Bernie Goldberg is right .... almost

[Stinky The Clown]

It would seem the essential premise of his book is that certain people are contributing to the cheapening and coarsening of our culture.

I completely agree with that.

But I completely disagree with Goldberg's conclusions as to **who**, exactly, is making this contribution.

It seems to me that the RW 'personalities' are largely to blame. I know we can go back further, but just think back to the days of good old Newt. Think of the 'tone' he set in his days as House speaker.

Think of the days during the early Whitewater and later Lewinsky affairs. That was the first time I ever heard our president called a 'scumbag' by a member of our House of Representatives.

Think of Pig Boy. We all recall 'feminazis', don't we?

We recall Ann the Man calling for the deaths of liberals. We all recall her saying McVeigh should have hit the NY Times.

We all are keenly aware, time and again, of the now-mundane-and-largely-white-noised hate speech, day in and day out from the talking heads of FauxNewz and AM radio.

Listen to the incredible hate coming from the religious right. Is there a bigger bigot than Jerry Falwell? Tim LeHaye? Pat Robertson? Even Franklin Graham. That isn't religion. It is hate, pure and simple.

Tom Delay? A leader? Of what? Of a movement to hate.

The right wing has been spewing hate and vile bile for years.

And Bernie's worried about ....... the Dixie Chicks? Or Barbara Streisand?

Bernie .... America's fucked up because of the very people you support.

And you know it.

[manic expression]

1. I love how he brought up

a "bigot channel", even though being racist and saying naughty words has no relation whatsoever. Because he IS a bigot, how he cites "Gangsta Rap" as corrupting our white-bread youths, just because it's a predominately black form of expression (look up quotes that condemned early rock 'n' roll: "nigger bop"...same thing here).

He singles out naughty language as the reason for America's moral decay...and he's wrong. I don't care if people use curses like they use water, if they are good people, why should their language make any difference? Morals are not affected by sex or curses on TV. He is a reactionary, pitiful fool who needs to reflect about himself and the world around him.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Stewart Summed It Up As Static Noise In Life

Ya think Goldberg has ever taken time to understand the sources of rap and gangsta? I'll admit I don't like the music (personal taste), but I respect those who do find messages within that not only the relate to, but in some cases can inspire. I find the same in the music I enjoy.

Of course Goldberg will slam the culture without discussing how the corporate world has exploited sex and violence and human suffering for their own profit. Or that it's the same corporation that cuts him that fat check that probably has a division that made millions on a rap CD...ya think Bernie would send back the check?

This is more kill the messenger. These people live in suspended 1955...the "nuclear Beaver Cleaver" family, women submissive to men, sex hidden and out of sight, blacks and other minorities gleefully subservient and "in their place"...the pinacle of white christian male power.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Who are among the biggest purveyors of porn?

Not that I'm anti porn ... I'm simply not. But look who gets huge profits from it ......

Satellite teevee
Cable teevee
Most media conglomerates
Hotels (in room movies)

Who's contributing to the 'coarsening' of America?

Don't gimme that gangsta rap crap, Bernie.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Is Porn Really What's Offensive?

Given the picture of two people having sex and a child in Iraq being blown to bits, I think the answer is obvious.

Our culture and its values are so screwed up...thanks to goons like Bernie who play "morality police".

I all but lost it when he said "I don't try to be judgemental". Bullshit!

[Stinky The Clown]

7. It was just an example ......

I agree with your posit

[KharmaTrain]

8. And A Good One

We're all on the same team here.

Plus I'd hate to get your clown mad at me.

Cheers...

[lvx35]

9. I don't know about that.

The 50's being the pinnacle of white christian male power...Its important to remember that the 50s were very economically successful, they represented the birth of the middle class, and unions were stronger than ever before. In many ways the "morality" associated with the 50's is part of a society with strong social values birthed by FDR's socialist new deal. The republicans never face this, they refuse to see that corporations birthed gangsta rap, southpark (which they love so much) etc. All the pornography in the world (huge industry) etc. If a moral society is what you want, your not going to get it from corporate support. Corps will always cater to the lowest denominator necessary to make money.

edit: not that the above is such a bad thing (I have Libertarian tendencies) but it is a fact.

[KharmaTrain]

10. It's A Composite

But then isn't that what the right wing loves to do? Broad strokes with little concept of perspective?

Yes, the 50's were economically, but also socially successful as this was when most of the people who cashed in on the GI Bill were able to buy homes, get educations and start businesses. Our returning veterans sure don't have those opportunities today.

IMHO, the union movement was starting to decline in the 50's...it reached its pinnacle in the 30's...when people needed the services and protections...and while still strong in the 50's, the move away from an industrial to a consumer economy had begun.

We both agree on the corporate world as the driving force behind a lot of what the right wing calls "decadence" with one hand, it collects its stock divends with the other. Goldberg personifies this hypocrisy and then has the audacity to say he's not being judgemental. Nope, he's just being a plain, arrogant asshole.

Cheers...

[lvx35]

11. true.

Yeah, I'm not sure about the unions...or how "good" the fifties are in the big picture. But I certainly agree that Goldberg is an asshole!

[manic expression]

2. Oh and look here for a related thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4107235&mesg_id=4107235

[Aplomado]

3. Bernie is such a hack

that he doesn't even make sense. I don't think he makes sense even to himself.