The general decline in standards today

[V.C. Brunswick]

When I get automated phone calls from campaigning politicians, I enjoy giving full vent to my family heritage of colorful, colorful language.

What I hate is being besieged by campaigners when I'm at the store who want me to sign their petitions. In those instances I usually claim to be Canadian (i.e. noncitizen who can't vote).
Well, it's either that or claim to be a felon!

 

[sheeplady]

Funny because I have noticed that quite a few on the Left in the US do not like to be called Liberal anymore. The preferred euphemism when describing themselves is "Progressive."

Progressive, as I have seen it used, is a term meant to refer to a very liberal person who has a distinct set of views from liberals in general.

So if you are a Progressive, you are a Liberal. But you can be a Liberal but not a Progressive.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Funny because I have noticed that quite a few on the Left in the US do not like to be called Liberal anymore. The preferred euphemism when describing themselves is "Progressive."

I don't care for "Liberal" myself, simply because since the '70s popular culture has given it an effete, preening Mike Stivic connotation. If you have to call me something, call me a communitarian. Or a New Dealer. Or a labor-lefty. Or even a pinko, if we're friends. I wear all those terms as a badge of honor.

A "Progressive" to me is a follower of Fighting Bob LaFollette. Who would be an ultra-radical by the standards of today.

 

[LizzieMaine]

What I hate is being besieged by campaigners when I'm at the store who want me to sign their petitions. In those instances I usually claim to be Canadian (i.e. noncitizen who can't vote).
Well, it's either that or claim to be a felon!

Yep. I do that myself, unless it's a cause I believe in and have the time to sign.

Of course, the day a pot-legalization campaigner tries to get me to sign a petition is the day I might actually *become* a felon.

 

[jamespowers]

Funny, I'm a liberal and I don't particularly care for being described as "the left". What if I'm facing the other direction?

Then you are "the left" facing right.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Unless he goes to the Southern Hemisphere. Then he'd be The Left facing right facing left.

 

[jamespowers]

Unless he goes to the Southern Hemisphere. Then he'd be The Left facing right facing left.

Good thing he can't be two places at once. He would be spinning like a lathe. lol lol

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0izEw48qf0
Warning: strong language

 

[jamespowers]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0izEw48qf0
Warning: strong language

That straightened him out REAL fast.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0izEw48qf0
Warning: strong language

lol

 

[GHT]

For those outside the US, this is one of those cheesy "Hallmark holidays" the Boys came up with to sell more cards and flowers, and the manager went in big for it. The first year I was there, I was astonished to see that when Secretary's Day rolled around, all the women in the office got flowers.

I don't suppose all the single guys in the office got some sort of gift on Palm Sunday.

 

[ChiTownScion]

I don't care for "Liberal" myself, simply because since the '70s popular culture has given it an effete, preening Mike Stivic connotation. If you have to call me something, call me a communitarian. Or a New Dealer. Or a labor-lefty. Or even a pinko, if we're friends. I wear all those terms as a badge of honor.

I'm reminded of an undergrad professor (and Pre-law mentor) who was known for taking out his wallet, waving it in the air, and proclaiming, "I'm a Marxist! Money makes the world go 'round !"

He was a terrific old guy, and he was no Marxist by any definition. He attended church every Sunday, advised his students to specialize in corporate related law (because, "That's where the money is!") and never pushed the underlying dialectic currents of class struggle. He was, certainly, an economic determinist... and to that end I think many a true Trotskyite would deem him naïve. It broke my heart to hear that he passed away during my second year of law school: more than any other person on the earth I wanted him to attend my being sworn in as a member of the bar.

 

[Bushman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0izEw48qf0
Warning: strong language

Ya know, in the end, I never did blame Private Pyle for losing it.

As for the Liberal VS Progressive discussion.... I once heard Rush Limbaugh calling liberals "a party of Santa Claus". As far as I know, people like Santa Claus. Since then I proudly wear the banner of a liberal.

 

[LizzieMaine]

What I really can't stand is the "red" and "blue" thing. Red is traditionally the color of the Left, and changing it to "blue," among other things, absolutely ruins my favorite joke in Chaplin's "Modern Times."

 

[ChiTownScion]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0izEw48qf0
Warning: strong language

I don't think much of character actor R. Lee Ermey: having grown up around older Marines who likely saw things many times more horrifying and dehumanizing in the Pacific than he was ever exposed to- yet never embraced that childish oo-rah crap that he has overplayed to the point of stereotype. I find that usual spiel annoying, sophomoric, and actually belittling to Marines of the class of E. B. Sledge (With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa). He has milked that G/Sgt. Hartmann bit to death for the last 27 years.

But I give him credit, and even a bit of grudging respect, for recognizing in an interview (in which he was uncharacteristically thoughtful and well spoken) the superb performance that Vincent D'Onofrio put forth in that film as "Private Gomer Pyle." D'Onofrio put on an additional 70 pounds of weight for the role of the overweight oafish recruit, and even suffered a knee injury requiring surgery as result of the weight gain. There are actors- and then there are those who give their all to a role. D'Onofrio certainly did that in Full Metal Jacket.

 

[hatsRme]

Just wanted to drop off this interesting and bipartisan analogy. Simple concept, great perspective.

My Doc and I were having an unusual conversation (hard to believe, but I can get off topic, even there) about the polarized state of politics in the world, and how politicians in the US (or anywhere else) are difficult, no, impossible to believe because of the nature of what they do. Impossible to believe about most anything, ever. It is the Doc's feeling that politics are, exactly like religion, a matter of faith. The more I thought about it, the more I agree. Either you believe, or you don't. Either you believe Hillary, or you don't. Either you believe Christy, or you don't, etc., etc., ETC. But everyone KNOWS for sure they're right, right? YOU are right, IMO, LizzieMaine, whatever happened to nuance, respect?

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I don't think much of character actor R. Lee Ermey: having grown up around older Marines who likely saw things many times more horrifying and dehumanizing in the Pacific than he was ever exposed to- yet never embraced that childish oo-rah crap that he has overplayed to the point of stereotype. I find that usual spiel annoying, sophomoric, and actually belittling to Marines of the class of E. B. Sledge (With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa). He has milked that G/Sgt. Hartmann bit to death for the last 27 years.

But I give him credit, and even a bit of grudging respect, for recognizing in an interview (in which he was uncharacteristically thoughtful and well spoken) the superb performance that Vincent D'Onofrio put forth in that film as "Private Gomer Pyle." D'Onofrio put on an additional 70 pounds of weight for the role of the overweight oafish recruit, and even suffered a knee injury requiring surgery as result of the weight gain. There are actors- and then there are those who give their all to a role. D'Onofrio certainly did that in Full Metal Jacket.

Originally actor Bill McKinney was tapped for the role of G/Sgt Hartman. McKinney's most memorable role was in Deliverance as the mountain man in the infamous "Squeal like a Pig" scene. Reportedly Kubrick eventually cast R. Lee Ermey instead because he, Kubrick, was "afraid to meet the mountain man from Deliverance."

 

[HudsonHawk]

L

But I give him credit, and even a bit of grudging respect, for recognizing in an interview (in which he was uncharacteristically thoughtful and well spoken)

Actually, Ermey is that way all the time. Perhaps you're conflating the actor with a character(s) he's portrayed, which is also a sign of a fine performance.

 

[Harp]

I'm reminded of an undergrad professor (and Pre-law mentor) who was known for taking out his wallet, waving it in the air, and proclaiming, "I'm a Marxist! Money makes the world go 'round !"

He was a terrific old guy, and he was no Marxist by any definition. He attended church every Sunday, advised his students to specialize in corporate related law (because, "That's where the money is!") and never pushed the underlying dialectic currents of class struggle. He was, certainly, an economic determinist... and to that end I think many a true Trotskyite would deem him naïve. It broke my heart to hear that he passed away during my second year of law school: more than any other person on the earth I wanted him to attend my being sworn in as a member of the bar.

A friend, guide, and teacher, and a deep personal loss. A mentor is a great gift and trust in your heart that he was there in spirit. :eusa_clap

 

[pawineguy]

Originally actor Bill McKinney was tapped for the role of G/Sgt Hartman. McKinney's most memorable role was in Deliverance as the mountain man in the infamous "Squeal like a Pig" scene. Reportedly Kubrick eventually cast R. Lee Ermey instead because he, Kubrick, was "afraid to meet the mountain man from Deliverance."

Haha, no, he moved him from tech adviser to the actual role because his training tapes were so good. Kubrick allowed him to change his lines and most of his scenes were completed in 3-4 takes, both exceedingly rare for Kubrick.