As I am tired of all things narrative, I thought I would link a few news items that don’t comfortably fit anyone’s narrative.
First, Hugo Chavez has proclaimed solidarity with the embattled Muammar Gadhafi:
CARACAS — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez declared Tuesday that he will continue to recognize only Moamer Kadhafi as the legitimate leader of Libya, despite signs the regime is likely in its last throes.
In Libya, Chavez said, there is “only one government, the one led by Moamer Kadhafi,” the Venezuelan leader said, restating earlier criticism of the NATO bombardment that contributed to the collapse of the Libyan strongman’s regime.
“We affirm our solidarity with the attacked and bombarded Libyan people,” he said, in a statement made during a cabinet meeting broadcast by television and radio.
The remarks echoed a statement by Chavez Monday, when he slammed the West’s military action against Kadhafi as “a massacre.”
Chavez has accused the western powers of being motivated by “cynicism” and greed to seize the oil reserves of the north African country, a fellow member of the 12-member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
“It’s an excuse to invade and take over a country and its riches.”
Perhaps he’s afraid that the western powers may find an excuse to take over Venezuela. Not a bad idea, but invasions are getting too expensive. Already, there is considerable anti-war sentiment on the right — more than I have ever seen. Because of the very real issue of money, a number of right wingers would be disturbingly willing to throw American honor itself under the bus.
The second orphan narrative of the day may come as amazing news to some, but a new study has documented the existence of bisexuality in humans.
In an unusual scientific about-face, researchers at Northwestern University have found evidence that at least some men who identify themselves as bisexual are, in fact, sexually aroused by both women and men.
Gay activists have traditionally never been comfortable with bisexuality, and would like to deny its existence if at all possible, for it threatens the view that human sexuality is fixed and unchangeable. I don’t think the anti-gay activists are happy with it either, because it means that there is a group of people who could apparently choose to engage in heterosexual or homosexual intercourse or both, and who care so little about what other people think that they don’t mind admitting it. Their existence says “SO WHAT?” to the “homosexuality is a choice” meme as well as the “born gay or straight” meme — which is totally unacceptable to activists on both “sides” who want to use sexuality for political gain.
What’s amazing to me is that there are as many people who are willing to admit to being bisexual as there are, for there are zero benefits to be offered by such an admission, especially to those in committed monogamous relationships. That’s because the bisexual “narrative” is likely to be seen as inherently at odds with having a single partner of whatever sex.
People simply do not hear what they do not want to hear. In other “orphan” news, I stumbled onto a little-known factoid that in Detroit “78% of children are born to unwed women.”
No one will like that figure, but according to the prevailing narrative, it means that the children and the mothers need money from the taxpayers. And as Penn Jillette explains (via Timothy Sandefur), making the taxpayers pay is called “compassion”:
It’s amazing to me how many people think that voting to have the government give poor people money is compassion. Helping poor and suffering people is compassion. Voting for our government to use guns to give money to help poor and suffering people is immoral self-righteous bullying laziness.
People need to be fed, medicated, educated, clothed, and sheltered, and if we’re compassionate we’ll help them, but you get no moral credit for forcing other people to do what you think is right. There is great joy in helping people, but no joy in doing it at gunpoint.
People try to argue that government isn’t really force. You believe that? Try not paying your taxes. (This is only a thought experiment — suggesting on CNN.com that someone not pay his or her taxes is probably a federal offense, and I’m a nut, but I’m not crazy.). When they come to get you for not paying your taxes, try not going to court. Guns will be drawn. Government is force — literally, not figuratively.
Sigh.
Well, one of the things I like the most about Rick Perry is that he is one of the few people with a shot at the presidency who was once on record as being against the 16th Amendment.
If only he would say he was against the war on drugs! But that, too, might be a narrative killer.
Governments can’t oppose the war on drugs. There is too much money involved.
Comments
2 responses to “Narratives spawn orphans”
For a man to have a girlfriend who enjoys playing with other women in a threesome is a lucky thing!
Bisexuality in females can be an asset in the sexual market. It does facilitate polygamy. In men, not so much.
I read a lot of sex stories. Ever since sixth grade when boys would write little fantasies about what sex was gonna be like and pass them around to other boys who might be interested. Along with their war fantasies.
What I have noticed is that bi-sexual males are increasingly prevalent in the stories. I’d say that the increase in such stories started about 3 years ago with a very large spike this year. I’d say that bi-sexuals are becoming more comfortable with themselves.
As male-male sex is not an interest of mine I usually skip such stories when it I find the material. I have been skipping a lot more lately.
What is the best benefit of the stories for me? (besides getting hot?) I learn things I might like to try with the first mate. Or just whisper in her ear.