March 13th, 2004

AQUARIUS HANG-OVER

by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk

Civil Rights, or just being Uncivil?

Is Homosexual marriage the actual problem or is it a part of a greater issue? The way I see it, this issue is like a patient going in to see the doctor about having a constant headache. The doctor runs some tests and tells the patient that he has a brain tumor. The patient says: “I don’t care about that! I just want the headaches to stop. Can you prescribe something for it so that I can get on with my life?"

Society has a huge headache right now and we’re in denial that it’s a tumor or cancer.

The greater cancer of which this symptom of Homosexual Marriage is a part of what is what I call the Aquarius Hang-Over. During the era of civil disobedience during the late 1950’s and 1960’s... known to many American’s as the “Age of Aquarius"... there were many protests and social unrest. Many moderates and liberals fought to change many civil injustices. This era has been romanticized in the media and pop-culture, and perhaps for many reasons it was an American Renaissance of art and music. Some of those demands for social change were just, such as civil rights for women, minorities and blacks. But the Anti-War protests may have prolonged the conflict in Vietnam and emboldened the leaders in Hanoi into hanging in until the American politicians conceded defeat.

Notice that this civil disobedience is occurring now during a war that many on the left consider unjust. I doubt there’s a conscious effort, but it’s not a coincidence, either. What you’re seeing now is an attempt to “bring back” that mentality- many people want to “re-live” that era of Aquarius... thinking that type of civil unrest will be another cultural phenomenon. It’s not just about change; it’s about change for change’s sake. It’s also about tearing down every traditional institution one by one. It’s part of a socialist agenda to bring the world into a more “Commune” culture.

Homosexual Marriage is just one more step towards a socialist utopia. I can’t tell you what’s next, but some of those answers can be found in Hillary Clinton’s book: “It takes a Village...” Could the abolishment of “Hate Organizations” such as the Church be next?

Everyone’s Lifestyle is Special!

Just for a gag… I’m going to start calling my way of life a “life-style” and see if I can get any special benefits. In this day and age, being in love with the same woman for more then 5 years isn’t normal: It’s abnormal. And when I say love, I mean ecstatically in love… madly truly deeply in love. The kind of love that you read about in Romance Novels… if that’s your thing. Spending time with my kid with the television off and reading to him... that’s not normal either.

I’m going to include the way I dress, the music I listen to and the kind of cars I drive as part of this Alternative Lifestyle. I demand preferential treatment because I am the way that I am! And… I’m going to call it the Anachronistic Lifestyle. I’m going to recruit lobbyist to get special laws passed to protect us as a special class of citizen. I’m going to hi-jack the word “Anachronism” for OUR special lifestyle. I’m also going to refer me as “We” so folks think there’s more then just one of “US”... since I’m such a minority and it makes me feel better.

Dressing like it’s still the 1940’s is my NATURE; I can’t help myself. Before when I tried to fit into other people’s norms I didn’t feel happy about myself. I felt like I was living a lie. How is it that dressing this way isn’t right because of a number on a calendar? I don’t think society shouldn’t only accept this lifestyle… I think it should be celebrated and embraced – CELEBRATED! Kids should be taught in schools that this lifestyle I’ve chosen is just as normal and equal as other lifestyle choices. Heck, we should even take some of money out of the school budget and teach kids who might be swinging this way that there is a community who embraces them, just like it’s been done for Homosexual students in the state south of New Hampshire: ‘Mexachusetts.’ Instead of informing kids about fisting and other sex acts like it’s been documented on PRCMA.com… we’ll teach kids the proper way to wear a fedora, get them re-blocked and where to find other Anachronistic items.

Obviously... I’m being ridiculous to illustrate a ridiculous point. Should we re-arrange traditional institutions and values to accommodate less then 10% of the population? 1% of the population? 1 person in New Hampshire?

Proliferation of Filth

Another aspect of the Aquarius Hang-Over is the ease and abundance of inappropriate material. As I wrote in my rant about Censorship, part of the price we pay for living in a free and open society is the ability for anyone to say anything or make any material they deem as being informative or artistic. The obvious exception or rule to this is when something may be inappropriate is sprung on an unsuspecting audience. When you buy a book, a magazine or a video, you know for the most part what you’re getting. When you’re watching the Super Bowl, you don’t suspect you’re going to see peep show during Half Time.

To a further extent, the furor of “Nipple-Gate” (Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake stages a “Wardrobe Malfunction”, exposing her breast with a sun-shaped Nipple ornament) seems almost as offensive as the incident itself. Many people are saying that this is no big deal even though it might be over the top. Those of us who object to such behavior are being labeled regressive.

I’ve noticed that there’s an attitude from many of the people who are defending the actions of Nipple-Gate are some how demanding that this be normalized and that the negative reaction is in fact over-reaction. I get the impression that many of these people expect or even demand that this type of tantalization be commonplace, and expect even more of the same on a grander scale. Is it just me, or is the general attitude of the people who say that this type of “Gotcha” incidents are acting as if they’re entitled to be titillated in every aspect of their lives and ours?

Sticks and Stones, Rocks of Ages

Last week, I was talking to two of my neighbors about the current issues. A fellow conservative and traditionalist, the husband of this couple said something that struck me as a harsh truth… “These People” want everyone to believe that there way is right and that those who don’t see it this way are “evil”. He also said he resents the notion that this “Anything Goes” behavior is going to be taught as normal and acceptable in schools and though the media. What I also thought was striking is that he made the observation that those on the radical left get what they want through temper tantrums, intellectual intimidation and calling names.

Many of the Conservatives and Traditionalists that I’ve spoken to recently agree, those who want to maintain the same social standards that we adhere to, you’re labeled as the villain unjustly. If you don’t think that homosexuals should be able to use the word “Marriage”, then you’re a bigot. If you want the immigration laws to be enforced, you’re a bigot. If you want to keep profanity off the airwaves… not only are you a bigot but you’re also a prude. It’s not just an American phenomenon… on the day that I finished writing this rant I’ve read in many forms that folks in Canada, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe feel that Conservatives feel they’re being vilified by those who label themselves as progressive.

The secularists and the radical Left are able to get their way by name-calling. Nobody wants to be vilified so those who aren’t as strong willed in their convictions back off because of the fear of being labeled as hateful.

According to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, The Age of Aquarius is defined as “An astrological era held to have brought to the world increased spirituality and harmony among people.” Fact is… I’m not seeing the harmony. These people who want to believe they’re all inclusive and they’re open to all ideas violently reject traditional values and those who want to maintain them.

Speaking of Enlightened... we’re seeing an attempt at what couldn’t be done during the Age of Enlightenment in the mid to late 1700’s... as described as “(The period that)  left Western civilization a lasting heritage of modern secularism, political and economic liberalism, and humanitarian reform.”

The Raiders Connection

No mistake about it... all the social issues the world faces today are all aspects of the Aquarius Hang-Over. The world as it was in the first half of the 20th Century is quickly disappearing. In a few ways that’s good, the explosion of knowledge, medicine, transportation, and the availability of anything you want or need from anywhere in the world just a click away. Going too far in the other direction, there don’t seem to be any more boundaries any more... literally “Anything Goes”. The mentality is that if it feels good then just do it and that there aren’t any more consequences.

I’m not writing this to alienate the Jones fans who frequent The Indy Experience who have liberal leanings. I don’t believe that those who stand up for these changes are necessarily evil. I believe that many of these people fighting for these issues are good people with noble intentions. I’m saying that many of the intentions of those guiding this fight are misleading and are not concerned about the long term consequences or the unintentional social implications.

I’m worried about the moral relativism and selective indignation that’s being used by many groups to get their way. I’m bothered by the historical revisionists who distort the past to validate their beliefs and clear the way for social reengineering... trying to weasel in the line of thinking that “The Framers of the Constitution” would have wanted these changes if they knew what we know now.

I absolutely believe that there should be a distinction between a man and a woman with no blurring of the lines. At the same time I absolutely believe that every human being should live with equality, liberty and dignity... but I draw the line at making special concessions for people who have different lifestyle choices and such a small minority of the population.

The world as it was in 1936 is almost gone- just as the buildings that were built in that era will be condemned over time and torn down over time so are the social standards of that period. The world as it was in 1981 is vanishing along with it. Just as I’m told by some circles that the fedora’s and leather jackets are iconic symbols of modern male chauvinism and are symbolic of Western Imperial aggression, I’m concerned that since the beginning of “Age of Aquarius” everything that was good and just is being erased as what was wrong was being corrected.

We’ve gone too far, too fast, and in too many directions. I’m afraid that this Age of Aquarius isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Meanwhile... does anyone have an aspirin?

Have an opinion?  Want to ask questions, or comment on this week's rant?  Email Mr. Fisk him self: renderking@theindyexperience.com.