
 |
|
July 2, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The hallmark of a person
Abe Novick: Up, up, and aliya
July 1, 2009
Rabbi Avi Shafran: The Road Taken
The Kosher Gourmet
by Marialisa Calta: Get into the holiday spirit with these Star-Spangled desserts
June 30, 2009
Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg: What makes a great parent?
Caroline B. Glick: Ideologue-in-Chief
June 29, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist
by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Beware of 'Caveat Emptor'
Steven Emerson: ACLU pushing for more money for Hamas
June 26, 2009
Rabbi Yoni Posnick: Learn the secret to a healthy marriage from a scriptural villain
Caroline B. Glick: Barack Obama vs. International Law
June 25, 2009
Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf: The Absurd Power of Truth
Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip:
Everything's Relative
June 24, 2009
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Advancement of technology is a wake-up call for humanity
The Kosher Gourmet by Andrea Weigl: Summer on a stick: Making frozen treats can be easy, creative and fun
June 23, 2009
Martin M. Bodek: 'On Surnames': And so, We Begin
Caroline B. Glick: The Obama Effect
June 22, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Working for a corrupt firm
N. Richard Greenfield : Where are American Jews?
June 19, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Emotion v. intellect
Caroline B. Glick: Israel's rare opportunity
June 18, 2009
Jonathan Rosenblum: Sometimes it is more essential to define the nature of evil than good
Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip:
Everything's Relative
June 17, 2009
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Language of Confusion
The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Nothing pleases Dad more than a thick, juicy onion-smothered steak. Add home-Baked Potato Chips and …
June 16, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Career v. Careersism
Caroline B. Glick: Obama's losing streak and Israel
Richard Z. Chesnoff: Palestinians: Never Missing an Opportunity …
June 15, 2009
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: How Judea and Samaria can become 'Palestine'
Daniel Pipes: Where Netanyahu's speech failed
June 12, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Some big thoughts about not acting so big
Caroline B. Glick:
Obama's High Commissioner
June 11, 2009
Victor Davis Hanson: Our historically challenged President
Mitch Albom: Beware the True Believers
Lewis Grossberger: What we learn from the new Hitler photos
June 10, 2009
Mort Zuckerman: What Obama and his advisors won't -- or refuse to -- grasp about Israel and the Muslim world
The Kosher Gourmet
by Steve Petusevsky Lotsa pasta: Tips, techniques and (amazing) taste
June 9, 2009
Anne Bayefsky: Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: America's first Muslim president?
June 8, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Merchant must take responsibility for careless shopper?
Mark Steyn: A superpower that feeds on mediocrity cannot survive for long on leftovers from the past
Richard Z. Chesnoff: How do you say 'kumbaya' in Arabic?
June 5, 2009
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: In quest of spirituality
Caroline B. Glick: Obama's Arabian dreams
Charles Krauthammer: The Settlements Myth
June 4, 2009
Paul Greenberg: The War Comes to Little Rock
The Kosher Gourmet
by Judy Hevrdejs: Splash it on! Tap your inner jazz musician and improvise when stirring up a vinaigrette
June 3, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Should terrible teacher be exposed?
Jonathan Rosenblum: The Israel Lobby: Missing in Action
June 2, 2009
Dennis Prager: The Speech President Obama Won't Dare Give in Egypt
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Pressure on Israel raises war risk
Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)
|
| |
Jewish World Review
January 18, 2008
/ 11 Shevat 5768
The adults have left the building
By
Greg Crosby
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Most everybody over the age of say, 45 or 50, is well aware of the childishness so prevalent in all aspects of our contemporary society. Most people just go along with the flow, since there is very little that any individual can do to change it. Some adults really love it, however, and even embrace the immature, self-indulgent attitudes and activities which make up so much of our daily lives today. But some of us hate the fact that maturity and sophistication has mostly disappeared from the scene. The "adults" have left the building! We're all children now.
Plenty of books and articles have been written on this phenomenon. We see it and experience it wherever we go - there's no getting away from it. Music, theater, movies, television certainly, are all geared to youth. Most adults dress like children, act like children and speak like children. The term "acting grown up" is an archaic ideal, one that is both laughed at and avoided.
I wrote a column many years ago entitled "My Peter Pan Generation" referring to the baby boomers and how they just don't want to grow up. One obvious example of the degree of childishness in our society is the way grownup people are now being referred to by using the first name only. It's not Mr. Jones or Miss Smith anymore, it's Jimmy and Debbie. This relaxing of formal address succeeds in not only removing the stiffness; it removes respect for adults and authority, and turns everyone into equal playmates. "Bobby" may be a ten year old - or he might be eighty-five. Ashley may be a four year old at daycare, or she may be the CEO of a large corporation.
The casual address of adults has now spilled over into the professions. We have Dr. Phil not Dr. McGraw. We have Judge Judy not Judge Sheindlin. My doctor's name is Richard Kroop and I have always referred to him as Dr. Kroop - should I get with modern times and start calling him Dr. Dick?
It reminds me of when I was a kid and all the hosts of the children's shows on TV were called by their first names. We had Fireman Joe, Engineer Bill, Sheriff John, and Skipper Frank. But remember folks, these names were geared to children. The names sounded childish because they were appealing to young children. Now all those young children are now old grownups - the problem is they still want to refer to their idols as if they are still kids watching Engineer Bill.
Should we refer to President George instead of President Bush? And if Bush is President George how do we differentiate him from Washington? Next year we might have President John or President Barack or President Mitt or President Hillary. The funny thing is, they all sound ridiculous - except for President Hillary, which sounds okay somehow. Maybe it's because we're used to the press calling her by her first name all these years. It's always been Hillary this and Hillary that, never Mrs. Clinton.
Actually "President Hillary" kind of sounds like an old TV kiddie show. I can see her sitting on a throne wearing a crown and robe and holding a scepter.
"Well good morning boys and girls and welcome to the President Hillary Show! I'll be reading the names of those of you celebrating birthdays today in just a minute, but now here is our first Popeye cartoon titled, "Wimmin is da Bunk."
Of all the US presidents, the only two that work with first names for me are President Jimmy and President Bill. Maybe it's because neither of them commands the same level of respect in my mind that other presidents do. In the case of Carter, he went out of his way to promote himself as "good ol' Jimmy" wearing the sweaters and combing his hair down on his forehead in that blow-dried fashion. Jimmy - just an old country boy. Even though his birth name is James, Carter wanted to be called Jimmy. President Jimmy. Sounds real serious and commanding, doesn't it?
Clinton also preferred to be called Bill as opposed to William, so it was always President Bill Clinton, never President William Clinton. It's Bill and Hill. Good old Bill. Personally, I don't refer to him as President Bill, I prefer to use his full title, "Impeached President William Jefferson Clinton."
What is it with these new age Democrats that they don't want to be referred to officially by their REAL names? Reagan was always called President Ronald Reagan, not President Ronnie Reagan. His friends may have called him Ronnie, but he used his full name otherwise. Ever hear of President Frankie Roosevelt? Or President Abbie Lincoln? How about Herbie Hoover? And what could instill confidence, strength and respect better than the name of Tommie Jefferson?
Someday we'll probably drop all titles altogether; no more Dr. or Judge or President before the name. Just Max and Ben and Becky and Hailey. Or maybe we'll dispense with names completely and just call everybody "you guys." Oh, I forgot - we do that already. Guys has become the all encompassing word for people of any age, any sex.
So until next time, play nicely, you guys!
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.
Greg Crosby Archives
© 2006, Greg Crosby
|
|

Mitch Albom
Michael Barone
Dave Barry
Tony Blankley
Andy Borowitz
David Broder
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Rod Dreher
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
John Fund
Frank J. Gaffney
Lloyd Garver
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Lewis Grossberger
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Nat Hentoff
David Horowitz
Laura Ingraham
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Jonathan Last
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Dick Morris
Bill O'Reilly
Jim Mullen
Clarence Page
Kathleen Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Jonathan Rauch
Celia Rivenbark
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Culture Shlock
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Bob Tyrrell
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
Gary Brookins
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holber
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Chan Lowe
Ranan R. Lurie
Jimmy Margulies
Rick McKee
Michael Ramirez
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters

How 2
Lori Borgman
The Savvy Consumer
Elder matters
Fixit
Dr. Peter Gott
Marybeth Hicks
GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
Richard Lederer
Tech Maven
Every Monday Matters
Nutrition Myths
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
How Stuff Works
|