Political correctness blahs
“IN THIS society we have been trained to be politically correct. Political correctness is b———t. If I ask you a question right now, the first thing that comes to your mind is the truth. But we’ve all been trained to breathe, digest the question and manipulate the answer.”
No, that’s not Donald Trump. It is actress Taraji P. Henson, talking about her now-famous character, Cookie, from TV’s “Empire.”
I, too, am weary of political correctness, the downright fear of speaking one’s mind. I think there should be some attempts at good taste and sensitivity, but if those qualities are not available, so what? The offended party or institution should be fully equipped to reply; more than fully equipped — what with today’s social media, which lures supposed adults into embarrassing Twitter feuds.
Political pundits ask less and less, as each day passes. Why is Donald Trump so popular at the moment? Because he is in the moment, that’s why. Many people still don’t care to be in Donald’s broad-stroke moment, but his high-voltage putdowns, simplistic “solutions” and even the childish self-reinforcement of his ego, score big. No conversation with Donald excludes his own vaunted opinion of himself or the mention of his wealth, high education and superiority over all other humans. It’s kind of crazy, but you can’t look away.
The insistence on political correctness has played a big part in Donald’s rise (thank you, my fellow liberals!) And the entire political process — both parties — corrupt, evasive and owned by lobbyists, can take even more responsibility.
“I THINK you’re rotten.”
“I think you’re swell — so long as I’m not your husband.” “Get out of here.” “You bet I’ll get out of here, baby. I’ll get out but quick.”
SO went the back-andforth between Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in Billy Wilder’s great noir film about sex, crime and punishment, “Double Indemnity.”
I watched this again the other night, and found that as much as I had remembered about the basic plot and the sizzle between Stanwyck and MacMurray, I’d forgotten things — important things, such as Stanwyck’s stepdaughter, Lola (played by Jean Heather), and it struck me that the innocent Lola had the real femme fatale name. Stanwyck’s wicked woman was called Phyllis Dietrichson, a name that conjures up a formidable matron or a Plain Jane. Hardly Barbara’s peroxide looker with the ankle bracelet, and the tight sweaters, talking tough out of the side of her mouth or whispering lies to the besotted insurance salesman who happens to drop by.
What is so striking about the film is the musk of sex that envelops it, This week’s Patio Page crossword puzzle can be found on page D4. without anything more than a bare shoulder being revealed. Stanwyck was no great beauty, but she had a lithe, tight body and a face that could convince any man she was up for anything, anywhere, anytime. And if she killed you, it would still have been worth it!
I’d also forgotten the power of the scene between the murderous couple in the supermarket, as their plot begins to unravel. Who ever knew canned goods could be a backdrop for such unrelenting evil. Stanwyck removes her sunglasses to reveal dead, cold eyes over the peas and carrots. But her mouth is glistening. “I only wanted him dead,” she says of her late unlamented husband, “You did it. We’re in this together, Walter, all the way.”
Well, I was in all the way with “Double Indemnity” right to the deadly, cynical end.
I didn’t see any of the new releases this weekend, so I was stuck with an oldie. I don’t think I missed a thing.
Dr. Michael Fox
Question: My Yorkie-daschund mix has been diagnosed with mange. So far, she has had three shots of ivermectin, just finished Simplicef tablets and has some special shampoo.
Her condition seems to be improving, but now she has matted patches of hair on her hind legs. When you scratch the matted hair, it comes right off. The vet says the entire family — my husband and I — needs to be treated for mange, but so far our medical doctors will not help. My husband has a recurring rash on his back, arms and legs. I have had few symptoms.
We don’t know how the dog came into contact with mange, although there was a mangy timber wolf in our pasture. We actually saw the wolf a number of times when he was sleeping in our