Ammo Grrrll invokes Jake Barnes and does not “hide the decline” in SLOWLY AT FIRST, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN. She writes:
When Ernest Hemingway’s character in The Sun Also Rises was asked how he went bankrupt after being very well-off, he said, “Two ways: gradually at first, then all of a sudden.” That is how MANY things go to Hades, from “recreational” drug use to complete addiction to loss of everything that makes life worthwhile, except the drug. And it is how cultures and civilizations die as well.
One of my all-time favorite columnists, the late, great Art Buchwald (alav shalom), experienced a series of terrible health problems until he was placed in hospice. But as Billy Crytal in the hysterical persona of Miracle Max said in Princess Bride:
“It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there’s usually only one thing you can do.”
Inigo Montoya: “What’s that?”
Miracle Max: “Go through his clothes and look for loose change.”
By a miracle, Mr. Buchwald’s “dead” kidney found a glimmer of new life. He checked out of hospice (perhaps the only person in history!) and lived for another year.
I think in the Biden years, after the “fundamental transformation” of eight Obama years, our culture and Western Civilization itself were pretty much on life support, if not in cultural hospice. One intervening Trump term offered some stanching of the bleeding, but as we now know he was harassed and hampered at every turn. And hounded by lawfare when Biden “won.” And eventually missed being assassinated by what? A quarter of an inch?
I am no expert on what constitutes a healthy and vibrant culture. But I think elements include the 3M’s (I’m in Minnesota right now, so 3M came to my mind): Morality, Manners, Mutual Values.
First Morality: Long ago, in a galaxy far away, I was a Sociology major at one of the many universities I attended. I recall that in one text some sociologist (of course, I can’t remember his name, but don’t worry, he’s almost certainly dead now…) posited the notion that there was a profound loss of social control when front porches gave way to back patios. Imagine! Something as simple as that! (And let’s not forget the dizzying freedom of the automobile. Which is Reason #1 why the Left hates them.)
Especially in urban settings, sturdy, sharp-eyed elderly ladies sat fanning themselves on front stoops and teenagers had to modify their behavior to some extent or get “outed” in a community that really WAS a community then and still cared about misbehavior that reflected badly on the community.
Similarly, our Sages tell us that one reason for Jewish males wearing the yarmulke or kippah is to encourage excellent behavior on the part of its males, lest it reflect badly on the community as a whole, calling down misery upon its collective head.
But meanwhile, back to the abandonment of front porches. Then people who COULD moved to the suburbs and most of the social activity took place in the backyard, free from the intrusive gaze of nosy neighbors. Why, I remember in Minnesota many decades ago, a nice-appearing candidate for governor was doing quite well in the campaign when some dirt-digger dug up an alleged backyard nudie swim-fest (involving alcohol) which included, among the participants, his teenage daughter and another teenage girl.
Further investigation uncovered other improprieties, as it turned out that this poor guy was the ONLY man in the history of the world – what WERE the chances? — to have been unfaithful! Because, of course he was a Republican, back when there was some “shame” (look it up) attached to bad behavior and he not only dropped out of the race but disappeared entirely. I learned by total accident in a bar in Santa Fe, New Mexico tended by the man’s daughter that he had moved to Australia!
Democrats can play with interns and cigars, choke the chicken in a Zoom meeting, marry their brothers for immigration purposes, or any other of a long list of naughty deeds and just go right on as if nothing had ever happened. I honestly do not know how Elizabeth Warren, who got spectacularly rich pretending to be an Indian, could ever leave her house without at least Groucho glasses. But there she is, shaking her puny little fist, running her mouth with her new BFF Mamdani, not even appearing to be embarrassed.
I know I am sounding more and more like my dear late mother: “When we were kids in the Depression, bread was a nickel and Mother made us one new dress each school year…so, if you think you ‘need’ a pleated skirt when you already have a perfectly-good…” etc. etc. etc.
BUT still the heart knows that it’s not just nostalgia for a simpler time. I remember when a lady came back to our drugstore with her weeping son who had to apologize for stealing a five-cent Snickers bar and begging Daddy to make the kid sweep out the storeroom or do any other penance of his choice in addition to paying for the candy. She was teaching him “Thou shalt not steal.” Duh. She was also teaching him actions have CONSEQUENCES.
So when, during the BLM riots, I watched young women looting Target, dragging small children behind them in a kind of Thievery Apprenticeship Program, it depressed the heck out of me. It was not like Jean Valjean stealing the proverbial loaf of bread to feed a starving family. It was just morons grabbing random stupid stuff. It looked to me like the end of morality and a very steep luge ride to disaster. Nobody was even pursued, let alone punished, though their faces were all on camera.
Oh, I see. Stealing is not only NOT wrong, it is a kind of “reparations” because some people, who have NOT made every single dumb life decision possible, have more than others. “Imagine no possessions – it’s easy if you try! Especially if they’re OTHERS’ possessions, cuz losing YOURS will make you cry.” (I may have some of John Lennon’s words wrong…) And anyway, Target is a big rich corporation owned by rich white people. What’s the big deal?
Wait…what’s that you say? They have closed most of our neighborhood grocery stores and drugstores and we now have no aspirin or food? Well, the GOVERNMENT better give us free stores! It’s not OUR fault that condoning looting is not a sustainable business plan and Evil Capitalists care only about Profit!
And what of simple manners? I have cited this before, many years ago, but it made a big impression on me. I had an afternoon show in Columbus, Mississippi, and had strolled uptown for coffee in the morning. There was a short line. When I got to the head of the line I asked for a small Americano coffee and a bottled water. The young lady said they didn’t HAVE any water. She was a bit curt. As I left the shop, the man behind me in line hurried after me and said, “I am so embarrassed to have a guest here in Columbus treated that rudely. I will speak to her mother about it at church. [Uh-Oh.] Please come into my dress shop where we always keep bottled water in the fridge for the employees.”
I did. I was introduced to two lovely black ladies and two lovely white ladies who were just “thrilled” (their word) to meet a real live standup comic they had never heard of. I drank water. I carried even more water in a bag back to my hotel. I bought several items of clothing at the store. I left with a really good impression of Columbus, Mississippi.
So, to go from that to watching people in line at Disneyland shoving and pushing and punching and swearing – and those were the women! — to hearing about people actually defecating in line rather than lose their place for Space Mountain – maybe REM was right: “It’s the end of the world as we know it.”
But, like REM, I feel fine.
Next week, I will tackle “Mutual Values” as the third leg on the cultural stool. But before that, we will meet in beautiful Brainerd, MN for CC4. Our theme: “RELAX! WE’RE WINNING!”
