And so here I sit...

I'm in the corner of the Barnes and Noble bookstore here in my town, waiting for my group of history geeks with whom I meet on a monthly basis.  We've been asked to move our meeting to a different night - why?  Because the "writers" group is unhappy that some other group as presumed to take any of their chairs and tables.  I know - it sounds a lot like preschool because that's exactly what it's like - preschool behavior.

We are a history book discussion group - we read books of history and discuss them from soup to nuts; from the content to the writing style.  One would assume that they, being a group of writers, wouldn't mind having a group discussing what is engaging about a literary work right next to them, giving them obvious real world information, but that is, unfortunately, not the case.  You see, these benighted folks are so entirely consumed with their own ability to write, they couldn't give a tinker's damn about what ACTUALLY gets published and read if THEY haven't written it.

My grousing is actually a bit more involved than in regards to their abilities - I'm actually chuckling at the self-absorption of most of the "writers".  They are almost all liberals.  They continually pontificate about "compassion" in their discussion of content.  They rail about selfish and evil conservatives and how those conservatives see the world and it's resources as something to be used only for the gain of the selfish conservative.  They scoff and mock Christianity and Christians as simple minded rubes who are in no way as intelligent and compassionate as they, who have this gift from the "universe" - the ability to communicate on paper.  They, you see, are writers....

So, one evening, when we, the book READER group, actually thought to come within earshot of their group, they pitched a tantrum.  I'm not kidding - three of them went to the store manager to complain that we "took" one of their chairs that they needed for their group - naturally I mocked them and made our next meeting for the same night the next month.  Management asked me kindly to consider moving to another night to avoid "disturbing" this "writers" group - we agreed, no prob.  But I have to observe how ironic it is that we book readers, sitting in a book store, are being asked to make way for a group of self-described "writers" who have never published anything that anyone in any bookstore anywhere has ever read.  And that brings me to this evening.

They have arrived.  They are talking loudly.  They are taking chairs from other tables.  People are moving to avoid them.  Customers are leaving to avoid them.  I naturally see a parallel in society much like the "Occupy Wall Street" crowd - the people who actually READ books don't want anything to do with the amateurish "writers" who think they have the ability to write.  They are useless self-absorbed narcissists who force actual readers to make way for pretenders ... much like the left who pushes producers out of their way so they can protest the fact that they actually have nothing to protest.

meow for now.  kat

Does narcissism make leftists or does leftism create narcissism?

I'm not a psychiatrist, or psychologist, or any kind of mental health professional, but one thing in particular I have noticed is that leftists are supremely self-absorbed.  I got to thinking: do people become narcissistic AFTER turning to leftism or does turning towards leftism indicate a narcissistic tendency?  Here's what I have decided -

Leftism appeals to children and childish adults because ultimately, it is a political mindset focused on self: MY rights, MY happiness, MY wants. Thanks to Doctor Benjamin Spock, founder and proponent of the self-esteem movement in the 1950's, children of parents who bought into his theory became the radicals of the 1960's. 

Those narcissistic children, filled with Dr. Spock's "self-esteem", burned the flag that protected their right to pitch a tantrum.  They demanded that American foreign policy change in Vietnam to satisfy THEIR smug and narrow view of the world.  They blew up recruiting stations and killed law enforcement in a full-blown, self-absorbed, feet-kicking, narcissistic rage. 

Adults with a healthy dose of self-esteem understand that everything costs something: money, time, feelings, relationships.  Adults understand that when choices are made that some things will not be accommodated.  Adults know that not everyone will be happy with those choices but in order for the greater good of society as a whole to remain free, hard decisions must be made.  Adults understand that character is built when hardships and hard choices are met and conquered.  Children do not.  Children only see in the narrowest of scopes:  themselves and what makes them happy.  the DSM IV defines narcissism as:

"The symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder revolve around a pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and sense of entitlement. Often individuals feel overly important and will exaggerate achievements and will accept, and often demand, praise and admiration despite worthy achievements.  They may be overwhelmed with fantasies involving unlimited success, power, love, or beauty and feel that they can only be understood by others who are, like them, superior in some aspect of life.

There is a sense of entitlement, of being more deserving than others based solely on their superiority.  These symptoms, however, are a result of an underlying sense of inferiority and are often seen as overcompensation.  Because of this, they are often envious and even angry of others who have more, receive more respect or attention, or otherwise steal away the spotlight."

Sound familiar?  It did to me too and so, I will continue to blog on this topic.  Check back in the future for more hairballs from ColoKat

Today, 11 September 2011

Today's memorials draw a very stark comparison between how much we in the the United States, a Christian nation, revere life and how much the radical muslims hate it.

Today, we watch specials and see pictures of 9-11-01 and correctly take time to honor our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who continue to protect us daily.  Our collective chests swell with pride at the strength and  courage of our military personnel.  They come from every corner of our country - they are college graduates, earner's of GEDs, doctors, teachers, blue collar workers, Democrats, Republicans, atheists, Jews, Christians, and everything in between.  They ALL have one thing in common - they have character.

The civilians who went to work that day are the reason our military does what it does.  We civilians take for granted what they give their lives to ensure we CAN take for granted.  Were it not for these warriors, we would live in constant fear and intimidation.  Take time to thank them and their families everyday, but especially, today, 11 September 2011