In his new column, Leo notes:
People no longer bother much to create new aphorisms, adages and memorable sayings. But when they do, this column boldly moves to collect them. “An aphorism is a one-line novel,†said Ukrainian author and aphorism fanatic Leonid Sukhorukov. Here are some more recent extra-short novels.
Read the whole thing and collect them he has. I also must say, he includes me in his list of worthy mentions. To say it is an honor to be noted by John Leo would be an understatement. One of our greatest social critics, you should make his column required reading each week.
Good Morning Tammy – Your quote is as true as true can get! I think many victims actually enjoy their situations. I have someone in my family, who has been a victim of this or that, throughout her life, and when someone suggests a way to get out from that status, she becomes very defensive and finds excuses as to why those suggestions will never work. It’s very frustrating. I would hate to be looked at as pitiful victim. I don’t blame anyone but myself for my situation in life. I know I am probably the only Jew who has issues managing her money, but they are MY issues, and I don’t blame my employers for not paying me more. I also know that I need to lose a few lbs, but I am not about to sue McDonald’s or any other fast food establishment, for making me a fat turd!! I will sue myself before I would sue them!! Why is being a victim so attractive to some?
You’re going to sue yourself? Only if us lawyers get a 30%+ contingency fee! :-p
Sue you, sue me, sue everybody!!
😉
Author Tammy Bruce, writing about the cult of victimology, wrote: “When your victimhood is your empowerment, recovery is the enemy.â€
All I can say to this Tammy is right again! I am a registered marriage and family therapist and I see this all of the time in my counseling office. Some of my clients truly enjoy being stuck because they do not understand that there is freedom on the other side.
Have a great day!
Oh…and by the way…some vacation from blogging you’re taking here 🙂
Most of the aphorisms in the column are interesting and clever. But just because they sound interesting and clever, it doesn’t make them right and true. Some I flat-out disagree with.
“Whichever side denounces the other for politicizing the issue is losing the argument,†said Rep. Barney Frank. Seems to me that whoever says that, like Barney Frank, likes the strategy of “politicizing the issue.” Then by making up and adding this bromide, he has built-in an innoculation against being criticized for it.
Or,
“Any law named after a person is bad law,†wrote law professor and blogger Glenn Reynolds of InstaPundit. I don’t agree with that one either. Legal snobs spout that kind of stuff. Another one very similar, which I’ve been hearing since my first semester in law school 25 years ago is “Hard cases make bad law.” It’s just not necessarily true, but it sounds good.
Aphorisms are like bumper stickers. Some good, some not so good.
Here’s one of my favorites (tailored for Tammy)—- “The happy relationship between Tammy and her Peeps is like a long conversation that always seems too short”
One from my Great-Granny “Save your breath to cool your coffee”
Another good one I read in a book “Beware of the anger of a patient man.”
Hi Lesbianne, Just wanted to comment on your question, “Why is being a victim so attractive to some?”
I think it stems from the idea that’s engrained that something should/could have happened that didn’t and so there must be a reason, judgment, criticism, blame, etc. All of this kind of thinking seeks answers outside the self and is pretty limiting if you are trying to discover possibilities and the EMPOWERMENT to make choices that lead to a brighter future.
Also, I want to offer this idea. Next time the subject of your family member’s life comes up, just listen. Listen and say nothing and judge nothing. Offer nothing, no resistance, help, advice, etc., and allow this person to explore and discover and find the SPACE to discover her own discontent that is all that will lead to change. Maybe this will help her find her freedom.
Vikki
Vikki – thanks for the advice. We’ll see what happens.
🙂
A final thought that a friend shared with me over the holidays.
You want to merge into traffic. There are those who will pretend that they don’t notice you and keep a tight space in front of their car, following the vehicle in front as close as possible and it seems that they MUST not give an inch and cannot allow the needs or joy of others to be a barrier to their own desires. It’s not that they mind other people being ok, they just don’t want it to infringe in any way on thier own conditions of happiness.
Then there are those who allow just enough room for you to merge. They let you know by following as closely as they can after you squeeze in that they have allowed you in and you should feel a little guilty because they’ve afforded you precious space that they obviously reluctantly surrendered.
Finally there are those who see your need, they slow down in advance and create a generous amount of room without you asking or nosing in or anything and then they wait until you are comfortably in place before they comfortably follow.
These descriptions allow a view of different types of people and their attitudes that shape the quality of their lives and those around them.
Anyway, enough from me. I just thank the people in the final group because they know what really matters.
Love to you.
My favorite Tammyism is “I love us.†Unfortunately, I don’t get to use it as much as I would like. I also love to hear her laugh! I have never heard ANYONE, other than myself and her, refer to a pet as being nude!! Ha ha ha!
We only get the show now for 1 hr and 45 min. 🙁
Jefro
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Dave†HAL9000, 1968
Tammy – bingo! Absolutely spot on. You’ve diagnosed they whole dysfunction of liberalism in a few short words. This will definitely be my watchword for 2006.
Lesbianneocon, great comments as always. Say when you gonna get your own blog?