Sunday, May 11, 2008

Who knew JOAN COLLINS could get it so right?


Seems that almost three years ago, Ms. Joan Collins wrote this article for the Daily Mail in England. With the 'hate America first' attitude our teachers are indoctrinating our kids with, and the media piling it on, and politicos telling us we're racist, bigoted, xenophobic, war mongering, gas guzzling, capitalist pigs, how can we expect our kids to love America, or themselves? How can we be upset when they play their radio so loud in their car and send you the one-fingered salute if you aren't whistling along?

See what she says.........I think she's, as they say in England, "spot on", and I hope the West wakes up soon.

BRITAIN DESTROYING ITSELF FROM WITHIN
BY JOAN COLLINS

UK DAILY MAIL
THUS AUG 04, 2005


A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within, said the American historian Will Durrant about ancient Rome. This self-destruction of values is exactly what is happening in England today.
Yes, I still call the country of my birth England, in spite of the peculiar political correctness that insists that it be called 'the UK' and that we, its denizens, must be 'Britons'.
Even though the Welsh are proud to call themselves Welsh, as are the Irish and certainly the Scots, woe betide the Briton who calls himself 'English' -- a much-frowned-upon no-no.
I believe that when a country loses so much respect for itself that it can no longer even be identified by its historically correct name, insecurity and lack of respect filter down to its inhabitants.
Recently, I have concluded that London is no longer the 'seat of civilised society' that the world once considered it to be, and is certainly not the safe city I grew up in.
A particular incident demonstrated the lack of respect and manners that is but a small example of the horrible, encroaching decay of the country that I love dearly.
My husband Percy and I were at a ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel -- a black-tie event attended by the socalled 'elite' of the city.
As Percy held the door open to let me through, a 6ft tall, middle-aged, horse-faced male pushed past me, trod on the hem of my dress and rushed outside to climb into the taxi that the doorman had waiting for us.
This was a person who should, or at least looked like he should, have known better. The cause of his behaviour? The awful pervasive disregard that we have for civility today.
Bump accidentally into someone in the street these days and you are soundly cursed. Look at a poor derelict collapsed in a doorway for more than a second and they'll spit at you. Surely everyone has experienced the barely suppressed rage lurking behind the faces of a vast number of car drivers.
We've become the 'Whatcha lookin' at?' culture. Why do young people consider it cool to be arrogant, swaggering and rude? Why do so many people in England seem so cynical and self-centred?
I witnessed young, drunken yobs roaming the streets kicking cars, screaming insults, pushing people and even pushchairs out of their way, attacking each other viciously and then turning on the police when they tried to maintain order.
THE WHOLE scene evoked the image of hordes of inebriated Vikings sacking devastated towns. Even during the day, feral mobs roamed the cities with absolute disregard for anyone else's property or well-being. Traditional virtues of male chivalry and female propriety were very far from view.
After all, a lack of manners and politeness in a society can only be a reflection of what the society thinks of itself.
It's frightful how being told that you are no good makes you hate yourself, and hate others. And it's frightful how quickly a whole country of self-loathers can be bred.

z: Don't you think she has a point?

Thanks, Priscilla

18 comments:

beakerkin said...

The usual suspects will point out Collins has some Jewish blood and as such is part of the Neocon conspiracy. The problem is entrenched Communist infiltration in Education and media.

Ottavio (Otto) Marasco said...

beakerkin is correct about teaching attitudes and personnel. As for Collins she not only makes point but is unequivocally correct. Have a look here if you get time:
http://mksviews.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/war-is-coming-are-you-ready/
Stay well G

Brooke said...

Manners and basic civility are sorely lacking nowadays, for certain!

Anonymous said...

Plato, "Republic"

The last extreme of popular liberty is when the slave bought with money, whether male or female, is just as free as his or her purchaser; nor must I forget to tell of the liberty and equality of the two sexes in relation to each other.

Why not, as Aeschylus says, utter the word which rises to our lips?

That is what I am doing, I replied; and I must add that no one who does not know would believe, how much greater is the liberty which the animals who are under the dominion of man have in a democracy than in any other State: for truly, the she-dogs, as the proverb says, are as good as their she-mistresses, and the horses and asses have a way of marching along with all the rights and dignities of freemen; and they will run at any body who comes in their way if he does not leave the road clear for them: and all things are just ready to burst with liberty.

When I take a country walk, he said, I often experience what you describe. You and I have dreamed the same thing.

And above all, I said, and as the result of all, see how sensitive the citizens become; they chafe impatiently at the least touch of authority, and at length, as you know, they cease to care even for the laws, written or unwritten; they will have no one over them.

Yes, he said, I know it too well.

Such, my friend, I said, is the fair and glorious beginning out of which springs tyranny.

Glorious indeed, he said.

Anonymous said...

This is all true. However, when reading the Old Testament, we see that civility and morality was lacking since the beginning of time. It's nothing new, just in new packaging.

Self hatred is infectious, to be sure. I think the only way to fight these enemies is to start at home with our children. If they love themselves and see themselves the way Christ does...they can stand against anyone. I'm getting off topic...sorry!
A person who loves himself stands against injustice - loves his country and fights the bigger evils.

Z said...

PINKY...and look what happened to so many civilizations in the OT who "did evil in the eyes of the Lord", right?

We can say that this is a phase, that the pendulem always swings back, but I think the days are over when we can say that. I'm overgeneralizing to make a point(I hope) but I think I'm right on this, when I consider what our kids are doing today, what they've been taught (remember, you don't get UNtaught..our kids honestly BELIEVE America is a bad place, that it owes them a living, that people who have success are capitalist pigs, that we use too much energy and should pay for the rest of the world's overusage, etc etc. Why do you think they're ALL so big for Obama?), it scares me ...what do we DO with these people? Just let them vote for an America of weak takers, entitlement babies who couldn't care LESS about their neighbor? HOW did this happen?

And yes, goodness, etc., starts at home and, I believe too, through faith. Moms not only have to be careful what they teach their kids, but be watchful about their kids' textbooks and what they're learning (like your big sis talking about the environment at 7?), who their friends are and who their friends' PARENTS are.

I don't envy you moms...but I admire you and know you're doing good stuff. I wish more were.

FJ; We didn't need outside authority in the old days...authority used to be our folks, who raised us to NEVER abuse our liberties, to never embarass ourselves or them, to think of others. If I had my radio too loud and an adult looked at me like "WHATare you DOING?", I'd cringe and realize I'd done wrong and LOWER it....you would too, I'll bet.

If we had more people raised like that, nobody'd have to live under the tyranny of government authorities telling us how to behave. (did I get it!?)!!!!

EDGE said...

Get em' Joan.

elmers brother said...

you know those self loathing types

Z said...

edge..good to have you here! Loved your site, and will be back!

Elbro...you said it! (also, you know I love having YOU here......some site,if I hadn't had you, anyway...in more ways than one!)

Anonymous said...

Joan Collins was very well-trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was an accomplished Shakespearean actress before she went Hollywood.

It is incredible to remember that she first rose to prominence here as "The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing." She played Evelyn Nesbitt the teen-aged mistress of famed both Stanford White, the premier architect of his time, and a rich eccentric named Harry K. Thaw, who very publicly murdered White in a jealous rage over Miss Nesbitt, who was anything but an "innocent victim of aged perverts."

If I remember correctly this movie was new c. 1953. Collins is nothing if not a Durable Dame.

Never had an inkling that Ms. Collins has "Jewish blood" in her ancestry, and I've been reading about her off and on for fifty-five years. How quaint that anyone would imagine that would be on anyone's mind in association with Joan Collins! I very much doubt it's a factor.

What surprises most of us, I suppose, that a reportedly-amoral, extraordinarily vain creature such as Ms. Collins would exhibit such good taste and good sense in her political convictions.

I've always known that Conservatism and Puritanism are not necessarily synonymous. I imagine that comes as something of a shock to the Puritans among us, but it happens to be the truth.

~ FreeThinke

Anonymous said...

First of all if parents have good manners, they set an example, and it's pretty automatic to imbue one's children with those same attributes.

However, if the adults talk like a bunch of guys in a locker room, around their children, good luck.

If Mom and Dad call each other names during an argument, little Susie is paying attention. In fact, little Susie doesn't miss much.

Don't count on the school teaching them manners either. Some teachers engage in that kind of talk and lack of civility too. If you can, put your kids in private school.

Finally, Pinky, what you say may be true, loving oneself is important, but, by the same token, criminals are said to possess high self-esteem. It's not enough, IMO.

I found that teaching children that when they are in public they represent the family and the family name and are expected to behave accordingly. It starts with a sense of family loyalty.

Pris

Z said...

FT: why go to the word PURITANISM instead of something a little less extreme? I do believe liberals in general are far less puritanical, if you need to use that word.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/06/17/do1702.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_17062006

Beakerkin was right..Collins is of Jewish ancestry, see the link above. So, you see? As Beak suggests, she's just an ol' NEOCON and why would we want to give her any credance at ALL? (Smile)

Another link I found listed facts about celebrities, including "Sexual orientation". Collins was listed as "straight". Since when do we list things like THAT?! amazing.

If you Google "Joan Collins images", which shows tons of photos of her, you'll see she was anything but puritanical. I, too, was surprised to see her issue such a conservative viewpoint on manners and "la politesse" when she's had a real checkered past.

I think it's obvious that most Conservatives are far more conservative in their lifestyles than most liberals. It also reflects in their political stances on lifestyle choices, etc.

I remember her in the Evelyn Nesbitt film......loved it!

Anonymous said...

Z,

You're much TOO YOUNG to remember "The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing."

I am very well-acquainted with at least two people who unabashedly categorize themselves as PURITANICAL. One is a relative, the other a friend.

I am on good terms with both, even though we disagree profoundly on many issues.

By the same token am friends with any number of liberals.

"Puritan" is not necessarily a term of pejoration. Only the Marxists and the Freudians would have us think that.

I'm very puritanical, myself, about standards in many areas–––Art, Architecture, Music, Literature, English Usage, standards of politeness, decency and consideration in one's human relationships both personal and professional, and telling the truth among them.

~ FreeThinke

Anonymous said...

did I get it!?

Either learn to control yourself or you'll have to learn to be controlled...

You got it!

Z said...

FJ.

PHEW! I'm always spritzing when I read your erudite comments. VERY glad I GOT IT!

Anonymous said...

What Farmer John means–––I THINK–––is that freedom is not free. Also, Laws are never made till they've been broken.

When people allow themselves to "go wild" completely, someone who is organized, ambitious, knowledgeable and ruthless WILL come along and take control.

It's inevitable. Nature and God abhor a vacuum. We are not given intelligence and powers of perception in order to waste them on "riotous living."

~ FreeThinke

Incognito said...

thank God there are some in my industry who have some modicum of sense! though the great majority don't!

Anonymous said...

Z, I dont' know when the trend started, but I see the tide turning. Maybe I'm naive, or trying desperately to be an optimist (for my childrens' sake), but I do believe that we are raising up a generation of strong, truth-filled, God-fearing, patriotic Americans who will not bend to political correctness.

The pendulum is already swinging back.

I could name dozens of high school kids in my neighborhood that I would trust....eeek...to spend time with my family. They're not perfect, but they're being taught to see the deceit and the lies coming at them, unlike my generation. I went to college unprepared and was blasted by the neo-commie professors...it was a battle ground. These kids have an advantage. They're armed with spiritual truth, political awareness, and family support.

Pris, I agree. Self-esteem is only part of the equation.

Geeeez, I sound like a cheesey commercial.