Fun is absolutely antithetical to any totalitarian or authoritarian regime. In communist times, there was a famous saying: whatever is not forbidden is mandatory. Even after the fall of communism, people who grew up and become adults in the system could not get rid of a certain attitude: when going back, a taxi driver immediately guessed that I live in the West. I asked him how he could tell; there was nothing special about how I was dressed. He told me immediately: you are too relaxed. Same thing with a friend from Iran who went back as an adult: “you live in the West - you smile way too much”.
But it’s catching up with us. We don’t have (yet) official travel restrictions, but we’re told that flying by airplane is a sin against the God of Climate Emergency. Soon we might see family registrations, stating where you are allowed to live. If you’re caught living or traveling outside the allowed area there will be consequences. Same if you dare eat gas-producing beef - read the testimony of the North-Korean defector in the other story from Common Sense.
On the 4th of July, let’s celebrate the freedom of this country and also be ready to fight to keep it. Fighting for it starts not with some insurrection, as some hotheads believe, but with being able to reject tribal mentality and accept facts regardless of what “side” they seem to favor.
What a refreshing piece and what great comments it has generated. It's been ridiculously hard, being a new teacher during the last 2.5 years of insanity. I see it all around me. It's been hard to find people to spend time with, socially. I have been trying to rebuild, after an ugly divorce and being in a state I am not from, originally. One thing I realized was that my "tribe" was going to be found out in the world, actually living and enjoying life. I really appreciated this piece. Made me think of my household. This was my birthday weekend and one of my sons rented a couple of wacky movies. We got Chinese takeout and just had fun laughing and being ourselves.
Thank you, so much. We've been through a lot, these last several years. The 3 of us, including his younger brother, have created a home where we can just be ourselves. Low drama, plenty of space, and lots of laughter :) They know I value their thoughtfulness and I consider myself truly lucky that my 23 and 24 year old sons like to hang out with me and choose stuff to do/watch, sometimes supplying the hang out food as well.
Many things over the past 5 years have driven me away from the Democratic Party. Number one thing I just couldn’t take anymore? The constant gloom and doom and hopeless take on just about everything. I have a bunch of textbook lefty progressive co workers. I work a lot of hours per week including overtime into the evening and night. So, we spend a lot of time together. They just worry and rage nearly non stop about all the lefty stuff. You know who I worry about the most? Their kids who are growing up in households where this negativity is constantly whirling around. From what they tell me, their kids aren’t doing well at all, especially high school and college age. I hear constant reports about their kid’s serious troubles... severe loneliness, “gender confusion “, complete absence of motivation, psychiatric diagnosis of various sorts, side effects from their “meds”, suicide attempts, what went on during their most recent psychiatric hospitalization, uncontrollable urges to cut themselves, etc. It’s really just heartbreaking.
My cousin and I had dirt bikes in high school. One summer day we decided to go riding up on Rock Creek Mountain, near my home, but a tremendous downpour had turned everything into a muddy slimeball. As we sat, disappointed, on my front porch, all of a sudden he said, "Hell, let's go anyway!"
We lit out, and up the mountain we went. We raced each other the three miles to the top, and pretty near in ability, we took turns in the lead, the leader delighting in covering his rival with sprays of mud - "rooster tails," they were called because they looked like, well, rooster's tails - as we spun our rear wheels, deliberately throwing mud behind.
By the time we got back to my house, we looked like we'd been sprayed with a mud firehose, which I guess we had. It's funny how, out of tens of thousands of days, that one stands out as one of the best.
Thank you, Walter Kirn, for articulating what I am feeling in my heavy heart. Friends and family repeat the inanities they read and hear from news media, accepting all without question, and embracing misery like a lover. If I dare to question their assumptions, they screech at me and do whatever they can to silence me. I seek comfort in my books and from my dog. You remind me I need to return to H.L. Mencken for little perspective.
Walter's fun to read! And thanks for the warning about the special effects at some Maverick showings. Looking for fun in Montreal once, I went to see the Expos play baseball in their repurposed dome. The fun went away immediately when the big fan in the dome turned on to circulate "fresh air."
Monty Python on video is my go-to. Yet John Cleese sadly says BBC would never allow that show to run now.
I love this essay. I will share, and keep safe. It is worth keeping, for curious people in the future after all this has burned.
God I am so glad there are such eloquent writers among us who can articulate so perfectly the thoughts in my head.
This was incredible!!
Walter Kirn is always a great read or listen.
He is an American gem.
Happy 4th to Walter, Bari and their respective families!
For a better and far more prescient take on this, please see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Thank you...we all need some fun!
Fun is absolutely antithetical to any totalitarian or authoritarian regime. In communist times, there was a famous saying: whatever is not forbidden is mandatory. Even after the fall of communism, people who grew up and become adults in the system could not get rid of a certain attitude: when going back, a taxi driver immediately guessed that I live in the West. I asked him how he could tell; there was nothing special about how I was dressed. He told me immediately: you are too relaxed. Same thing with a friend from Iran who went back as an adult: “you live in the West - you smile way too much”.
But it’s catching up with us. We don’t have (yet) official travel restrictions, but we’re told that flying by airplane is a sin against the God of Climate Emergency. Soon we might see family registrations, stating where you are allowed to live. If you’re caught living or traveling outside the allowed area there will be consequences. Same if you dare eat gas-producing beef - read the testimony of the North-Korean defector in the other story from Common Sense.
On the 4th of July, let’s celebrate the freedom of this country and also be ready to fight to keep it. Fighting for it starts not with some insurrection, as some hotheads believe, but with being able to reject tribal mentality and accept facts regardless of what “side” they seem to favor.
Its a fun article about fun. Why are the comments arguments about Reagan and Carter?
What a refreshing piece and what great comments it has generated. It's been ridiculously hard, being a new teacher during the last 2.5 years of insanity. I see it all around me. It's been hard to find people to spend time with, socially. I have been trying to rebuild, after an ugly divorce and being in a state I am not from, originally. One thing I realized was that my "tribe" was going to be found out in the world, actually living and enjoying life. I really appreciated this piece. Made me think of my household. This was my birthday weekend and one of my sons rented a couple of wacky movies. We got Chinese takeout and just had fun laughing and being ourselves.
Happy Birthday and what a great present from your son. Maybe you raised him to see the double blessing of sharing a gift.
Thank you, so much. We've been through a lot, these last several years. The 3 of us, including his younger brother, have created a home where we can just be ourselves. Low drama, plenty of space, and lots of laughter :) They know I value their thoughtfulness and I consider myself truly lucky that my 23 and 24 year old sons like to hang out with me and choose stuff to do/watch, sometimes supplying the hang out food as well.
Many things over the past 5 years have driven me away from the Democratic Party. Number one thing I just couldn’t take anymore? The constant gloom and doom and hopeless take on just about everything. I have a bunch of textbook lefty progressive co workers. I work a lot of hours per week including overtime into the evening and night. So, we spend a lot of time together. They just worry and rage nearly non stop about all the lefty stuff. You know who I worry about the most? Their kids who are growing up in households where this negativity is constantly whirling around. From what they tell me, their kids aren’t doing well at all, especially high school and college age. I hear constant reports about their kid’s serious troubles... severe loneliness, “gender confusion “, complete absence of motivation, psychiatric diagnosis of various sorts, side effects from their “meds”, suicide attempts, what went on during their most recent psychiatric hospitalization, uncontrollable urges to cut themselves, etc. It’s really just heartbreaking.
Great writing and thank-you for the insight of Judy how un-fun the wokesters are. Puritans have nothing on the Woke when it comes to hating fun.
Happy 4th all!
My cousin and I had dirt bikes in high school. One summer day we decided to go riding up on Rock Creek Mountain, near my home, but a tremendous downpour had turned everything into a muddy slimeball. As we sat, disappointed, on my front porch, all of a sudden he said, "Hell, let's go anyway!"
We lit out, and up the mountain we went. We raced each other the three miles to the top, and pretty near in ability, we took turns in the lead, the leader delighting in covering his rival with sprays of mud - "rooster tails," they were called because they looked like, well, rooster's tails - as we spun our rear wheels, deliberately throwing mud behind.
By the time we got back to my house, we looked like we'd been sprayed with a mud firehose, which I guess we had. It's funny how, out of tens of thousands of days, that one stands out as one of the best.
Thank you, Walter Kirn, for articulating what I am feeling in my heavy heart. Friends and family repeat the inanities they read and hear from news media, accepting all without question, and embracing misery like a lover. If I dare to question their assumptions, they screech at me and do whatever they can to silence me. I seek comfort in my books and from my dog. You remind me I need to return to H.L. Mencken for little perspective.
Outstanding & insightful piece!
Walter's fun to read! And thanks for the warning about the special effects at some Maverick showings. Looking for fun in Montreal once, I went to see the Expos play baseball in their repurposed dome. The fun went away immediately when the big fan in the dome turned on to circulate "fresh air."
Monty Python on video is my go-to. Yet John Cleese sadly says BBC would never allow that show to run now.