The deep danger of the "crazed gunman" meme

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Tuesday May 27, 2014 · 10:10 AM PDT

2014/05/27 · 10:10

In the wake of the most recent mass shooting, the nation is once again partaking in that most American of dishes: lukewarm, calorie-free sadness, presented in a spotless, faultless bowl and garnished with a sprinkling of guilt-free outrage (on the side, of course - if you don't want it, you don't have to have it).

While the presence of overt misogyny adds a new ingredient to this dish, it's otherwise the standard gruel: person shoots people in the United States. We've all eaten this before, and compared to other recent variations on it, this dish is not even all that remarkable: after Newtown, we all know that the nation's tolerance for gun violence is somehow greater than 20 dead elementary school students and six adults. The latest shooting falls well below that threshold, and as such, the media and our politicians need only to flip on the hot plate to bring ready-to-serve sadness and outrage to a lukewarm, easy-on-the-mouth temperature. There's no need to bring things to a boil.

So, no: I do not expect that this latest shooting will result in genuine progress towards reducing gun violence. (It does seem to be shining a harsh light on contemporary misogyny, however, and perhaps some progress will be made on that front; the light of the autopsy table still has the power to bring some things into clearer moral focus for us).

However, just because ground is not being gained in the struggle against gun violence, does not mean that ground is not being lost.

And I believe that ground is being lost. Read on below.

yelloweye

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Monday September 30, 2013 · 7:47 AM PDT

2013/09/30 · 07:47

I think about politics a lot. I wish I didn't, because life would be much nicer that way. But I do, and it can't be helped. Anyway, over the last few days, I've been chewing on one pretty basic question: why are Ted Cruz and his followers doing what they are doing? Why have they decided to play an all-in game of chicken with what appears to the rest of the world to be a brick wall?

This especially applies to Cruz: he seemed to be a rising conservative star even before this episode. He could have sat this one out, taken a few satisfying potshots at Boehner from the wings, and kept his waxy-skinned carcass intact for a more winnable battle. But instead, there he is, leading his reluctant troops like a bizarro Teddy Roosevelt on what seems to be a suicidal charge into withering public opinion polls and a unified opposition.

(I say "bizarro Teddy Roosevelt" because Roosevelt was covered by withering fire when he charged up San Juan Hill, whereas Cruz has charged into withering fire from his own party and from polls. However, Cruz is also the opposite of Roosevelt in many, many other ways. Example #1: Roosevelt's mighty mustache and Cruz's thin-lipped and eminently punchable mouth represent the two extremes on the spectrum of masculine facial features).

Anyway, read on to see my evaluation of three possible explanations for the strategy and actions of Cruz and his Charge of the Right Brigade:

yelloweye

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Thursday September 12, 2013 · 9:18 AM PDT

2013/09/12 · 09:18

Like many, I’ve spent much of this past week being bewildered by the twists and turns of the ongoing Syria debacle. Putin the Peacemaker? Obama the Lord of War? Assad the Suddenly Amenable and Risk-Averse Dictator? It don’t make no sense. None of it. (Well, the Lord of War title holds some water, but you get the point).

Thus, over the past few days, I’ve been wondering: what are the simplest explanations for what has gone down? If we look at some of the most important events, and we ask: “what is the simplest explanation for this to have occurred in the manner that it did”, what are the results? Or, in other words, if we give a liberal dose of Occam’s Razor to the news reports, what is left?

The results of this thought exercise are as follows. I gladly admit that this is the work of one person, whose brain was also occupied by work, making dinner, doing laundry, and etc. It is obviously 100% guesswork – that much is admitted upfront.

Anyway, what follows is one person’s attempt to take Occam’s Razor to some of the more baffling occurrences of the past week. First, the Razor created the delicately carved orange onion shavings you see below - then it slices up the Syria events.

yelloweye

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Tuesday July 16, 2013 · 12:14 PM PDT

2013/07/16 · 12:14

Longtime reader, first diary.

For me, one of the myriad of negative consequences of the Trayvon Martin case has been the specter of an increase in armed vigilantism. I would not be surprised if there were more than a few folks, inspired by George Zimmerman, who are already studying up on their state's Stand Your Ground and self-defense laws in preparation for armed prowling of our communities. Please proceed below the orange dealio for an idea for a simple legislative fix.

RSS

The deep danger of the "crazed gunman" meme

Charge of the Right Brigade, or: why is Cruz doing what he is doing? And other thoughts.

Taking Occam's Razor to the Syria diplomacy debacle

We need laws to prevent vigilantes from hiding behind Stand Your Ground/self-defense protections