Tea at Trianon: Palinoia

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, January 21, 2011

Palinoia

Why do otherwise intelligent, educated people become screaming banshees when it comes to Governor Palin? What is there to be afraid of? I don't understand it myself. We do not have to like everyone but why do we tear some people apart? I find myself agreeing with the woman quoted in the recent WSJ article:

I am amazed at how people still abhor her. I personally do not. I don't feel she would be a good choice to run this country, but she does not deserve the horrific treatment she gets. I can tell you, being privy to the endless, incendiary rants this past week about her, coming from hordes of liberal women--age demo 25 to 45--they rip her to pieces, they blame her for everything, and the jealousy/resentment factor is so clear and primal. I've never seen anything like it.

Leonard Greco said...: Hello,
I understand what the author is saying, she makes many interesting and valid points. Certainly Mrs.Palin is over criticized by her detractors; but for me there is a certain "mean girl"element to her persona that is difficult to bypass. I agree with her on multiple issues, abortion being of them, but the harshness and sarcasm makes mea bit wary of her.
Perhaps I knew too many schoolyard bullies as a child, boys and girls :), I tend to be wary.
As always a pleasure to read your posts, the Sebastian is particularly beautiful.
Take care,
Leonard; January 21, 2011 at 12:31:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: Because she exhibits ignorance, religious intolerance, and greed?; January 21, 2011 at 4:49:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Faun-whoever-you-are, even if that were entirely true (the greed part might be true) it is not a reason to hate someone. The level of hate is what the WSJ article (did you read it?)is talking about.; January 21, 2011 at 9:05:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, Leonard, for your gracious words about my blog. The Sebastian is beautiful. I like Mrs. Palin as a person although I do not agree with everything she does and I certainly do not think she should run for president.; January 21, 2011 at 9:10:00 AM EST
May said...: I also do not understand the venom spewed out against this lady. And the way people attack her daughter, too...; January 21, 2011 at 2:08:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Some people even attack the Downs Syndrome baby!; January 21, 2011 at 2:12:00 PM EST
Anonymous said...: Very good article. I do not agree with Mrs Palin on many things (especially the international issues) but I sure can't understand the venom either. It's part jealousy/resentment, true, but it's also that knee jerk reaction that sinners and proponents of sin so often possess -- to despise the Good. Mrs Palin's life is a gospel of prolife, and that such a person should be popular just makes them squirm.; January 21, 2011 at 6:20:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: I don't agree with Mrs. Palin on foreign policy either, not at all, but I do think it is her commitment to pro-life with enrages so many people.; January 21, 2011 at 6:53:00 PM EST
anothertwocents said...: I think it is because people latch on to the fact that she doesn't deal with them in good faith. Let me explain; most politicians will shade the truth, a whole lot, but they understand the issues at hand, and dissemble to get elected. They may lie profligately, but they are not irresponsible.

Ms. Palin was elected governor of a state with fewer citizens than Delaware in a protest vote, and her stunningly lackluster academic record should have disqualified her from a national ticket by itself alone. Some of her utterances reveal that she was so wholly ignorant of world affairs that her running with McCain was an insult.

After George W. Bush, I can't blame them for loathing the idea of another of his type being elected. That she also takes controversial positions in the culture wars merely adds fuel to the fire.; January 21, 2011 at 10:34:00 PM EST
lara77 said...: I think the hate being shown toward Palin(whom I do not care for) is beginning to mirror the hate shown our President and the Democrats by many of the Tea Party right. I remember seeing the vile posters of our President being held by many at the recent Tea Party rallies. Why can't we disagree without being nasty and vitriolic?; January 22, 2011 at 1:52:00 PM EST