Monday, June 29, 2015

SENSITIVITY TRAINING



RED FLAG WARNING:
I'M IN A FOUL MOOD
This could be offensive

I spent an hour the other night writing a new blog post entitled Love, Marriage, and Other Atrocities. I thought it was good. I had a strong feeling, however, that others might find it offensive. My unconventional mode of thinking and anti-marriage sentiments were likely to infuriate everyone - - especially since gays are presently giddy over the fact that they can now legally marry nationwide. I've always been staunchly opposed to marriage - - straight, gay, and Martian - - and I stated my personal reasons why. 

Since it's never my intention to offend (well not much, anyway), and since I'm not in the mood to stir up controversy, I've reluctantly put the post on a back burner.

Most of my regular readers have tough hides and always politely endure my inane rants. They realize that much of what I write is tongue-in-cheek (nothing sexual implied). They know that my bark is far worse than my bite and that - underneath the faux bravura - is an innocuous sweetheart. Newer readers, however, might be unduly sensitive and more easily offended.

I often try to place a filter between my words and my readers, which dilutes the potentially lethal potency (and also dilutes my freedom of speech). I try to curb my caustic wit and reduce the blackness of my humor (no racial puns intended). It's not always easy.

I usually steer away from controversial subjects like politics, religion, and sex - especially gay sex. When writing about my shockingly sordid past I very often omit scalding details and incorporate subtle buffers - - which encourage readers to delve between the lines (although lately I've become a little more open, such as in my post Boulevard of Haunted Dreams or in the last part of Ashes ).
If the links don't work, you can find them on my sidebar.

So - - - in essence - -
I avoid the subject of sex because I don't want to shock my relatives or be the cause of cardiac arrest..
I steer clear of religion, so as not to upset the atheists among us. 
I don't dare mention politics, because - to put it bluntly - 99% of my readers are in direct opposition to my political views.
I never delve into the realms of environmental issues, because some of my personal friends are psychotically fanatically GREEN and have actually issued death threats when I ruefully questioned the validity of global warming......oops, sorry - - I mean climate change.

When I had my old blog Lone Star Concerto, half a dozen readers dropped me because I bashed Hillary Clinton. Two sweet old ladies fled in one day (ironically, they are both still here in Blogland, leaving adoring comments on other people's blogs).
 Before abandoning me, one of the ladies left a caustic comment in which - among other things - she said that I was heartless and advised me to "undergo sensitivity training."

Sensitivity training? WTF??? 
Hey, I'm one of the most sensitive, sweet, easy-going, caring, compassionate guys around. 

That old bitch can take her opinion and shove it where the sun don't shine.

(you can't see me, but I'm grinning like the Cheshire cat) 

So, what's left to write about? Not much.
In the hyper-sensitive environment of our politically correct society, most subjects are now taboo. I'm reduced to talking about the bugs in my back yard and the incessant rain that inspired the weeds to grow ten feet. Fortunately, I have a knack for making boring things incredibly interesting.

You'd never know it by reading this blog post, would you?

I suppose I shouldn't mention that I'm really pissed over the present attempt to ban the Confederate flag. In a humble (and partially innocent) protest, I dug the above photo out of my files. It was taken when I first moved to Texas. I was in the process of unpacking my things and I happened to find a nearly-forgotten Confederate flag. When I took it outside to shake off years of dust, a sudden gust of Texas wind caught it like a sail - - and somebody snapped the photo.

I'm even more angry with that liberal NYC film critic Lou Lumenick, who recently called for the ban of Gone With the Wind because the concept of the Confederate flag (among other things) upset him.

Hey, Louie Boy, here's a flash:  
It took a helluva lot more talent to write GWTW than it does to criticize it. You Libs are constantly trying to mess with our private lives, but you're not going to mess with our American classics.
You'd better not come anywhere near Tennessee (not that you'd ever want to) because if I ever see you I'm gonna roll up my Confederate flag and implant it firmly in your puckered derriere - - and I have no doubt that you'd enjoy it.

Do you feel better now, Jon?

Hell, no. "Sensitivity training", my ass!



Note:
After reading this blog post, I'm sure that most of my readers will drop me.
The only ones left will be Myra. And Geo. (because he's incredibly polite). And TarryTerre.
And maybe Ron - because he has good taste (even though he's a Lib).

Most of the gay guys will flee.
Hey, dudes, come back! I don't give a damn if you're married! I'm on your side! I've got rainbow tattoos to prove it! Wanna see them?
 








31 comments:

  1. Jon, even though I'm incredibly polite, I must agree with you. The Stars and Bars always spent Flag Day beside Old Glory on our porch when I was a kid --Portuguese dad; Okie mom-- a capricious tradition not intended to offend. Dad thought education was the antidote to racism, and he was largely correct. Mom was a teacher who came to California so she could teach all ethnic groups (she could not in the South). They talked about this when they met in 1939 on Treasure Island at the fair. I exist because one thing led to another and, well, I'm too polite to go on. What was the question again?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Education really is a potent antidote to racism - - and one thing (among many) that I always appreciated about California was its racial neutrality.
      As for the Confederate flag - - I'm sure that some people use it as a weapon of hate, but I never saw it that way.

      Delete
  2. I say live and let live. Be true to yourself. It's as simple as that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's best to be true to yourself and be quiet about it.

      Delete
  3. Laughing @ Jon taking Sensitivity Training.

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    Replies
    1. Paula, sensitivity training and I would never get along.

      Delete
  4. BTW, this picture ... and accompanying prose totally made my day!
    (Ya, I've been known to jump off the straight n' narrow weekdays when no-one's around to look over my shoulder. Can't remember if I said so, but our company's server shows me as a 'visitor from Florida.')

    ANYway, I seriously love this image of you and the battle flag. You know me better than most, so there's no need to add my thumb's down on all that's politically correct.
    Keep on keepin' on ... won't you, please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Myra, I knew that you would never be part of the firing squad. Thanks!

      Delete
  5. How can I drop you...when your right...??!!
    This flag is as much a part of the our history as the red, white and blue...

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    Replies
    1. I've never thought of the Confederate flag as anything more than a relic from our historical past.

      Delete
  6. Nice picture of you and the flag. I don't say what i believe in for there will always be someone to say it's wrong. It's a shame how some people is always wanting to stir up trouble and change things that has been years without any complaints. I always try to read your post, but I have a hard time writting a comment on this laptop. Take care, Jean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm too opinionated and when I write my opinions I often sound more harsh than I really am.

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  7. I'm going to stand back and wait for the dust to settle.

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    Replies
    1. Ray, I appreciate neutrality and passivity.

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  8. Marriage is not for everyone, I tried it once - unsuccessfully, I am going to give it another shot - for legal and financial reasons, it won't change our love and commitment, but it will bring over a 1,000 legal preferences to the relationship that has endured for nearly 23 years. I am not going to wait for 1,000 laws to change.

    It is the relationship between the symbol and words and the prejudice that upsets me. A flag as a symbol of history is one thing, as an ongoing declaration of in-equality, it is a symbol of hate and ignorance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree and your point is well-taken. Love doesn't require legal bonds, but the unpleasant necessities of legal and financial issues do.

      Delete
  9. I'm still here too. Everyone is too damn sensitive and offended and think their ideas and opinions should be ours too. Sounds like we are really headed to mind control and censorship.

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  10. Well, Jon, I was laughing right along with you till I got to that last photo. I've seen that one floating around in the virtual space and I'm definitely not a fan of the comparison. EVEN SO, I enjoyed reading your post and was more than fired up last week over the Confederate flag. I'm a Missouri girl transplanted to South Carolina AND an American history teacher. Good grief, don't even get me started! The one thing I am excited about is that I begin each 8th grade class (each school year) with the Civil War. I cannot wait to unfurl my rebel flag, right after the introduction of the South Carolina secession flag. No, I'm not inciting a riot, but I am going to do everything within me, as I do every year, to teach those kids what LIBERTY is all about... at this rate my great-grandchildren will not even recognize the America that my grandparents knew.

    Enough of that. Keep on writing! And one more thing, isn't TarryTerre the best? (hope I spelled it right). She always leaves the nicest comment.

    Take Care! ~Angela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not exactly fond of the last photo, either. I just threw it in as an afterthought. It's so refreshing to know that you're intent on teaching the children the truth - which seems to get more distorted all the time by liberal revisionists. Your efforts will be rewarded.

      TarryTerre is a sweetheart.

      Delete
  11. Being a non American, although I lived there for almost a quarter of a century, I never really understood the whole confederate passion. I suppose I bought into the idea that it somehow equaled southern hicksville. But of course it's more than that. It's part of your countries heritage. I've live with my partner for 38 years and we have no plans to marry. Why would we? If we've been happy as we are for all these years why would I need a slip of paper to make things "better" or "more "legitimate"? In whose eyes? But I do celebrate equality and I'm pleased that if people want to get married, they can. I also celebrate that now that equal marriage is federally approved rather than by a state, there will be equal financial rights for survivors of long term gay relationships such as ours.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Being a non American, although I lived there for almost a quarter of a century, I never really understood the whole confederate passion. I suppose I bought into the idea that it somehow equaled southern hicksville. But of course it's more than that. It's part of your countries heritage. I've live with my partner for 38 years and we have no plans to marry. Why would we? If we've been happy as we are for all these years why would I need a slip of paper to make things "better" or "more "legitimate"? In whose eyes? But I do celebrate equality and I'm pleased that if people want to get married, they can. I also celebrate that now that equal marriage is federally approved rather than by a state, there will be equal financial rights for survivors of long term gay relationships such as ours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nowadays the Confederate flag is most often associated with southern hicksville, but I always view it with an historical aspect. It's really admirable that you've been with your partner for 38 years. I wish I had been so fortunate. The love of my life died at a young age. Perhaps some day I'll write about it.

      Delete
  13. And one last thing, the Confederate flag. It is treasonous. Simple as that. This isn't political correctness, flying the Confederate flag (by the way, the South did LOSE the war and they're losers) just reminds one of treason and hate and justification for discrimination. Every time I've seen the Confederate flag (and yes, I see it here occasionally here in southern Delaware by some yahoo who "proudly" displays it on the side of his rusty single-wide (never seen one displayed on a regular house) or two at a time from the back of his pick-up truck (usually a Dodge Ram). I've always found it offensive and just pandering to a bunch of sore losers.
    And oh, one more thing, climate change. It is true Jon, we're screwing up the climate by our excessive, uncontrolled emissions but it's too late now to do anything significantly about it. Probably the only consolation I have is that I'm at the end of my Game and I won't be around to see the final effects of man's greed.
    But to drop you from my blog reading list Jon? Or more importantly as a friend, oh no. I appreciate our differences and I think you do too. What I like about you Jon (in addition to many other things) is that you're reasonable. You're not brainwashed. You listen. Maybe you don't always agree but you do listen unlike my poor Mother during the last years of her life who would clasp her hands to her ears and shout "I don't want to hear it!" when I offered a valid argument against one of her Fox (Faux) News brainwashed inspired rants agains "progressives" (don't you just love that new term for us libs)?
    Jon, you're always interesting and my life would be infinitely less if I didn't have you as a friend and fellow blogger.
    Thanks again for a great post and maybe someday we'll see you in a Pride Parade. Hey, don't feel bad, I can't talk Pat into going to one either.
    Your friend,
    Ron
    (I didn't edit this response so please pardon any misspellings)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jon,
    If my last comment didn't make sense that was because I lost the first part of it because it was too long. And like the song "MacArthur Park", I left the cake out in the rain and I'll never have that recipe again.
    Ron

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  15. Jon,
    I'll wait to see how much of my comment was posted before I try and properly respond again. Bu the main thing I wanted to say is that you'll never lose me as a friend or a blog follower. You're just too interesting and you're a nice guy in spite of your wrong-headed ways but hey, I think eventually you'll "come around." Remember, I used to be a conservative too until Bush and his war criminal accomplices tried to fuck me out of my EARNED VA benefits (which I don't use now) and Social Security (which I do use) and Medicare (which I do use). If the current version of Republicans had their way I would have nothing and it always amazes me how they can get so many average Americans to vote agains their own interests by using social issues like gay marriage as a bogeyman ("Bar the door Katy, The Gays are coming).
    I better end this rant how before I lose it too because I'm too long.
    Ron

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    Replies
    1. Ron, I think we were able to salvage most of your long comment, and I'm glad - because you're always so interesting and open. Despite our occasional differences, I know that we fully understand each other. We also both wear our hearts on our sleeves, which seems to be something very rare here in Blogland. That's what makes our blogs so interesting.

      I won't give any detailed responses regarding all the subjects you commented about because it would take too long. - - but I read every word. By the way, both of our lives deserve to be documented in books - - they would make an interesting read.

      Delete
  16. Oi! Mister.......what makes you think you'd have gotten rid of me.......? I'm not always around but I do come back......if with rather safe and able comments as I'm too thick to always know what some are saying (politics in particular). But I do need a bit of Jon every now and again!

    ReplyDelete

I love comments. Go ahead and leave one - I won't bite. But make sure you have a rabies shot just in case.