Flogging the Dead to Sell a Load of Crap

[Apos]

Ok, I'm a loser. I'm ranting about the NYPost and I know how pointless that is. But this made me sick.

(Link won't be active forever)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02102003/commentary/68775.htm

I'm behind war on Iraq. I think Saddam is a scourge upon his own people and his rule and regional stability are simply incompatible. But this is simply sickening. STEVE DUNLEAVY goes to a WWII cemetary? Why? No reason. It's all just in the service of a riduculous "We helped out the French in WWII therefore they should support everything we do" screed.

Dunleavy reads some utterly random names off graves (no sign that he knows any of them, or they are related to anyone he mentions in his story), describes himself weeping passionately, and then says: "These names mean nothing to the French, 91 percent of whom, according to a poll, are against President Bush's plans to make Saddam a dark mark in history."

And, of course, he finds time through his tears to mention: "But then again, the French are against everything, including that curious American habit of showering every day."

It's one thing to disagree with a nation's political stance. But this entire article is one detestable non-sequitur after another. People read this guy? People LIKE this guy?

[Apos]

Ok, so I kind of submitted before I was done with the title there.... crap.

[matt_mcl]

[pre-emptive obligatory justification of French-bashing]

But the French are slimy frogs! It's not just acceptable to make fun of them, it's our patriotic duty as Anglophones! Isn't it?

[this post is closed-captioned for the sarcasm-impaired]

Bof. Qu'il aille chier.

[SPOOFE]

Y'know, I really, really, REALLY get annoyed at the style of journalistic writing that rarely puts more than two sentences per paragraph... often just a single sentence. It looks pretentious, and makes it seem as if the author assumes his audience is stupid.

As for the content of the article... well... it doesn't take much intelligence to be able to mock the French's hygiene.

[Kyla]

Originally posted by SPOOFE

As for the content of the article... well... it doesn't take much intelligence to be able to mock the French's hygiene.

Out of curiosity, have you ever been to France?

[kaylasdad99]

Originally posted by Apos
Ok, so I kind of submitted before I was done with the title there.... crap.
What WAS the thread title going to be?

It might even be worth some Mod's time and energy to fix it for you, if you ask.

[Rysdad]

Originally posted by Kyla
Out of curiosity, have you ever been to France?

I have. Paris stunk. And I mean aroma-wise.

[Kyla]

Originally posted by Rysdad
I have. Paris stunk. And I mean aroma-wise.

How odd. I certainly did not make that observation when I was there. I actually didn't like Paris very much, but that was unrelated to any smells. And I spent a lot of time on the Metro.

[Apos]

---What WAS the thread title going to be?---

Something like "Flogging the Dead to Sell a Load of Crap" I dunno. I hadn't worked it out yet. Now I'm probably only gonna get necrophiliacs and Greatful Dead fans, instead of fellow Dunleavy bashers. I'd LOVE if a mod would change the title: do they really do that?

[SPOOFE]

Out of curiosity, have you ever been to France?
No. Since when does one have to travel abroad to recognize a schoolyard insult?

[Ukulele Ike]

Originally posted by Apos
I'd LOVE if a mod would change the title: do they really do that?

Oh, there's simply no END to what mods do.

You've got King Log now...be careful if you want it changed again; I might send you a big Stork (http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Aesop/Aesops_Fables/The_Frogs_Desiring_a_King_p1.html).

[Coldfire]

Originally posted by SPOOFE
Y'know, I really, really, REALLY get annoyed at the style of journalistic writing that rarely puts more than two sentences per paragraph... often just a single sentence. It looks pretentious, and makes it seem as if the author assumes his audience is stupid. I'd say that anyone who buys this paper certainly deserves the title "stupid". So it looks like Dunleavy is estimating his crowd quite aptly.

[Coldfire]

New York Post thread about this very topic (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=162397)

[Daniel]

Originally posted by SPOOFE
Y'know, I really, really, REALLY get annoyed at the style of journalistic writing that rarely puts more than two sentences per paragraph... often just a single sentence. It looks pretentious, and makes it seem as if the author assumes his audience is stupid.

Are you serious? What other style of journalistic writing is there? It's the standard for every class and textbook on journalism I know of; I don't think any other type of newspaper writing is even taught.

The layout of a newspaper page is different from that of a book; paragraphs look a lot longer in those little columns. In newspaper writing, one- and two- sentence paragraphs are the standard everywhere. Anything longer is begging for an express ticket to the recycle bin.

It's nothing against the attention span of the readers; it's just the nature of the business.

That said, the article isextremely pretentious, but I don't think it's the fault of the writing style. The style, which is designed to present facts more simply and clearly, in this case does a great job of simply and clearly spotlighting the shortcomings of the writer.

[neuroman]

Gee, and I thought this was going to be a thread about John Edward (http://www.johnedward.net/index2.htm).

[Koxinga]

I thought the thread would start off: "My name is Harvey Earl--and I've come back to build you a great car."

[A Monkey With a Gun]

GM automobiles: built by flesh eating zombies. Hard working American flesh eating zombies.

[Liberal]

I like French culture. If it weren't for them, what would we have to eat with our hamburgers?

[xenophon41]

I like 'em French fried 'taters, mmmnnnnnhhhmm.

[Liberal]

:D One of my favorite movies of all time!

[Apos]

---Gee, and I thought this was going to be a thread about John Edward.---

Pretty similar phenomenon really. Using the dead to mouth what you want to say. Who knows if any of those soldiers would have been for or against the current war? Who knows what things dead loved ones would want to convey to their living relatives? Dunleavy and Edward don't. It's not fair to speak for the dead.

[Koxinga]

Originally posted by Apos
Who knows if any of those soldiers would have been for or against the current war? Who knows what things dead loved ones would want to convey to their living relatives?

In Flanders Field
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

[Saintly Loser]

Steve Dunleavy is a creepy, dishonest AUSTRALIAN* who is only the latest in a long line of creepy dishonest columnists at the New York Post. Remember Ray Kerrison? Dorothy Rabinowitz? It's unbelievable that any intelligent person would read that rag. I suppose that since it only costs a quarter, it could come in handy for picking up dog shit off the sidewalk.

* I mention Dunleavy's nationality only because he seems to make such a big fucking deal of his America-love-it-or-leave-it political stance. No disrespect intended to Australians, most of whom I'm pretty sure were thrilled to have this ranting jerk depart the homeland for the US.

[TwistofFate]

we can all do the Lyrics game doghouse

http://phobos.astro.uwo.ca/~sshorlin/macbride.html
[quote]
Well how do you do, young Willie McBride,
do youmind if I sit here down by your graveside.
And rest for a while 'neath the warm summer sun.
I've been working all day and I'm nearly done.
I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen
when you joined the dead heroes of nineteen-sixteen.
I hope you died well and I hope you died clean.
Or Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

[.....]
The sun now it shines on the green fields of France
There's a warm summer breeze. it makes the red poppies dance
And look how the sun shines from under the clouds
There's no gas, no barbed wire, there's no guns firing now
But here in this graveyard it's still no-man's-land
The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man
To a whole generation that were butchered and damned.