothing. The mobs of murdering Hutus and swarms of slaughtering Serbs are as different racially as it is possible to be, and they are cut from precisely the same cloth. I know this is so because there have been murdering scumbags of every stripe and color in the long history of the human race � which is depressing � and that these animals, at any given time, represent only a small percentage of the majority of people, also of every stripe and color � which is not. There is no corner on virtue, and no outpost of depravity. Human hearts are indistinguishable and interchangeable. Anyone who claims otherwise is, without further argument or statements necessary, a complete God-damned idiot. Now, with that said � have we all heard that loud and clear? � there are light-years of difference in how various Tribes will behave. Only a few minutes ago, I had the delightful opportunity to read the comment of a fellow who said he wished that white, middle-class, racist, conservative cocksuckers like myself could have been herded into the Superdome Concentration Camp to see how much we like it. Absent, of course, was the fundamental truth of what he plainly does not have the eyes or the imagination to see, namely, that if the Superdome had been filled with white, middle-class, racist, conservative cocksuckers like myself, it would not have been a refinery of horror, but rather a citadel of hope and order and restraint and compassion. That has nothing to do with me being white. If the blacks and Hispanics and Jews and gays that I work with and associate with were there with me, it would have been that much better. That�s because the people I associate with � my Tribe � consists not of blacks and whites and gays and Hispanics and Asians, but of individuals who do not rape, murder, or steal. My Tribe consists of people who know that sometimes bad things happen, and that these instances are opportunities to show ourselves what we are made of. My people go into burning buildings. My Tribe consists of organizers and self-starters, proud and self-reliant people who do not need to be told what to do in a crisis. My Tribe is not fearless; they are something better. They are courageous. My Tribe is honorable, and decent, and kind, and inventive. My Tribe knows how to give orders, and how to follow them. My Tribe knows enough about how the world works to figure out ways to boil water, ration food, repair structures, build and maintain makeshift latrines, and care for the wounded and the dead with respect and compassion. There are some things my Tribe is not good at at all. My Tribe doesn�t make excuses. My Tribe will analyze failure and assign blame, but that is to make sure that we do better next time, and we never, ever waste valuable energy and time doing so while people are still in danger. My Tribe says, and in their heart completely believes that it�s the other guy that�s the hero. My Tribe does not believe that a single Man can cause, prevent or steer Hurricanes, and my Tribe does not and has never made someone else responsible for their own safety, and that of their loved ones. My Tribe doesn�t fire on people risking their lives, coming to help us. My Tribe doesn�t curse such people because they arrived on Day Four, when we felt they should have been here before breakfast on Day One. We are grateful, not to say indebted, that they have come at all. My Tribe can�t eat Nike�s and we don�t know how to feed seven by boiling a wide-screen TV. My Tribe doesn�t give a sweet God Damn about what color the looters are, or what color the rescuers are, because we can plainly see before our very eyes that both those Tribes have colors enough to cover everyone in glory or in shame. My Tribe doesn�t see black and white skins. My Tribe only sees black and white hats, and the hat we choose to wear is the most personal decision we can make. That�s the other thing, too � the most important thing. My Tribe thinks that while you are born into a Tribe, you do not have to stay there. Good people can join bad Tribes, and bad people can choose good ones. My Tribe thinks you choose your Tribe. That, more than anything, is what makes my Tribe unique. I am so utterly and unabashedly proud of my Tribe, that my words haunt and mock me for their pale weakness and shameful inadequacy. (continued at Link provided) http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000129.html On Sep 8, 3:34 am, Cold Water <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The Tribe of Sarah: A Guide for the Perplexed Media > By Thomas Lifson > > Our friends in the media just do not understand the popular following Sarah > Palin has attracted. In an effort to help, I thought I should explain her > popular appeal to them in terms even an Ivy League graduate could understand. > > If you consider yourself a member of the intelligentsia, think of Sarah's > unexpectedly numerous admirers as a kind of tribe. We are going to examine a > few of the folkways of strange and foreign people. Think of them as exotic > and it may help you stifle any revulsion you may feel at their differences > from your own familiar accepted ways. > > Many of you probably read excerpts from Colin Trumbull's description of the > Mbuti tribe of the Congo (The Forest People) in one college course or > another. In a similar mindset you can begin to understand the values and the > ways of the Tribe of Sarah, and maybe begin understand how the world looks to > them, even though it is a very different way of understanding reality than > your own. > > (Okay, I admit the respectful insistence that these are also a complex > people, well adapted to their environment and possessed of a beautiful > spirituality is probably going to be a stretch for many of you. But still, it > is worth a try while you still have careers left.) > > We haven't got an entire semester, so I will just hit a few important > concepts. > > The basic values > > Unlike your own refined and infinitely more complex moral understanding, > these people believe in abstract concepts known among them as "right" and > "wrong" (alternatively "good" and "evil.") They regard those among them whom > see as championing the cause of right and defeating wrong as role models to > emulate, and frequently accord them honors and deep respect. > > Perhaps misinterpreting media characterizations of big oil companies, they > see Sarah Palin as someone who stood up to wrong, and thus revere her > example. They harbor a belief that she will continue to support good and > fight evil, and accordingly project a vision of her success when leaving > their world for your own in Washington, DC. > > A side note for future reading: a widely believed legend among them has it > that a great leader they call Jesus championed good, fought evil, and > suffered horribly for it. This martyrdom and its aftermath are a subject of > considerable elaboration in their folkways and ritual, and this cultural > detail may conceivably amplify their anger when another honored champion is > made to suffer. > > The role of "Mom" > > The person who is assigned the gender role of carrying unterminated fetal > tissue mass is the central figure of the family structure among the tribe of > Sarah. Known familiarly as "mom" (never "mother"), these moms organize the > foundational structures of their civilization. The behavioral norms learned > from a mom determine the entire life course of the children. Accordingly, > moms are also deeply honored, indeed revered to the point of abject love and > devotion among them. Those who threaten harm to a mom occasion deep disgust > within the tribe. > > Sarah Palin, as the mother of five, including one child facing serious life > challenges, is a person widely admired among them for her devotion, which > they regard as exemplary. One of their folk celebrations, the "Special > Olympics" celebrates the achievements of these children. Nearly all of you > have heard of the Clan of the Kennedys in your own tribe; it has actually > played a major role in this particular festival. Perhaps that will help you > make the mental leap required to understand the feelings engendered by Baby > Trig. > > Many of the tribe's moms, seeing Sarah's love for her baby with challenges > and empathizing, regard attacks on her as an attack on themselves. Jung's > concept of the archetype may be helpful to you in understanding this > admiration and empathy for Sarah and explain their hostile response to your > recent work. > > Moms closely communicate with one another, and these information flows work > to determine where the children attend school and under what conditions, > where the family will obtain its staple foods, and see to the enforcement of > behavioral norms among all members of the comunity. Think of them as > sensitivity trainers, if it helps, but remember that nobody gets to leave at > the end of the work day. > > The moms have a number of distinctive organizations which channel their > social ties and lines of communication. We have no time or space to cover > major topics ranging from "church" to "kaffe klatsch." More material for > future reading. > > The PTA > > Sarah's followers know she first attained a formal leadership role in society > within an organization called the "PTA," and a little context is helpful. > Moms regard the shepherding of their offspring as their primary duty in life, > aside from supporting the person assigned the male gender role, known among > them as the "hubby." From the moment of the first child's birth until a phase > decades later known among the tribe as the "empty nest," the development of > children is regarded as the sacred duty of a mom and her hubby, as well as > life's greatest and most rewarding experience. > > PTA meetings are held at schools, with moms and a few hubbies gathering with > teachers and discussing topics related to the education of the offspring. > Because education is regarded as second only the mom's own influence on > children, moms can have strong opinions on the content and processes of > education. Frequently moms vie for honor among themselves, and seek to > champion a change, or perhaps fight in opposition to one, resulting in very > intense bursts of activity, communication and seeking of political support > within the PTA community and beyond. Indeed, serious differences among moms > can lead to feuds and vendettas, giving rise to colorful local legend that > animate their communal folklore. > > Members of the tribe regard someone who began a political rise within a PTA > as evidence of adherence to the welfare of her children, and also as evidence > of great political favor among members of her community, which subsequently > elected her village head man, or mayor. But that term may confuse you, so a > brief explanation. > > Mayor > > Unlike the figures familiar to you such as Mayor Daley, those who carry the > title of "mayor" in places like Wasilla must be available to their citizenry > at all hours, and are expected to have met them face to face if they hope to > gain their vote. Constituents feel little compunction about complaining > personally to the mayor. A small town mayoralty qualifies as a rite of > passage for nascent tribal politicians, ensuring their responsiveness. > > Sin > > This is going to be a tough one, because there is no comparable concept in > your culture. But associated with the abstract concepts of good and evil is > one known as sin, defined as the commission of acts which partake of the > quality of evil. Now what is really tricky about this admittedly complex > cultural construct is that tribe members believe everyone sins. Even good > people. They believe that sin is inborn. Rather than categorize someone as > evil merely on the basis of sin, they have developed methods of driving away > the unwanted effects of the sinful behavior. When one has successfully made > the best of the situation, repented, and corrected the disapproved behavior, > they speak of "redemption." > > This has important consequences for the tribe's regard of your work on Sarah > Palin. If you discover sin within her family, the tribe accepts that sin is > inevitable. Instead, they judge how Sarah and the family deal with the > consequences. And if they perceive that the "right" thing is being done, they > admire her all the more. > > In short, understanding the Tribe of Sarah is going to require you to stretch > your minds and learn some new and unfamiliar concepts. Further reading will > pay big dividends. But this sort of mental exercise can be both useful and > fun, for it can enhance your understanding of yourself, too. That's the great > benefit of cross-cultural studies. > > Happy Learning! > > Thomas Lifson is editor and publisher of American Thinker. > > Page Printed > from:http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/the_tribe_of_sarah_a_guide_for... > at September 08, 2008 - 06:32:07 AM EDT --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
