"Charles II, himself a crypto-Catholic libertine, was reputedly appalled by James's folly in matters of religion and sex: 'My brother will lose his kingdom by his bigotry, and his soul for a lot of ugly trollops.'" John Mullan
You know, you're right. But this is interesting because today--unlike when we came of age-- probably the only younger guys who know what "neat" means come from upper-class backgrounds, went to elite prep schools, belong to country clubs. So I guess this is just another example, though minor, of how the well-intentioned attempt at egalitarianism resulted not in raising people up but lowering the bar for everyone.
But then I'm on vacation on the coast of the Atlantic about to make myself a breakfast of Canadian bacon, eggs and toast. I just got back from driving inland to do some trout fishing. I was never an elite prep school type myself but I always saw that there were some real virtues to that moral culture.
There is an old saw about how much easier it is to be elitist than to be elite I don't really want to be elite but I do want to be better than I am.
I always sought to be better than I am as well, and I don't consider myself an elitist (though some might accuse me of being one) in part because of the negative connotation of the term. I didn't go to an elite prep school either, but many Catholic high schools and even some public schools incorporated some of the virtues of the prep school culture "way back when." I think the reason that elitist or elitism is a negative term is perhaps because some people who are considered elitist are perceived as "looking down" on others purely because of their class or socio-economic status. Unfortunately, I think some people do that.
Single-malt scotch, neat. Puts hair on your chest.
ReplyDeleteYou know, we both date ourselves by knowing what "neat" means in this context.
ReplyDeleteMy father in law drank Scotch and he was as manly as a man can be.
You know, you're right. But this is interesting because today--unlike when we came of age-- probably the only younger guys who know what "neat" means come from upper-class backgrounds, went to elite prep schools, belong to country clubs. So I guess this is just another example, though minor, of how the well-intentioned attempt at egalitarianism resulted not in raising people up but lowering the bar for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteBut then I'm on vacation on the coast of the Atlantic about to make myself a breakfast of Canadian bacon, eggs and toast. I just got back from driving inland to do some trout fishing. I was never an elite prep school type myself but I always saw that there were some real virtues to that moral culture.
There is an old saw about how much easier it is to be elitist than to be elite I don't really want to be elite but I do want to be better than I am.
I always sought to be better than I am as well, and I don't consider myself an elitist (though some might accuse me of being one) in part because of the negative connotation of the term. I didn't go to an elite prep school either, but many Catholic high schools and even some public schools incorporated some of the virtues of the prep school culture "way back when." I think the reason that elitist or elitism is a negative term is perhaps because some people who are considered elitist are perceived as "looking down" on others purely because of their class or socio-economic status. Unfortunately, I think some people do that.
ReplyDelete