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The Quivering Upper Lip -- The British character: from self-restraint to self-indulgence
City Journal ^
| Autumn 2008
| Theodore Dalrymple
Posted on 11/30/2008 6:16:36 PM PST by SirJohnBarleycorn
click here to read article
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To: Irene Adler; Frantzie
21
posted on
11/30/2008 7:43:10 PM PST
by
1066AD
To: 1066AD
My semi-mistake. I said psychologist MD which is wrong. A psychistrist is an MD. They can perscribe drugs while a psychologist cannot. His writing is A1.
22
posted on
11/30/2008 7:44:32 PM PST
by
Frantzie
To: SirJohnBarleycorn
23
posted on
11/30/2008 8:10:21 PM PST
by
daniel1212
(I sent unto you all my servants the prophets,... saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing)
To: SirJohnBarleycorn; aculeus; neverdem; AnAmericanMother; MozarkDawg; Billthedrill
Daniels/Dalrymple bump. Thanks for posting.
24
posted on
11/30/2008 8:53:43 PM PST
by
dighton
To: SirJohnBarleycorn
Dog-eared for Monday reading.
25
posted on
11/30/2008 9:03:32 PM PST
by
SuziQ
To: dighton
26
posted on
11/30/2008 9:11:53 PM PST
by
neverdem
(Xin loi min oi)
To: SirJohnBarleycorn
The author attributes the decline of British civil society to various "intellectual and legislative activity" (such as lowering the tax on alcohol), but never mentions the overriding change from a predominantly Christian to a post-Christian culture, perhaps reflecting a personal blind spot in the author.IIRC, he's admitted to being either an agnostic or atheist.
27
posted on
11/30/2008 9:14:02 PM PST
by
neverdem
(Xin loi min oi)
To: Frantzie
28
posted on
11/30/2008 9:20:23 PM PST
by
neverdem
(Xin loi min oi)
To: SirJohnBarleycorn
Well, it gets a mention;
they had a state religion, but came to find religious enthusiasm bad form. . .
. . .but given the litany of evils here; could have given it 'greater mention'.
Certainly is a preview and warning; (if not too late already, 'here'). Never cease to be amazed at the level of degradation that much of our culture continues to descend to. Albeit; we are not 'England' - yet, anyway. And there are many fine young people - as I am sure there still are in England(?)
Does show the effects of Liberalism. Also thrown in here are the early 'inflluences' of 'Jerry Springer' TV and many 'ad nauseum' shows; now we have 'reality shows'. Seems 'trash' is King in tv land. . .for too much of the time and it does rise to the top; and we will pay a price for it.
And of course, Nature does abhor a vacuum. . .and so where Religion becomes scarce; nihilism, if only a big zero; fills the 'o's here.
29
posted on
11/30/2008 9:30:13 PM PST
by
cricket
(America's Freedom Rings! Thank You ~ U..S.A. Military~/)
To: Canedawg
I have traveled all over the world and I visited London in 2006. I found the people to be rude,narcissistic, and drunk.
The youths had bad manners and filthy mouths. Maybe I was in the wrong part of London. I did meet some really nice people thou. They took great pride in their education and appearance. A few years back,I had a British commando friend who was in his late 50's and he was as tuff as nails, yet very polite. Fear was not in his fiber. I also agree that the country has lost it's Christian heritage.
30
posted on
11/30/2008 9:50:09 PM PST
by
odin2008
(EVIL TRUMPHS WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING)
To: SirJohnBarleycorn
I agree with the author. Britain is dead. It will never return.
To: MrEdd
Actor Ray Winstone: I mean, dont get me wrong, he says. This is not something you want to do. Every time I get on a plane the thing I love is that moment when the captain announces were flying over England.
‘You open the shutters on your little window and you look down at all those miles of green fields and think: This is it. This is England. This is the greatest, most beautiful country in the world.
He shakes his head and sighs. But its just not great any more, is it? He pauses.
Lets be honest. This country isnt going to the dogs. Its gone to the dogs. Were a mess. And do I really want to live in this mess any more? I feel bad saying it, but Im just not sure.
32
posted on
11/30/2008 10:59:22 PM PST
by
flowerplough
("The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.")
To: SirJohnBarleycorn
Daniels is a trained psychiatrist, yet commits the basic error of ascribing to entire populations characteristics properly attributable only to individuals. His writing, superficially impressive, elegantly articulated and not without its insights, succumbs all too often to the inductive fallacy: argument from the incisively analysed particular to an always misanthropic general, with nothing but a brief non sequitur to link the two. Hardly surprising, when one's entire professional life has been spent trying to make sense of the minds of the dregs of society, that one's outlook on humanity at large should become a wee bit unbalanced.
To: hinckley buzzard
That’s one of my longtime favorite quotations, as well.
I imagine most Freepers know of Theodore Dalrymple (AKA Dr. Anthony Daniels) and his work-for anyone who doesn’t-he is always excellent-his books and articles are terrific—if his byline is on anything-read it. This article is from City Journal-he’s a regular there, which is almost 100% worthwhile to read, every month and, IMHO, should be bookmarked by anyone interested in modern society, politics, etc.
34
posted on
12/01/2008 2:16:13 AM PST
by
Mac from Cleveland
(Joe Biden behind a microphone is like Ted Kennedy behind a steering wheel)
To: odin2008
Hmmm, it’s a shame, isn’t it?
As the post above yours stated: Nature does abhor a vacuum. . .and so where Religion becomes scarce, nihilism...fills.
35
posted on
12/01/2008 3:32:45 AM PST
by
Canedawg
(The media is a ass, a idiot.," said Mr. Bumble.)
To: dighton
36
posted on
12/01/2008 6:32:44 AM PST
by
aculeus
To: odin2008
Well, thats London for you.
We have the same love for London you lot do for NY or LA...lol
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