Jonathots Daily Blog
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What statement would best typify the attitude of the average American citizen?
“Freedom and justice for all?”
“Land of the free and home of the brave?”
“All men are created equal?”
These are terrific thoughts. Can I offer a fourth possibility?
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
Yes—this one seems to have universal appeal.
The adult American maintains fragments of adolescent rebellion through most of his or her life.
I focus on Americans because other countries are so embroiled in wars, survival, calamities and tyrants that expressing “don’t tell me what to do” could quickly put you in the position of having the muzzle of a gun thrust in your face.
It’s a luxury we Americans enjoy—to object at will.
After all, a speed limit of seventy-miles-per-hour is not a rule. In our minds, it’s more like a recitation of suggested daily specials offered by a waiter when we arrive at a restaurant.
A “no parking” sign is the only sure way to guarantee that all the parking spots will be filled.
And if you put a button on a wall beneath a sign which reads, “Do Not Touch,” statistics show that at least seventy-two percent of people will look to their right and to their left, and sheepishly walk over and push it.
This in itself would be a great subject for an article—but let us add an additional question.
Do we feel any different about being told what to do when it’s a woman instead of a man?
An amazing thing happens to the male of the species with the arrival of testosterone in his early teens. He begins to play team sports or joins the military—settings in which he is often ridiculed, yelled at or even kicked around by coaches or drill sergeants.
A woman, on the other hand, often has little opportunity for team sports, and unless she purposely tries to find a combat position, will usually never experience such radical treatment.
Because of this, none of us are accustomed to being challenged, questioned or ordered around by a female.
And if a woman does gain authority, the characterization is quite different:
- Men are assertive. Women are bitchy.
- Men are resolute. Women are stubborn.
- Men know how to command a situation. Women are bossy.
Just consider the three people presently running for President of the United States.
What if Donald Trump was Donna Trump? She would be dismissed as a dirty old lady.
What if Bernie Sanders was Beatrice Sanders? She would be a nasty-tongued wench.
And how about Joe Biden as June Biden? A little bit slow—perhaps senile.
But because they’re men, they are assigned integrity for their positions and are taken seriously—simply because they have prostates.
Does this mean that all Americans are misogynistic or anti-female?
No, but the average American has little experience with women being in control—not since they were little kids listening to their mothers nag about the laundry and dirty shoes next to the door.
Harken to this:
We had a whole caravan of females running for President this year. What we need to ask ourselves is, if any one of them had been male, based upon her credentials, her platform, her debate skills, her energy and her patriotism, would she still be alive in the contest?
I believe certainly one of them would have survived.
But each one was eliminated because eventually a tear came into her voice at the wrong time, which made her sound weak, even though when Joe Biden does it, it’s called empathy.
Or in the midst of making a point, her speech became more of a shout than a proclamation—although Bernie Sanders makes his living ranting at everybody.
Or she was a little too off-the-cuff or maybe not quite lady-like—although we refer to Donald Trump’s comments as “spontaneous” and “just his way.”
You will never know if you are free of misogyny until you can listen to a woman disagree with you, or even be your superior, without thinking you are back at home being criticized by “Mommy Dearest.”
Jonathots Daily Blog 
From the Stacks … November 6th, 2020
This week, most of us are considering the notion that sometimes political outcomes have a stark affect on our lives. So I decided to explore some of Jonathan’s more socio-political ideas. He had a great disdain for politics but also a great hunger for justice–which sometimes required that he speak out on such subjects. Here’s one from January, 2014.
But Not Now
Everybody knows this is true: the main reason that government doesn’t work is that it avoids solutions by replacing them with discussions.
I wish I could tell you that conversing on a given subject brings about change. It does not. It is actually a way to dodge the work of transformation.
It usually shows up in the form of putting off the action.
This is not new. The ineffective nature of our government has been present since the beginning–how else could Adams and Jefferson have been such good friends? They tabled their issues. And how did they do it? What did they say to themselves?
“Something should be done–but not now.”
Here’s a quick list taken from my own memory banks:
1.In 1959 in the United States, the average white person contended that segregation was not ideal, but thought it was practical. In other words, they knew it was wrong–that black Americans should NOT be separate. Something should be done–but not now.”
2. Women should also be equal and have the identical pay scale as men. But not now.
3. Truthfully the minimum wage has never been sufficient for a human to be able to live, eat and prosper. Something should be done–but not now. It could wreck the economy.
4. Something should be done for the homeless–put them to work or offer alternatives to their present condition. But not now. It is much easier to discuss whether their condition is caused by lack of opportunity or by laziness.
5. It is obvious that gays and transgenders in our society must have complete equivalence if we want to maintain our concept of liberty and justice for all. But not now. What we want them to do is acquire moral acceptance before they are granted civil rights.
6. Political gridlock in our country is the result of a two-party system that gains power by maintaining power. We know we would be better off if this two-faced monster were beheaded, and many more candidates were offered to the electorate. But not now. Too disruptive to consider. Someone might lose that power they so enjoy.
7. Likewise, the electoral college is antiquated and needs to be replaced with the popular vote. But not now. What would we do with all the people who make their livelihood by honoring its cumbersome inner workings?
We don’t lack the intelligence or even the integrity to know what to do. But we nevertheless choose to be stalled in a lethargic fear of change.
The American government should take heed:
Americans are tired of discussions.
We are no longer willing to “table” justice and equality, which have been standing in the wings waiting to play their parts for lo, these many years.
It is time for America to grow up.
Maturity is when the truth of what must be done is more important than what is convenient.
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on November 6, 2020 at 9:27 pm Leave a CommentTags: American politics, electoral college, history, inspiration, politics, racial equality, racism, social commentary, two-party system, women's rights