Critical Analysis
by Geoff Metcalf
May 15, 2003
"It's not a question
of WHO is right or wrong, but WHAT is right or wrong that counts."
is an observation I have too often articulated. It has become
a starting point for much of my work for over a decade.
Inevitably, whether it is the petty partisan posturing by
congress critters, the geopolitical gamesmanship of insignificant
but loud entities like the U.N, and France, or the pop culture
pontifications of self absorbed shake and bake celebrities,
some people just flat out don't want to be confused with facts
that contradict their preconceived opinions and/or prejudices.
Have you ever noticed that the most insightful, reasonable,
and philosophic observations don't seem to come from politicians
or academics but rather from honest Will Rogers's successors?
Opinions are like intimate body parts
we all have them.
However, personally (and I don't always agree with these guys)
I think Dennis Miller, George Carlin, and Will Durst are more
honest, insightful and reasonable that all of Congress, the
'United Nothing', and the dysfunctional European Union. Of
course to borrow from Mr. Miller, "
that's just
my opinion
I could be wrong."
I read Dennis
Miller's first OpEd in the Wall Street Journal May 5th
and my reaction was "HOOAH! Outbleepingstanding!".
Then I watched literary idol Normal Mailer on TV and my reaction
was "how sad."
Miller observed, "Mr. Mailer at one time challenged
and provoked. Now he just provokes." BINGO! Miller is
spot on. Mailer, notwithstanding his warts and blemishes,
has been a brilliant writer. However, despite the literature
departments canonization, he has become a two-dimensional
cartoon character eschewing the company of Hemingway and Steinbeck
for the club of Madonna, George Clooney and Michael (the sanctimonious
bubble of pus) Moore.
Miller's OpEd was a series of jabs and body punches. The
uppercut came when he wrote that Mailer, "clearly abdicated
the lucid throne, it must be hellish for someone who can still
arrange words so beautifully
to wake up every morning
and have it slowly dawn on him that he's effectively been
rendered totally irrelevant." It was good wordsmithing
but inaccurate.
Dennis is wrong. He assumes facts not in evidence. Although
he is right that Mailer has "effectively been rendered
totally irrelevant"
Norman hasn't gotten the memo
(or hasn't read it) and he has not had the epiphany Miller
suggests.
Reasonable people should be able to reasonably agree to disagree.
However, Mailer, and Madonna, and Michael Moore, and Tom Daschle,
and Martin Sheen et al don't engage in debate. They pathologically
refuse to even acknowledge (let alone accept) FACTS that contradict
their preconceived opinions and prejudices.
I have previously
observed that what is so galling is the inimitable, yet
chronic, double standard the darlings of the left enjoy. The
selectivity of the mainstream media in choosing to showcase
'celebrity idiots' when they endorse the liberal left's doctrine
and to completely ignore the hypocrisy of the defenders of
the downtrodden living high and cheap-shotting anyone who
has the misfortune to be even modestly successful by concerted
effort.
The religiosity of leftist sycophants defies the reason they
veil in empathy. They appear blinded by the 'gospel according
to ME' and vilify anything and everything that does not support
their flawed and often hollow arguments.
For probably the umpteenth time I quote Teddy Roosevelt;
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who
points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer
of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the
man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by
the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs
and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring
greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold
and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
It is a genuine sadness that we find a literary icon reduced
to the company of a pretentious hack like Michael Moore who
has somehow positioned himself into any prominence based on
one semi-professional documentary about his inability to interview
Roger Smith, then chairman of General Motors and actors who
have gained our attention my making believe they are someone
else.
Alexander Pope (in 'An Essay on Criticism') wrote; "Tis
hard to say, if greater want of skill appear in writing or
in judging ill; but, of the two, less dang'rous is the offence
to tire our patience, than mislead our sense".
It is disappointing and annoying to see Mailer and company
'Jonesing' to "mislead our sense" and refreshing
and encouraging seeing the Millers, Carlins and Dursts, endeavor
to "tire our patience."
©
2002 Tocqevillian Magazine