According to dictionary dot com, a MAVERICK is
a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.
Mmmmm now that's curious. So SP & JM are arguably also aligning themselves with INTELLECTUALS & ARTISTS. Ha! Oh the irony!!!
Now, admittedly this definition says "or" which means one has a choice of what kind of maverick one would like to be. However, I find it amusing that the dictionary people also recognize intellectuals & artists as being of maverick behavior - two groups of people that the Republican party traditionally finds suspect. Very suspect. I know because I fall into both of those categories. Intellectuals & artists tend to be creatively thinking people. People who ask new questions & seek new answers. They are people who resist being pigeon-holed. They - We - are people who are often accused of not toeing the mark with respect to good old fashioned American values (whatever the heck they are). AND - we are people who are by & large APPALLED at the thought of JM & SP sitting in the white house.
Go figure. "Maverickism" - it would seem - makes for curious bed-persons.
So - here's a thought - maybe if all of us intellectuals & artists start calling ourselves "mavericks" all the time (following JM & SP's example) proudly embracing & owning our maverickism, then maybe - just may be - we can take the wind out of the sails of this now nauseating word. In other words, we can defuse its individuating effect by loudly assigning it to all who qualify. Rendering it meaningless by over-use. (In other words, speeding up the process begun by JM & SP - though I think they are genuinely clueless as to how meaningless this word is becoming)
a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.
Mmmmm now that's curious. So SP & JM are arguably also aligning themselves with INTELLECTUALS & ARTISTS. Ha! Oh the irony!!!
Now, admittedly this definition says "or" which means one has a choice of what kind of maverick one would like to be. However, I find it amusing that the dictionary people also recognize intellectuals & artists as being of maverick behavior - two groups of people that the Republican party traditionally finds suspect. Very suspect. I know because I fall into both of those categories. Intellectuals & artists tend to be creatively thinking people. People who ask new questions & seek new answers. They are people who resist being pigeon-holed. They - We - are people who are often accused of not toeing the mark with respect to good old fashioned American values (whatever the heck they are). AND - we are people who are by & large APPALLED at the thought of JM & SP sitting in the white house.
Go figure. "Maverickism" - it would seem - makes for curious bed-persons.
So - here's a thought - maybe if all of us intellectuals & artists start calling ourselves "mavericks" all the time (following JM & SP's example) proudly embracing & owning our maverickism, then maybe - just may be - we can take the wind out of the sails of this now nauseating word. In other words, we can defuse its individuating effect by loudly assigning it to all who qualify. Rendering it meaningless by over-use. (In other words, speeding up the process begun by JM & SP - though I think they are genuinely clueless as to how meaningless this word is becoming)
It's easier for the man who votes with the party 86% of the time to say maverick than to call himself independent of thought.
ReplyDeleteOf course he truly is independent of truthfulness. The Daily show had a montage of him condemning and extolling identical things all within 36 hours.
Perhaps he doesn't remember what he just said or perhaps he just thinks we're stupid and emotional and will support him both ways.
I'm afraid he's right. You can't fool all of the people all of the time, but you can fool enough of them to get your way.
I am a maverick! Hmmmm, now I need to think of a reason why. Can I use a lifeline and ask the audience?
ReplyDeleteOh dear, B-Dino! You silly intellectual! You don't need to actually have a real REASON for claiming the title. JM & SP don't worry their silly little heads about such authenticity. Why should we?
ReplyDeleteSo reign in your intellectual compulsion to authentic, legitimate, & define the words that you use. It's a remarkable freeing experience - really!!
Heavens! You're right! I DON'T need a reason! I AM a maverick, by gum! I am I am I am!
ReplyDelete