John Derbyshire is one of my favorite opinion journalists. He’s grumpy and pessimistic, but his grumpiness and pessimism sync up with mine a lot of the time. He’s also wicked smart and a hell of a writer.
On page 2 of his November diary entry on the National Review site, he answers Randall Parker, who wonders here why we’re being “pussies” about the Somali pirates, by explaining that we are, in fact, a nation of pussies. The whole section is positively lyrical—look about two-thirds of the way down this page—but this was my favorite:
We’re pussies about enemy nations, embarking on decades-long, trillion-dollar campaigns to make them love us, instead of quick ten-million-dollar lessons in why they should fear us. Why? Because we seek love and approval, like the furrowed-brow, teary-eyed, compassionate pansies we are.
Poetry, no?
May Mr. Derbyshire remain prolific during the Obama administration. I fear we’re entering the fret to end all frets about our beloved and oh-so-unbelievably-fragile “standing in the world.” We’re going to need a substantive counterbalance.
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Oh boy, an excuse to say, “pussy!” Did I ever tell you my sister’s pussy daddy story?
‘seester: No, I don’t know that story. Do tell.
Not here. In person.
Pussy.
‘Seester: So that’s why he puts up with the crabby overseas phone calls!
Or maybe it’s the furry thing.
I am compassionate. I don’t want to make them cry.
Greg, I honestly don’t know why he puts up with me. I am just glad that he does. He’s no pussy, though.
If you don’t believe we’re turning into a nation of “pussies” just spend an evening watching Bravo. Thank Bejesus fo Spike TV!
SS, don’t get me wrong: that was a high-five to him!
Lee, my theory about the appeal of chick flicks is that all the men in them are really just big girls with beards.
LOL Greg!
When you guys gonna invite me to lunch again? It’s been what? 4 years?
I thought you were sailing around the world or something? Still planted in Huntsvegas?
When are we going to the Mises Institute? I’m disappointed that I missed the recent conference on the gold standard, and it would have been another chance to get to see my brother who’s in school there.
Yeah, and we do this attempted bribery with BORROWED money! I don’t know if we are “pussies” but I know we are, collectively, dumber than a box of rocks.
This explains everything!
“Feminisation of the males of numerous vertebrate species is now a widespread occurrence. All vertebrates have similar sex hormone receptors, which have been conserved in evolution. Therefore, observations in one species may serve to highlight pollution issues of concern for other vertebrates, including humans.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/its-official-men-really-are-the-weaker-sex-1055688.html