Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

You cannot love your country only when you win.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

An almost top 10,000 blog!

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

This fight is for everything.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

You are here: Home / Economics / Fuck The Middle-Class / Divided we fall, united we stand

Divided we fall, united we stand

by | 57 Comments

This post is in: , ,

I’m kind of pissed by that New Yorker pop music sophisticated exegesis of a sociological phenomenon that Anne Laurie rightly mocked. When will it end? How many ways can you say “white black people drive a car like this beep beep, black guys drive a car like this BEEP BEEP”? And it’s in no way restricted to black/white — Democrats go to Whole Foods, Republicans go to Applebee’s…rinse, repeat.

ENOUGH!

I was cheered up to see a straight professional athlete — even though I know Michael Irvin isn’t everyone’s favorite — appearing shirtless on the cover of a gay magazine to support marriage equality:

“I don’t see how any African-American with any inkling of history can say that you don’t have the right to live your life how you want to live your life. No one should be telling you who you should love, no one should be telling you who you should be spending the rest of your life with. When we start talking about equality and everybody being treated equally, I don’t want to know an African-American who will say everybody doesn’t deserve equality.”

Love him or hate him, Michael Irvin doesn’t care. He’s on a mission. He hopes opening closet doors for gay people will be a key chapter in his life story. “I have to make sure we do things to bring people together.

Everybody ought to feel this way, any one of us could be basically the same person we are only a different race, or a different sexual orientation, or prone to buying different music at Starbucks.

In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

Reader Interactions

57Comments

  1. 1.

    rob!

    Football players endorsing same-sex marriage, Michelle Bachmann has a decent shot at the R nomination, Mitch O’Connell is folding faster than Superman on Laundry Day, and Rupert Murdoch is in serious legal trouble. JESUS CHRIST, IS IT MY BIRTHDAY?

  2. 2.

    redshirt

    Amen Doug. As the Buddha said, Nirvana (Paradise) is already here. We just have to realize it. Each of us individually could do this, and strive to help others. And who are we collectively but a series of individuals, striving?

    Also, I am now fairly impressed by Michael Irvin, even though I still don’t like him (Don’t Go Cowboys!)

  3. 3.

    Rhoda

    Everybody ought to feel this way, any one of us could be basically the same person we are only a different race, or a different sexual orientation, or prone to buying different music at Starbucks.

    Yes. Except the music at Starbucks thing; that’s just sad.

  4. 4.

    Larkspur

    rob!, if it isn’t your birthday, it should be, so happy birthday! I have just forgiven Michael Irvin for a few things which will be specified at a later date when I remember them. Good for you, Michael Irvin. I have to say, though, that 1995 NFC championship game was so very sweet, even though it was not at all good for you. Good times.

  6. 6.

    sistermoon

    Football players endorsing same-sex marriage, Michelle Bachmann has a decent shot at the R nomination, Mitch O’Connell is folding faster than Superman on Laundry Day, and Rupert Murdoch is in serious legal trouble. JESUS CHRIST, IS IT MY BIRTHDAY?

    Has anyone checked the weather forecast for Hell this week?

    Seriously, good on Michael Irvin. He’s dead on.

  7. 7.

    Three-nineteen

    This really (really) hurts to say this, but here goes:

    I res- *cough, cough*

    I respect Michael Ir- *cough, cough, COUGH*

    I respect Michael Irvin for doing that.

    Ouch.

    Fuck the Cowboys.

  8. 8.

    Baud

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

    Can’t argue with success.

  9. 9.

    DougJ in Damascus

    I have to say, though, that 1995 NFC championship game was so very sweet, even though it was not at all good for you. Good times.

    What a great game that was. Get up 21-0 and hold on for dear life. Henry Weinhards got me through.

  10. 10.

    beltane

    Doug, why is it that you only have these thoughts in your darker moments? Of course the Galtians are doing to us what the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India. If they didn’t do this successfully, it is they who would be the despised group of outcasts.

    Also, Rupert Murdoch’s crimes appear to be even greater than anything even the most devoted CTer could dream up. Wasn’t the French Revolution preceded by similarly shocking scandals?

  11. 11.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @larkspur:

    I have just forgiven Michael Irvin for a few things which will be specified at a later date when I remember them.

    One of the progenitors of the hookers and blow meme? That Michael Irvin.

    Well, good on him.

  12. 12.

    hamletta

    What Three-nineteen said.

    Good on Michael Irvin. And not just talking, but posing for a beefcake shot? Pretty cool.

  13. 13.

    Violet

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

    Only in your darker moments? Can you sell some of your happy pills?

  15. 15.

    MikeJ

    I’m kind of pissed by that New Yorker pop music sophisticated exegesis of a sociological phenomenon that Anne Laurie rightly mocked.

    So you don’t think that members of different demographics tend to have different musical tastes?

  16. 16.

    robertdsc-PowerBook

    I hate his football guts but this was strength, honor, and courage. Good for him.

    Fuck the Cowboys.

  19. 19.

    Larkspur

    He needs the money or tax right off

    Yes! Supporting marriage equality: your road to riches!

  20. 20.

    Heliopause

    any one of us could be basically the same person we are only a different race, or a different sexual orientation, or prone to buying different music at Starbucks.

    Well, no, this is a metaphysical absurdity, but Irvin’s gesture is a good one nonetheless.

  21. 21.

    MikeJ

    @MikeJ: To reply to myself: there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that different demos has different preferences. What’s bad is to make value judgements on those things based on those demos.

    I didn’t find the NYer article to be condescending to Adele fans, but the author and many of the people that responded to the thread were fine with denigrating teeny bopper music.

  22. 22.

    bleh

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us

    But, but … that would be like the exploitation by economic upper classes throughout history! And America is beyond classes, just like we’re beyond racism!

  23. 23.

    kyrol

    “I can hire one-half of the working class to kill the other half.” – Jay Gould, 1886.

  24. 24.

    Trollenschlongen

    Michael Irvin is my new favorite pro football player.

    Ummm…why do so many people hate him here?

  25. 25.

    JGabriel

    DougJ @ Top:

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

    In your darker moments? I’m with Violet, can I some of your happy pills too?

    Seriously, the Galtians & their Republican puppets are utterly bent to this task. It’s their raison d’etre. I believe that in every moment, not just the darker ones.

    .

  26. 26.

    FlipYrWhig

    As an Eagles fan, I’m preconditioned to despise Michael Irvin. But this is a nice gesture.

  27. 27.

    drkrick

    but the author and many of the people that responded to the thread were fine with denigrating teeny bopper music.

    Isn’t teeny bopper music kind of adolescent by definition?

  28. 28.

    drkrick

    @24 – The Cowboys – and especially the early ’90’s Cowboys for whom Irvin starred – are either loved or hated by most football fans. Irvin in particular also helped popularize the “hookers and blow” and “do you know who I am” memes, and once stabbed a teammate because he didn’t wait his turn for a haircut. A polarizing individual on a polarizing team, but this is pretty impressive. He’s clearly learned some things.

  29. 29.

    fasteddie9318

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

    The British and wealthy colonials ran that con here before they used it in India. There’s a reason why poor whites learned to hate slaves instead of figuring out that they and the slaves shared the same oppressors.

  30. 30.

    cbear

    My opinion of Michael Irvin has just done a complete 180. What an honorable thing to do. Good for him.

    * Please god, don’t let some famous New York Fucking Yankee be this enlightened.

  31. 31.

    Joel

    Remember that French baby who had some big albums about 20 years ago? Literally, a three or four year old French pop star. Rebecca Black made it not okay for us to laugh at the French anymore for this. Damn you, Rebecca Black!

  33. 33.

    kth

    30: then they’d get someone from the Lakers, and you’d have the tri-fecta of good deeds done by alums of Satan’s teams.

  34. 34.

    Caz

    I can marry a dude, but I’m not allowed to buy incandescent light bulbs anymore. Does that make any sense??

  36. 36.

    Tim I

    I’m certainly not a fan of Michael Irwin, but his attitude toward marriage equality deserves nothing but praise.

    Amen, brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  38. 38.

    middlewest

    Eventually, pro athletes are gonna wise up and realize there’s money to be had in pandering to gay fans. We’ll see some real changes then.

    And anyone who thinks teenage girls don’t listen to Adele is hilariously out of touch.

  39. 39.

    virag

    i can’t believe anybody would think that the ruling class wants the rabble divided against itself. why, that’s not at all nice.

  43. 43.

    tBone

    I can marry a dude, but I’m not allowed to buy incandescent light bulbs anymore. Does that make any sense??

    Wrong crowd to try out your material for the Young Republicans open mic night, Caz. Sorry.

  44. 44.

    Chris

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

    Piling onto the “whaddaya mean ‘in your darker moments’?” bandwagon. Of course they’re doing it. It’s how they maintained power in the Gilded Age and it’s how they maintain power today. When everyone’s having a bar brawl, there’s no one to notice you emptying the cash drawer.

  45. 45.

    Mnemosyne

    I can marry a dude, but I’m not allowed to buy incandescent light bulbs anymore.

    Why, did Amazon.com block your account?

    I mean, yeah, it sucks to actually have to go down to Wal-Mart to buy your bulbs, but suck it up, you lazy asshole.

  48. 48.

    Villago Delenda Est

    The problem is that Caz, like all the other fuckwits, is wrong about the incandescent bulbs, as David Frum, of all people, pointed out earlier today.

    Caz is fed this shit by the Nazi Blimp.

  49. 49.

    RalfW

    In my darker moments, I think the Galtians are doing the same shit to us now that the British did to the Hindus and Muslims in India, keeping us divided so that they can exploit us.

    Every freakin’ day, dude, every freakin’ day. Where you been!?

  50. 50.

    ruemara

    Not sure who this guy is but for a pro sports dude to pose beefcake style in a gay pub and support same sex marriage, freakin’ cajones. Go you…pro sports dude of some sort. I may even watch whatever you do for at least a minute.

  51. 51.

    AxelFoley

    ruemara, you don’t know who Michael Irvin is? Do you know football? And I mean real football, not that kickball thing Europeans do. ;)

    I keed, I keed.

  52. 52.

    PIGL

    I could care less about football, and even less about the NFL’s version. But as a straight white middle-aged fat fcuk, may I just say that Mr. Irvin has a big pair of brass ones to go with the stunning ebony physique. (no, I’m sorry, there isn’t time).

    What a fantastic piece of theatre. No ordinary man would have done this. Let’s hope that in another 50 years, no ordinary man wouldn’t.

  53. 53.

    harlana

    Is there some reason you need to pose greased-up and shirtless to show support for marriage equality?

  54. 54.

    WereBear

    Is there some reason you need to pose greased-up and shirtless to show support for marriage equality?

    It’s optional, but in this case, attractive.

    To do so in opposition would be problematical, I admit.

  55. 55.

    jayjaybear

    To do so in opposition would be problematical, I admit.

    See, the major problem with this is that it creates the potential for Newt Gingrich/Marcus Bachmann/Paul Cameron beefcake. And Maggie Gallagher cheesecake! (Ewwwww…)

  56. 56.

    Phoebe

    I love this too, and particularly the fact that he so generously posed like this for the viewing pleasure of teh gay. Do you know how insanely brave THAT is? Particularly for a guy who formerly tripped over himself to prove he wasn’t?

    A lot of hetero fellas have bitched to me (a female!) about being objectified by gay men. Boo hoo. I love love love it when one of them does something like this. Plus, ahem, for other reasons.

  57. 57.

    eastvanhalen

    @kth – It’s closer than you think: Sean Avery came out in support of gay marriage a few months back. I still haven’t recovered.

Comments are closed.