Sociology Corner
POST 1118
Apply this logic to our democracy.
Think of this as both a geeky query into some weird behavior, as well as the very reason for voting and working to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. You know: like that loyalty oath to which every federal official swears.
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They Think That Violence Is a Sign of Strength
1. Domination
Some people hang on the words of Tucker Carlson. That in itself is worthy of a sociological study, because he is both cruel and delusional – or a liar.
He recently spoke of angry daddy (Trump) coming home to deliver discipline to a “bad little girl” via a “vigorous spanking.” So much there to unpack.
Why is Daddy angry and why is he the accumulator of rage and the dispenser of violence? What does that say about silent, powerless Mommy? And what is the message to that little girl about how she should regard men and the constraints on her entire life?
Why is she a “bad little girl?” I’m guessing that In Carlson’s view, that’s any strong woman who speaks up. Whatever she’s done has morphed her, changing her from an ordinary kid who may have misbehaved to the point where now she herself is something bad; an object of rejection; a reprehensible thing to be beaten into submission; something to be made acceptable to “Daddy.”
And it’s a little girl, not a little boy. Why is that? Could Tucker and his patriarchy loving followers perhaps have mommy issues?
Maybe they distrust and hate girls and women, seeing them only as play toys and as servants. Are they so insecure in their masculinity that the only way for them to feel powerful is to dominate females, perhaps with violent assaults?
Note that it isn’t just a punishment that Tucker names. It isn’t just a spanking. It is a “vigorous spanking.” Does Tucker get off on spanking women? Does his pleasure ramp up as the beating becomes more “vigorous?”
Dominance.
Hey Tucker: dominance and violence driven by your neuroses and self-loathing aren’t signs of strength. They’re sure signs of your weakness and fear.
2. Promises of Attacks and Cruelty
Trump is full of sick, unconstitutional threats, like: A. siccing our military on peaceful demonstrators and hoping to shoot them in the legs; B. promising to prosecute his political opponents, most notably Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi, then all Democrats, and; C. promising to herd undocumented people into concentration camps and deport them. Then he’d round up legal non-citizens, then naturalized citizens. To be fair, he’ll only do this to Hispanics and anyone with dark skin who might have ancestry in a “shithole country.” He never promises to deport Europeans.
It’s fascinating to see Trump as he rails in full insecure panic mode. It is solely to assuage Trump’s bruised, pitiable ego.
Go all sociological on that.
3. Verbal Violence
From the Borowitz Report:
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2023 . . . [Don, Jr.] roasted Sen. John Fetterman, who was recovering from a series of health problems. “Pennsylvania managed to elect a vegetable . . . ”
Trump publicly ridiculed a disabled reporter. At these and all of his public events, the residents of Trump World rejoice in his cruelty. What’s that collective cruelty about?
Trump spent $80,000 for the entire back page of the New York Times demanding that the Central Park 5 be executed, this after DNA evidence had conclusively shown them to be innocent. HE WANTED TO KILL FIVE INNOCENT MEN!
His insanity is constant and goes back decades. So, roll up your sociological shirtsleeves and dig into that.
4. Physical Violence
There are the Proud Boys, the 3 Percenters, the Rambo pretender non-militias and the lone wolves. We know about the plot to kidnap and kill the Governor of Michigan. We know about the radicals’ monument to anti-Americanism, the January 6 insurrection. We know about all its felonious participants. We have perpetrators of that lawlessness still proudly proclaiming that they are the true patriotic ones (see the pic below) and Trump telling us it was a peaceful love fest. I’m guessing that slain Officer Brian Sicknick’s parents see that event differently.
And these violent ones are promising far worse this coming January 6.
The point is that we have a great many who demonstrate their passion and their power through their cruelty, violence and domination of others. They think their violence is a sign of strength. I say it’s a sign that they are weak and just don’t have what it takes to face challenges without threatening others with a gun.
Let’s call them what they are: psychopaths, just like Hitler’s Gestapo and SS.
5. Attitude
Consider this “poop monument” on the National Mall. Yes, it’s a real shrine. No, it isn’t real poop.
Click me for the crappy story.
This is from the plaque on the pedestal below the desk:
“This memorial honors the brave men and women who broke into the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 to loot, urinate and defecate throughout those hallowed halls in order to overturn an election. President Trump celebrates these heroes of January 6th as ‘unbelievable patriots’ and ‘warriors.’ This monument stands as a testament to their daring sacrifice and lasting legacy.”
Go ahead: sociologize that pile of crap.
While you’re at it, give a head scratch to MAGA high level elected officials encouraging and celebrating lawlessness, vandalism and treason. Sociologize me that, too.
And Lest We Forget . . .
. . . how menacingly bad Trump is, how dangerous he is for you and for our country, watch Robert Reich’s list of the 10 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency. Then imagine how destructive another Trump Presidency/Fuhrer-ship would be. The sociological question for all of this is:
Why would anyone want this?
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Then imagine the cataclysm of JD Vance in the White House, which will happen if Trump wins the election.
Same question: Why would anyone want this?
Partial answers:
- Because some insanely rich people would benefit greatly from it.
- Because millions feel disrespected and abandoned by leaders and their flashing middle fingers at those leaders feels good to them.
Obeying In Advance – a Political Tragedy*
Many thanks to JN for passing along this pic. Click for a larger view.
Underneath its name in the Washington Post’s masthead stands its declaration “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” The implication is that this stalwart of democracy newspaper shines light where light is needed and stands firm for democracy.
That brave notion was speared in the heart when the Post refused to endorse for president, as they have in every election since 1976. They effectively are standing aside to let dark authoritarian Trump and the fascists take over and smash the First Amendment and our democracy. The light dims and darkness grows, as Jeff Bezos chickens out and obeys Fuhrer Trump even before being ordered to do so.
Here’s Ann Telneas’ editorial cartoon responding to the Post’s cowardice. Its title is “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”
Great kudos to Telneas for speaking truth to power.
Not to be outdone, the Los Angeles Times chickened out in the same way. So have a bunch of large company CEOs. Cowards all, obeying in advance.
On The Media
From Mother Jones, November 1:
Even this morning, alongside coverage of Trump’s violent remarks [about putting Liz Cheney before a firing squad], the New York Times ran an opinion piece headlined “Can we please mute the president for a few more days [responding to his “garbage” gaffe]?”
Trump’s menacing language—a constant for almost a decade—rarely draws the notice that Garbage-gate has received. To call this imbalance typical both-sidesism fails to adequately convey the failures of the media in 2024.
Quote For the Vote
- . . . . .“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
- – Abolitionist Wendell Philips. Often attributed to Thomas Jefferson,
- who certainly believed that, as did others of his era.
Must Watch
John McCain’s gracious and patriotic concession speech of 2008. Would that we could look forward to something similar this week.
Lend a Hand
Click me – and read Note #5 below
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* Read On Tyranny by Prof. Timothy Snyder for a full understanding of the consequences of obeying in advance.
There’s also a graphic version available.
Many thanks to MG for this quotation from Scotty Reston.
It’s not the vibes and it’s not the polls: IT’S THE VOTES!
Are you registered to vote? Check it out on any of these websites:
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NOTE: Many states allow same day voter registration and voting!
https://www.vote.org/am-i-registerilled-to-vote/
https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration
https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/am-i-registered-to-vote/
“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
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– Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016
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