Al Goldstein and me
Sunday November 19, 2006
Today's NYT Book Review carries a longish review of "I, Goldstein," the new memoir by the infamous pornographer, Al Goldstein. Reading these lines:Goldstein, in addition to being a porn king, made an art of self-loathing. It pervades “I, Goldstein” and...
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About Crunchy Con
Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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"it was probably the most repulsive, degrading thing I've ever seen"
I guesss you never read Jerry Falwell's "Declaration of War on Homosexuals" then.>
"I mean, really pitied him, not in a sneering, condescending way."
You mean like the sneering, condescending way you treat Rev'd Schori? Gee, THAT's rich. You pity a pornographer, and avoid sneering and condescending, but you jump at the chance to be that way with a Pastor with whom you disagree.
Need a mirror?>
Don't be a hysteric. I'm talking about in the deepest since. I think Bishop Schori is a ridiculous person, but I don't find her to be evil. Al Goldstein gave himself over to real and palpable evil. There's no temptation to make fun of a person like that. Anyway, where would you start?>
I would start by handing you a mirror, Rod.>
Wow, c and c. That has to be the most breathtakingly rude and arrogant comment I've ever seen on Rod's blog.
The fact that you could even, for a moment, make a comparison between Rod Dreher and Al Goldstein says way more about you than it does about Rod; in fact, it probably says more about you in a purely negative sense than you meant to reveal.>
Al Goldstein gave himself over to real and palpable evil. There's no temptation to make fun of a person like that. Anyway, where would you start?
Rod Dreher
I've known people who gravitated to the bottom of the tank. The one thing they all seemed to have in common is either genetic abuse or were the victim of physical if not social abuses.
For many years I've viewed Goldstein as the poster boy for victimhood. I know the position might not be popular but it's the way I see it.
I see assuming Rod's position of Goldstein making a choice and then relishing the fruits of that choice as being irresponsible as a person, irresponsible as a citizen, and irresponsible as a person of faith.
We all find a comfort zone. Sometimes that comfort zone is difficult to understand from our perspective.
Goldstein found that he could accomodate criticism and disdain was palatable. But he was uncomfortable when confronted with acceptance and appreciation. So everytime he felt uncomfortable he'd create a situation where the circumstances were those he found preferable.
I'm sure we've all worked with the person in the office that thrived in chaos. When the stuff was hitting fans in every direction they were the calm one. But when it all was going smoothly they were the one that was like a fish out of water. Invariably they'd start something just to be comfortable again.
Goldstein is just another variant of that common human personality trait. A lot more extreme I'll agree, but really no different when the rubber meets the road from people we interact with everyday.
Yeah, I know calling it evil and giving it divine design is simpler. But it's also stupider.>
>he [Goldstein] was uncomfortable when confronted with acceptance and appreciation. So everytime he felt uncomfortable he'd create a situation where the circumstances were those he found preferable.
Reminds me a bit of a haunting cable documentary I saw a few years ago on the late SNL comedian Chris Farley. The guy blew tons of scratch on coke and hookers and such, and obviously had an extreme craving for attention/affection, given his "acting out" on all occasions (seeing him on talk shows was to bite your nails in spellbound apprehension of what scenery-chewing might come next).
Yet - get this - it was made plain that whenever out with friends and faced with any nice young woman who made a good faith effort to warm to him and try to get to know him a bit better on a simple human level - he'd go instanter into his "berserker" mode, a John Belushi on steroids as it were, killing off any overture in embryo instanter, ensuring the local working girls a place on his retainer unto his early grave. It made for painful viewing, indeed.>
eCurious (unum?)
I wasn't comparing Rod to Al Goldstein. I was comparing Rod's treatment of Al Goldstein to Rod's treatment of Bishop Jefferts-Schori.
Feel free to re-read what I posted.>
This description reminds me a little bit of Mickey Sabbath, from Phillip Roth's very great book "Sabbath's Theatre". You ought to check it out, a magnificent piece of work about human nature, darkness, and light.>
But gee wiz, what a laugh, eh, me spiritual compatriots? I gander it reminds me of the ol' days, back on those sunny corn filled memories of 1826, when my daughter, Becky met God, and god ye willing. . .Hallejujah, she found her own ear o' corn. And then Adam blessed be born.>
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