I said/who put all those things in your head?
Members of the Academy, readers, friends,
Thanks for joining me tonight, where I'd like to take this opportunity to ...
Not for everything, mind. Although they did use the hothouse of our family to develop a few words not used in the common lexicon that I have had to use in public to find out they aren’t real words (thanks guys). But I do blame them (occasionally) for the way I think.
Let me explain, with a colourful story which includes references to North Fitzroy and alcohol.
A few years ago, I was at the Empress having a few drinks with a mate, let’s call him Sharky. Sharky spent about half an hour railing heartily against the decidedly more conservative views of some of our former house-mates. Oh, how I was enjoying that conversation. These were the kind of people who used to go to the local primary school on polling day and marvel at how you could buy books by the kilo, and complain about the price of a cooked snag. I say three things about that:
1. Selling books by the kilo is something that the urbane schools of the inner city would only resort to during the worst of the Kennett-Howard years, when all hope seemed permanently lost and
2. Those who buy books by the kilo with scant regard for their content will, in most cases get what they paid for and
3. It’s a friggin’ school fundraiser you tight-wads. For crying out loud, they get two elections every four years, don’t hassle out the Parents Association for charging (as I recall it) $1.50 for a sausage in bread.
Anyway, I digress. The actual point where Sharky lost me was when he made the following observation. Namely that:
“F-cking Young Liberal scum always swallow exactly what their parents tell them without ever thinking about it themselves. They are so f-cking brainwashed”
Now, I had had some major arguments with the people he was talking about. In particular, they had claimed several rather scathing things about various friends of ours due to their religion, ethnicity and/or income status. So I wasn’t predisposed to cut them any slack.
I grew up in lefty household though. And I remained a lefty. Therefore, am I not the same kind of “f-cking…brainwashed scum” (NB this is a rhetorical question)?
I will posit that I have spent more time than some developing my political perspectives. I also think that a bunch of people who start with the viewpoints of their parents take them to a completely different conclusion to what their parents did, for a myriad of reasons. Tim and Peter Costello being one excellent case in point.
So maybe what really happened to our brain-dead cohabitants was that their parents taught them not to be Liberals, but to be brain-washed – to believe anything they heard, regardless of the source. My folks taught me to be a whole lot more argumentative, and I think I’m a better person for it.
So what about you?
Did you steal your political viewpoints from your parents, or are they all your own work?
Thanks for joining me tonight, where I'd like to take this opportunity to ...
...blame my parents.
Not for everything, mind. Although they did use the hothouse of our family to develop a few words not used in the common lexicon that I have had to use in public to find out they aren’t real words (thanks guys). But I do blame them (occasionally) for the way I think.
Let me explain, with a colourful story which includes references to North Fitzroy and alcohol.
A few years ago, I was at the Empress having a few drinks with a mate, let’s call him Sharky. Sharky spent about half an hour railing heartily against the decidedly more conservative views of some of our former house-mates. Oh, how I was enjoying that conversation. These were the kind of people who used to go to the local primary school on polling day and marvel at how you could buy books by the kilo, and complain about the price of a cooked snag. I say three things about that:
1. Selling books by the kilo is something that the urbane schools of the inner city would only resort to during the worst of the Kennett-Howard years, when all hope seemed permanently lost and
2. Those who buy books by the kilo with scant regard for their content will, in most cases get what they paid for and
3. It’s a friggin’ school fundraiser you tight-wads. For crying out loud, they get two elections every four years, don’t hassle out the Parents Association for charging (as I recall it) $1.50 for a sausage in bread.
Anyway, I digress. The actual point where Sharky lost me was when he made the following observation. Namely that:
“F-cking Young Liberal scum always swallow exactly what their parents tell them without ever thinking about it themselves. They are so f-cking brainwashed”
Now, I had had some major arguments with the people he was talking about. In particular, they had claimed several rather scathing things about various friends of ours due to their religion, ethnicity and/or income status. So I wasn’t predisposed to cut them any slack.
I grew up in lefty household though. And I remained a lefty. Therefore, am I not the same kind of “f-cking…brainwashed scum” (NB this is a rhetorical question)?
I will posit that I have spent more time than some developing my political perspectives. I also think that a bunch of people who start with the viewpoints of their parents take them to a completely different conclusion to what their parents did, for a myriad of reasons. Tim and Peter Costello being one excellent case in point.
So maybe what really happened to our brain-dead cohabitants was that their parents taught them not to be Liberals, but to be brain-washed – to believe anything they heard, regardless of the source. My folks taught me to be a whole lot more argumentative, and I think I’m a better person for it.
So what about you?
Did you steal your political viewpoints from your parents, or are they all your own work?
posted by gigglewick at
9:47 pm
14 Comments:
Think I stole most of it and then started to realise how outmoded it was when I was in my early 20s. Mind you both my folks were in the Communist Party, so it's no surprise I found (some of) their ideas a little fusty.
Mostly though I think I was brought up to harbour deep suspicions about anyone who claims to be honest or truthful!
I absorbed most of my parents' political leanings. And seeing as they are the son of the Secretary of the Merchant Seaman's Union and the daughter of a Yorkshire coal miner, it's not hard to see why I'm as left-leaning as I am.
However I married into a family which is further right than Gerard Henderson (or, y'know, Gengis Khan, same-same but different) at quite an early age (21) and therefore had to develop, justify and own those beliefs and values.
The moderate socialism combined with the retention of my maiden name caused a fair bit of friction in the early days, as you could well imagine.
My parents-in-law are now blaming me for converting MrB to Labor. They refuse to accept that he would reject their political colours himself.
I reckon my atheist parents accept my Christianity more than they would me voting Liberal though!
No no. I'm pretty much a brain-washed left-winger just as my parents would have me be.
That's not the point though. I want to hear about these made up words of yours. Did they refer to North Fitzroy and alcohol as well?
My mother was, back in the day, the secretary of the local branch of the Young Nationals, so it would be reasonable to suggest that my political views are largely my own work.
In fairness to my lovely mother, if there was any other way to have a social life in North Queensland in the late '50s, it was a very well kept secret.
Oh, a very good question Gigglewick!
My mother is a Greenie through and through, and was arrested for protesting against Lake Peda. I'm sort of proud.
My dad is a Labor voter. I think he wants a framed portrait of Kevin Rudd (I know - weird!)
and I vote... Liberal. Not sure how it happened, seeing as both my parents were hippies.
My mother is a Liberal voter, she may have even snuck in a National vote here and there. And I try to go as far left as possible. She has always been remarkably accepting of me doing weird lefty things though, bless her.
I don't remember my parents being particularly political. My dad was a union rep for the manufacturers union. His way was the right way and there was nothing else.
And my mum was, and always encouraged us to be, open minded.
I vote labour, I guess because of my dad. There's not really a whole lot of difference between them and the rest. But I take more after my mum when it comes to other stuff.
My grandfather and great-grandfather were both Labor politicians but I suspect that my father voted Liberal for many years. My parents always referred to themselves as swingers which I trust was in reference to their political leanings rather than any wild Don's Partyesque shenanigans that may or may not have occurred. (ewww I feel sick).
My parents definitely influenced my political leanings and I am glad. If my kids end up joining the Young Libs they wil be grounded for life.
I stole from my parents, we're all lefties. I have varied my political beliefs, but they have always remained 'left'. At 15 I joined Resistance for 3 weeks and at 17 I once proclaimed to my alarmed Ma and Pa that I think I'm Labor-Right. My sister is also a lefty, although she probably falls into the category of 'brain-washed', until the last Federal election she used to call me to ask who 'we' vote for. My brother is a lot more conservative than the rest of us, but then again the poor soul thinks that TodayTonight constitutes a current affairs. But I'm pretty sure he votes Labor, or at least he lies about it very convincingly.
My father (the biological one who i only saw at holidays) is one of those spoiled upper-class twits who decided to become a Marxist as a teen and proceeded to indoctrinate me from a very early age. I remember being quite confused as a child when he was relieved that Labor had won an election after he had spent the last god knows how long slagging them off for selling out the workers.
My Ma grew up in Broadmeadows, Vic and her parents were both shop stewards at their various work places.
My step dad is from a family of typical Astrayans. I think he's the only one who reads. They all vote as conservatively as possible and look like the guests of a Kath and Kim themed dress up party. How Pa became the thinking chap that he is provides me with hours of speculative fun.
GW, this has little to do with your current post, but would you like to do a grogblog on the 29th of June? I'm in Mallbourne that weekend and will be meeting up with Ms Ariel from jabberwockyonline, so I wondered whether you might care to grogblog. If you would care to, it's halfheartedhack@yahoo.com.au. If not, I won't be offended ;)
I must've gotten my lack of political views from my parents! I blame them for the stress I get to focus on my "career" when clearly, I have a non-career and that I don't give a flying hoot as to what I have as long as it keeps a roof above me... :) Yes, I'm slightly bitter :P
GW, where are you???? Shall I send out a search party?
MsB,
I was in Wagga.
It's a long story.
It's okay.
I'm back.
Will respond to comments above in due course....
Ilse,
sounds completely reasonable. My aunt is a huge communist in the "revolution is coming" style. I suspect I am a major disappointment to her.
Actonb,
Interesting - and definitely a challenge for you.
Harpo,
As Joh would say: "don't you worry about that".
INCraig,
Yes. FNQ does have those tendencies.
Rosanna,
I am a Labor voter, and even I don't want a frame picture of Kevin Rudd. Perhaps you could give him one of the ones Ms Fits has devised (www.reasonsyouwillhateme.blogspot.com)
KR,
That's why we love our mums.
Phishez,
See above!
Leilani,
Mine too (kids, not grandparents, or parents for that matter...ewwwww indeed).
Nai,
I hate it when people "revert to type" (e.g. Liberal, become communist, return to Liberal). It's one of my major bug-bears and probably informs my deep suspicion of (some of) the most radical lefties I have known.
Redcap,
Why thank you for the invite. I have emailed you as requested.
Princess banter,
That's your prerogative. Especially as a member of the royal family.
Actonb,
All is well.
GW,
For goodness' sake, do shut up.
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