Siren of Slime

Now that her latest book is instantly #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, may I wonder why she has attempted a provocative pose on the front cover of her book supposedly denouncing irreligion? I also wonder to what extent the well known Conservative tactic of tasking the faithful with buying several copies of catechismal books is at work?

David Carr is near the truth about Coulter when he writes "... people are stunned by what a "vicious," "mean-spirited," "despicable" "hate-monger" they say she is."

I haven't bought or read this latest diatribe, nor do I plan to do so. I urge everyone to stay away from this sort of latter day foaming at the mouth. If you get too near, you might get bit by this rabid female.

But, I wrote this article on account of Ms. Kakutani's lashing of Michael Berman, after having done a slow burn for days about it.

I have not read Mr. Berman's book, nor do have time for it. Maybe what Ms. Kakutani says about it is true, that "So indiscriminate and intemperate are Mr. Berman's complaints that they undermine the valid points he wants to make ..." Then, again, maybe not. But, that doesn't matter. What does matter is that Ms. Kakutani obviously doesn't understand what Mr. Berman is writing about, or is incapable of assuming the perspective offered in Mr. Berman's book.

Ms. Kakutani finds it objectionable that Mr. Berman believes most Americans are either ignorant or stupid, and that the 2004 election was a farce. She dislikes the idea that American culture is susceptible of severe criticism. She believes people like Mr. Berman write "... the sort of book that gives the Left a bad name."

What's wrong here? It is quite simple, really: Ms. Kakutani doesn't "get it." She writes,

In "Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire," the cultural historian Morris Berman delivers a vituperative, Spenglerian screed that makes Michael Moore seem like a rah-rah American cheerleader: a screed that describes this country as "a cultural and emotional wasteland," suffering from "spiritual death" and intent on exporting its false values around the world at the point of a gun; a republic-turned-empire that has entered a new Dark Age and that is on the verge of collapsing like Rome.

So, from her point of view, all the rest of Berman's book is just a rant, a screed, or a "compendium of complaints." Ms. Kakutani fails to see connections, or any argument, in the various items Berman cites. Her last sentence,

But his apparent hatred of all things American will give right-wing ideologues like Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter an opportunity to tar and feather those citizens who do not share Mr. Berman's contempt for this country but who happen to share his concern about the Iraq war and the policies of the current Bush administration.

shows Ms. Kakutani incapable of reconnoitering outside the herd. Thus, she interprets Berman's criticism as hatred for America, a typically Conservative "talking point." She just cannot see where it is headed, as suggested in my GSQ, Collapse and even Phillip's American Theocracy.

In a recent exchange reported in these pages, I was asked to explain my concept of culture and give examples of my theory. I think, had the reader understood my meaning, examples would abound. This a case of "hidden in plain sight." Apparently Ms. Kakutani is another one who cannot see what is plainly in front of us. When you "get it," all those complaints of Mr. Berman become examples. When you "get it," all those books about civilization and collapse become explanations. But, in order to "get it," one has to give up the culturally, economically and politically approved worldview, and risk living a different life. Ms. Kakutani hasn't done any of that.

This shows just how difficult is the lot of a Cassandra. "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink."

As I was finishing this piece, Andrew Kohut (CEO of Pew Foundation) was interviewed on "After Words" (CSPAN Book TV). An interesting chart came up in the conversation, showing the approval of various populations of American influence on their society. While 79% of the Americans polled believe the United States is a good influence on the world, only 39% of Britons believe that. 50% of the Britons polled think the United States has a baleful effect on their society, which is as friendly as it gets. By large numbers, Canadians, French, Germans, other Europeans, Japanese and other nationals think the United States is a bad influence.

Then tonight, on CBS NEWS, a major story was the coming shortage of MDs. What wasn't said is that has a lot to do with the leaving of those hated immigrants, the Indians and Chinese. At last report, only 30% of the students getting PhDs in U.S. Universities are Americans. The average IQ of American males seems to be declining.

I could go on, but won't. You figure it out. The evidence is hidden in plain sight.