In the old days — dating myself here — the Hearst columnist Westbrook Pegler, whom I read only to get my juices going over his unmitigated hatred of Eleanor, Franklin, and Harry, I at least was apprised of the irrational opposition to the New and Fair Deals. So, too, with Bill O’Reilly, though not to the same extent since I’m much older and heard it all before, but he is more intense over current culture is why I read him once in a while; and now I could not resist an addendum to my “Why Liberals Are Disliked.” http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com/


O’Reilly went ballistic over the controversy concerning the upper class Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue — how many of the average consumer even heard of A&F? — baring rumps and breasts. Aside from the stupidity of selling clothing by portraying the unclothed — on the other hand it could mean who but the nude need clothing; nevertheless, Victoria’s Secret makes sure they feature their lingerie on the models — the catalogue is symbolic of today’s commercial world. Virtually everything but cigarettes is marketable via sex. Super Bowl viewers don’t give a damn that the player of the game is going to Disney World, but they surely pay attention to the scantily clad beer commercial orgies. Actually, O’Reilly used the catalogue to excoriate — now that Clinton is sort of gone — his favorite enemy “The New York Times” that held the


“loud and sustained protests from socially conservative groups and feminist groups, the company announced...it was withdrawing the [catalog.]”


 From this O’Reilly deduces that the Times is implying: “Sure. It’s only those nasty right-wingers and feminists that stirred this up” as though liberals actively opposed the controversy. It never occurred to him that perhaps the liberals find more important matters to oppose than “personal behaviors.”

Then he makes a giant leap to Christmas and the Nativity where in he calls up a Fox News/Dynamic Opinion poll that states that 87% of Americans approve of public property display of the Nativity scene. I find this inflated to say the least. Yes, most Americans do not find the display objectionable in front of one’s house — in schools and town halls, I doubt it. I agree that because Christmas is a national holiday celebrating Jesus’ birth, it would be hypocritical to deny its viable existence; nonetheless, the scene is too much in the face of those not of the same faith, and national directives respect those of the minority. On the other hand, the Christmas tree is less personal and acceptable — Rockefeller Plaza, a case in point — to most who enjoy glitter and decorations whatever the symbolism.


O’Reilly dangerously concludes with the tone of a Shiite: “in the end the will of the people will prevail....but the proponents of a secular society are fierce.” Forgive me if I miss something here: are we not at war precisely because we fear non-secular societies? As a dirty old man, am I supposed to prefer browsing Islamic Burqa catalogues over Victoria’s Secret’s?
       

Copyright © 2003 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: December 13, 2003 .