You’re not my idol, but you and your husband are damn good writers! Thank you for your continued witty, honest and consciousness-raising columns. This one hits the nail on the head, as do most of your publications.
I agree. I will follow and learn from an independent, well spoken observer of our political world as they move towards radicalization of thought and action and that seems to be you, Caitlin. I don’t idolize you in the sense of worship, but I sure as hell can emulate you. You’ve kicked up my willingness to get back into the fray that I lost about 10 years ago at 68 and retirement. I may not agree with everything you say but I adore your kickass way of saying it. I had the same admiration for Chomsky and I still respect his insights into manufacturing consent that helped push all of us forward in our analytical skills. But when he considered himself some kind of hero who could tell us all that this was not Fascism we were seeing in the US, I dumped him, without malice or great sadness. I’d do the same with anyone who stops being useful to society as I see it.
I do hate to pick on him. He has done more society and better than I’ll ever do. And his work will never be undone. But I will get huffy when someone seems to a legend in his own mind and uses his accomplishments in one area to give himself cache in another. I don’t like wise old men. They are too often doddering old fools.
You’re not my idol, but you and your husband are damn good writers! Thank you for your continued witty, honest and consciousness-raising columns. This one hits the nail on the head, as do most of your publications.
I agree. I will follow and learn from an independent, well spoken observer of our political world as they move towards radicalization of thought and action and that seems to be you, Caitlin. I don’t idolize you in the sense of worship, but I sure as hell can emulate you. You’ve kicked up my willingness to get back into the fray that I lost about 10 years ago at 68 and retirement. I may not agree with everything you say but I adore your kickass way of saying it. I had the same admiration for Chomsky and I still respect his insights into manufacturing consent that helped push all of us forward in our analytical skills. But when he considered himself some kind of hero who could tell us all that this was not Fascism we were seeing in the US, I dumped him, without malice or great sadness. I’d do the same with anyone who stops being useful to society as I see it.
I believe Ralph Waldo Emerson said that "every hero becomes a bore at last."
A phrase attributed when I was small to one of the Sex Pistols: "Kill your idols, before they get a chance to embarrass you."
Aha! You answered my question Re Chomsky’s pedestal. Duly knocked and thanks to you.
I do hate to pick on him. He has done more society and better than I’ll ever do. And his work will never be undone. But I will get huffy when someone seems to a legend in his own mind and uses his accomplishments in one area to give himself cache in another. I don’t like wise old men. They are too often doddering old fools.