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Jewish World Review July 13, 2001/ 22 Tamuz, 5761
Marianne M. Jennings
http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
FREUD was a loose cannon, no innuendo intended. However, today I rethink
his sublimation theory. Freud came to mind with Archie Bunker's, aka Carroll
O'Connor's passing. Actually, my Freud epiphany came when Meathead, aka Rob
Reiner, interviewed on Hardball, launched into the bigotry/Nazi/Hitler litany
when discussing Archie's fears for his Queens neighborhood as its racial
composition changed. Meatheads condemn those who dare express real, but
verboten, concerns. Now, 30 years later, Queens is Archie's fears in
everything from crime rates to the quality of schools.
We cannot utter our Archie thoughts for somewhere out there is a label of
condemnation with our name on it: a scarlet "S" for sexist, "R" for racist,
"H" for homophobe, or, the unkindest cut of all, "J" for judgmental.
So, we quash our gut instincts. They are called "gut instincts" for a reason
- humans survive by relying on them when full data is not available. When I
worked for the U.S. Attorney's office, we had a heck of a drunk driving
caseload from the reservation. I have not since driven on any reservation at
night. My gut tells me one thing while the enlightened accuse me of
prejudice. Actually, it's fear. My fear knows no racial, ethnic or
religious bounds. If I had prosecuted Amish Ponzi schemes, I'd steer clear
of Lancaster County investment opportunities.
Not permitted to voice concerns or even state the obvious aloud, our rage
percolates within us until one day we snap. 42% of us yell at co-workers.
80% are surly with clerks and then one day we use a .44 Magnum to discipline
a fellow motorist who changed lanes and cut us off. Constrained in our
thoughts and discussion of life's big issues, we sublimate. We find a
socially acceptable release such as shooting folks on the freeway. There may
be some condemnation for owning a gun, but society's nouveau disease, mental
illness, shields you. Freeway overload syndrome. (FOS)?
The human psyche cannot reside in denial. Seemingly normal folks' ("He was a
quiet man....) pent-up Archieisms surface bizarrely. They end up hurling a
fellow motorist's bichon frise across the 405, as 27-year-old Andrew Burnett
did to Leo the dog after Leo's former master (Leo passed on) bumped Burnett's
car. However, when choosing pooches to fling across traffic, avoid
Chihuahuas because USA Today would claim racial bias if breeds with Spanish
names were disproportionately road rage victims.
Air rage is sublimation at 31,000 feet. During a Southwest flight from Las
Vegas to Salt Lake City, Jonathan Burton snapped and kicked the cockpit door.
Hell hath no fury like Southwest passengers interrupted during their 8-
peanut consumption. They wrestled the 19-year-old to the ground and to his
death.
While Time, presidents and governors stew and fret over the flood of illegal
immigrants from Mexico, the courts prohibit officials from asking Hispanics
if they have a green card, Tucson builds rest areas with phones and water for
those sneaking into the country via deadly deserts, and my city council
debates building a work depot for illegal aliens to give easy access to
employers who are not fussy about green cards. If this is curbing illegal
immigration, an open-door policy must be something to behold.
Most social policy debates defy logic and truth. We remain reticent as
circuitous reasoning dizzies us. For example, Fox News reports that a
disproportionate number of minority children are disciplined at school.
Could it be that a disproportionate number of minority children misbehave at
school? Nay, speak no such ill, bigot!
USA Today reports that there are disproportionate numbers of blacks on death
row. Could it be that the murder rate among and by blacks is higher?
Minority children have lower scores on standardized tests. Could it be that
they don't know as much?
We censor Archieisms rather than face realities such as Queens' decline.
Censorship precludes issue recognition, let alone resolution. If we don't
talk about drunk drivers on the reservation, will we ever address the issue
of alcoholism there? If we focus on accusing teachers of being racist in
their discipline, do we ever learn why minority children misbehave and if we
can help? Why is the murder rate among and by blacks higher? Perhaps the
social fabric needs repair. Rather than address root cause, we condemn the
judicial system and mandate sensitivity and diversity training for racism.
Rather than face failures in teaching minority children, we condemn tests as
racist.
Censoring Archieisms gives us a seemingly tranquil world of flowery
expression. But, Freud was right - it has to come out somewhere. So, buckle
in your pups, load up the Smith & Wesson, and head for the airways and
highways. The world need not fear Archie Bunker and his choice phrases of
"dingbat," "moron," and "stifle." However, we should fret about us 800-pound
gorillas restrained only by fragile silk strands spun into a cocoon of
07/06/01: Patient's rights and the Valley of Death
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