An editorial on dress and hats and such

[John in Covina]

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=11109

 

[Orgetorix]

Well written. Though I hope our own culture isn't so far gone that we can't revive dressing well on its own merits, without having to be assimilated by another culture and its impact on public life.

 

[Fletch]

Sneaky

Walker subtly equates sartorial standards with his neocon audience ("tradition", "unwise pacifism", "Europe subsumed by Islamic culture"). Doing that plays right into the hands of the grubby hippies and buzzcut bullnecks, and harkens to the days when you could tell the players by their haircuts. For all I know, that's what Walker wants.

The unmade point - because it doesn't suit the readership - is that figures of social change need not look like some easy stereotype. John L. Lewis or Ralph Nader might have been disheveled and rumpled, it's true, but they didn't go before Congress in tie-dyes and Birkenstocks. And Dr. King might get a pass out of respect for the clergy or the tradition of Black male elegance, but talk about a revolutionary in sheep's clothing.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

All that leftward swinging pendulum, eh? (not that it actually swung very far to the left.) I was under the impression that the backlash had been in full rightward swing for many a year.

bk

 

[Brian Sheridan]

I believe you can still be left but dress right!

There is no excuse for looking like an unmade bed.

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

I may wear boots and jeans, but at least when I go out about town my Wranglers are ironed, my shirts starched and pressed, boots are at least clean if not polished and my Open Road brushed.

 

[Fletch]

All that leftward swinging pendulum, eh? (not that it actually swung very far to the left.) I was under the impression that the backlash had been in full rightward swing for many a year.

Obviously, if one believes Western civilization is at stake, one must be vigilant, and keep the flame burning as hot as one can.

 

[Orgetorix]

Walker subtly equates sartorial standards with his neocon audience ("tradition", "unwise pacifism", "Europe subsumed by Islamic culture"). Doing that plays right into the hands of the grubby hippies and buzzcut bullnecks, and harkens to the days when you could tell the players by their haircuts. For all I know, that's what Walker wants.

The unmade point - because it doesn't suit the readership - is that figures of social change need not look like some easy stereotype. John L. Lewis or Ralph Nader might have been disheveled and rumpled, it's true, but they didn't go before Congress in tie-dyes and Birkenstocks. And Dr. King might get a pass out of respect for the clergy or the tradition of Black male elegance, but talk about a revolutionary in sheep's clothing.

Interesting. So do you think that A) the neocon perspective is so engrained in him that he can't help seeing everything from that point of view, B) that he's intentionally framing his argument about clothing in the terms that will best appeal to his readership, or C) that the article really isn't about clothes at all, but instead he's using sartorial standards to disguise his real point about Western civilization?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

right on all three!

bk

 

[Fletch]

Definitely A) and B), and I wouldn't say C) was entirely unlikely.

 

[scotrace]

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[Marc Chevalier]

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------------------------------------------------- Nice conservative clothes.

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[scotrace]

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[Marc Chevalier]

I agree with you, Scotrace, this thread's subject is political at its heart: clothes as ideology, or something like that. One of those arguments that goes around in circles. Doesn't belong in the Lounge, in any case.

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[Senator Jack]

When's that Adults Only section coming?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

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^^^ who dat? ^^^

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It's Perry Mason, an old-time TV lawyer.

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[Orgetorix]

Who has a very chastising glare.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Which looks a bit like Scotrace's in real life.

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[Marc Chevalier]

When's that Adults Only section coming?

It's at my house, 'round midnight. Bring your own armor and a grin.

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