Growth of Narcissism in America

On most days I spend at least part of my day thinking about and wondering "where did it all go wrong" and "how did this happen". Too often I am quick to blame the politicians for the ills of society - they do too much, they don't do enough. Perhaps they are not the real culprit.

I heard a discussion the other evening that it was our school system that was the cause for cultivating our children into these 'too wonderful to fail' human beings that grew up to demand more and more because...well, because they were worth it.

Another says the parents are the ones to blame. Parents are too permissive, give excessive praise and overindulge their children.

True enough that sweeping changes have occurred in education over the last several decades, but do we blame John Dewey who saw schools as not only a place to gain knowledge but to learn how to live as well. Dewey said that the goal of a student's education was "to prepare him for the future life means to give him command of himself; it means so to train him that he will have full and ready use of all his capacities."

Prior to 1920 secondary schools promoted college preparatory courses only for a select few. By the 1970's growth of college attendance annually has grown by leaps and bounds. But with it also we see a growth in the "me generation" as emphasis swing from the fight for the greater good to one of "what's in it for me".

It is impossible to put a finger on the real culprit in this rise in our cultural narcissism, there are just too many variables. But it's important to acknowledge that it does exist and that it is a pervasive ailment that is having a negative affect upon our society.

This cultural narcissism exhibits itself in many forms, you need only to flip on the TV and it was seen in the Paris Hilton phenomena that soon morphed into the Kim Kardashian phenom. There were all the "Housewives" from Orange County to the Jersey Shore. And then there was the 'average Americans' the ones who believed they could afford the house that was 'too expensive', enabled by the greedy lenders willing to gamble other people's money.

Politicians and political candidates who also suffer from this narcissism that look in the mirror and see themselves as actually qualified to run for office. We need to stop, take and step back and reflect on what is happening around us not in the pond before us.

We are operating in a self-destruct mode that is not going to have a happy ending. And how can I say this?

Because I'm ME, that why!

Cyber Monday

I've been sitting alone at my computer since the wee hours of the morning... searching, search after search for the best bargains available on-line.

I grew frantic, ever fearful the supply would run out and I would be left empty handed. Empty handed of just what I finally had to ask myself. What was I looking for? What was this 'thing' I had to have?

I noticed a small half-empty glass on the desk next to me, there were tiny letters etched into the side of the glass, but squinting with my eyes I was able to read them. It said kool-aid. I was horrified at this act I had committed. "Why, why, why?", I cried.

Had I swallowed a fatal dose of the American Dream? Was it to late for help?

Next to my pen was a small orange cylinder - "to be used in case of emergency only" - it read. It had to be done, so I picked it up and dosed my own self with pepper spray.

Greed and power had overtaken me and for a short time I had become one of them. I think I stopped myself just in time. Perhaps if I had taken just a couple more sips I wouldn't have been able to control myself. There no telling where I might have ended up by nightfall on this Cyber Monday. I shutter at the thought.

Black Friday - Shopper Armed with Pepper Spray

Los Angeles (CNN) -- A southern California woman turned herself in to authorities as the person who pepper sprayed video-game shoppers in a Walmart during Black Friday's shopping frenzy, Los Angeles police said Saturday.

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said;
"Keep YOUR HEAD

~from Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit                

Happy Thankgiving Everyone

Wishing all of you the best of Thanksgiving wishes to you and all your families. This day is indeed a day for giving thanks and for sharing. Here is my Ono Sweet Potato Recipe which I have been preparing since I lived in Hawaii many years ago. Enjoy it, it really is delicious or as the say in Hawaii 'Ono'

Ono Sweet Potatoes
Serves 4 – 6

1 (24-ounce) can sweet potatoes or yams, drained
3 ripe bananas
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
brown sugar
¼ cup macadamia nut bits / chopped macadamia nuts
¼ cup crushed corn flakes
¼ cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash sweet potatoes and bananas with cinnamon and salt. Place in a baking dish. Top with a thin layer of brown sugar. Mix nuts and corn flakes. Spread over brown sugar. Pour melted butter over top. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

 

From A Taste of Aloha by The Junior League of Honolulu, Inc. 1983

Again Rush Limbaugh Opens His Big FAT Mouth

This time he called First Lady Michelle Obama "uppity" for her taking solo flights. Just for your information Mr. R. (as in racist) Limbaugh, other First Ladies have traveled solo as well, EVEN Republican First Ladies. I wonder, would you be calling Nancy Reagan "uppity" as well? You are an IDIOT. Why is this man still allowed on the air?????

~ ~ ~

Nancy Reagan’s Travel as First Lady (without President Reagan)

Mrs. Reagan speaks at a Just

Say No event.

1981
	5/16	Mississippi	christening of guided missile cruiser
	6/18 - 6/19	New York City	Prince Charles visit
	7/23	London	Royal wedding
	10/20	New York City	Antidrug program; attend Joffrey Ballet
1982
	2/16	Florida, Texas	visit elementary school re drug program; visit Straight, Inc; Texan’s War on Drugs
	3/2	Los Angeles	visit childrens hospital
	4/1	Georgia	visit elementary school re drug program; attend Parents conference re drug program
	5/10	Illinois	Gateway House drug program; address Northwestern University
	5/17	New York City	attend premiere of Annie
	8/5	Iowa, Texas	Youth and Shelter Services; parents groups; WHO broadcast; Palmer Drug Abuse Program Conference
	9/18	Monaco	attend funeral of Princess Grace
	9/27	Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas	attend first annual Governor’s Conference on Drug Awareness; meet with Drug Research and Education Association of Mississippi
	10/5	Los Angeles	promote her book To Love a Child
	10/22	Missouri	attend funeral of Bess Truman
	10/28	New York	Foster Grandparents Program
	12/1	New York	honored for involvement in antidrug program and Foster Grandparents Program, at Salvation Army luncheon
1983
	1/3	Los Angeles	dedication of Exceptional Children Foundation headquarters
	1/24	New York	attend “Treasures of the Vatican” exhibit
	2/7	New York	attend Newsweek anniversary party
	2/27	California	visit by British royal family
	3/10	Los Angeles	taping of Diff’rent Strokes TV episode re antidrug program
	4/13	Pittsburgh	Chemical People taping re antidrug program
	5/1	California	receive honorary degree from Pepperdine University, Malibu
	5/4	New York	receive award from Phoenix House, re antidrug program
	8/11	Denver	visit CENIKOR, re antidrug program
	8/23	Los Angeles	visit John Tracy Clinic, re antidrug program
	9/10	Phoenix	Association for Retarded Citizens event
	10/11	New York	Co-host Good Morning America re antidrug program; unveil ad campaign against drugs
	12/15	New York	visit Korean children recovering from heart surgery
1984
	2/14	Seattle, St. Louis	visit elementary school re antidrug program; “Chemical People” luncheon; care unit visit
	2/21	New York	honored by Rotary International
	3/12	Texas, Los Angeles	Houston Magic Circle Women’s Republican Club; tape HOUR Magazine show re antidrug program
	4/12	Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania	attend National Association of Elementary School Principals; alcohol abuse discussion and lunch
	5/22	New York	honored at Girls Club of New York dinner; interviews
	6/19	Nevada, Arizona	Foster Grandparents event; PTA convention; Kiwanis Interinational Convention
	7/4	California	visit elementary school re antidrug program; Lions Club event re antidrug program
	7/10	New Jersey	visit YMCA camp re antidrug program
	9/4	California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington	visit high school and elementary schools re antidrug program; visit drug clinic; dedication of care unit
	9/17	Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania	Lions; Straight Inc.; visit junior high school; visit high school
	10/10-10/12	South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas	visit elementary schools re antidrug program
	10/15	New York	visit International Center for the Disabled
	10/22	California	1984 campaign events; visit children’s hospital
	10/29	Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa	antidrug program events
	11/3	Kentucky, Georgia Louisiana, Mississippi	visit to handicapped children’s hospital
1985
	1/8	New York	Do public service announcement for celebral palsy; meet poster child
	3/12	Oklahoma, Los Angeles	Operation Aware event; Drug, Alcohol, and Juvenile Deliqency Prevention field trip; honored at USO dinner
	4/15	New York	received award from National Fitness Foundation
	4/25	Georgia	travel with 18 other First Ladies from various countries, as part of First Ladies’ Conference on Drug Abuse
	5/2	Rome	Audience with Pope John Paul II
	6/17	New York	Covenant House event re antidrug program; opening of Harlem Dance Theater
	7/17	Virginia	Overnight stay on USS America, for tour and antidrug briefing
	7/25	Ohio	antidrug program trip; attend second annual Youth to Youth Conference
	8/8	Massachusetts	antidrug program; Bentley College rap session with Peers Educating Peers seminar
	9/6	California	tape public service announcements; receive award from Entertainment Industry Council
	9/23	Mexico	visit earthquake victims
	10/20	New York	First Lady to First Lady Conference on Drug Abuse, at United Nations (President joined her)
	11/5	New York	receive award from United Cerebral Palsy Foundation
	11/24	California	“Just Say No” rally; Pros For Kids dinner (President joined her)
1986
	2/11	Missouri	visit CENIKOR (following time with President at ranch)
	3/20	Georgia	attend annual PRIDE conference
	5/2	Malaysia, Thailand
	5/18	Massachusetts	open Annenberg Library and Communication Center at Pine Manor College
	6/23	Texas, Los Angeles	accept Kiwanis award; honored by World Affairs Council
	7/8	New York	view a performance at the Met
	7/20	London	attend Prince Andrew royal wedding
	9/17	New York	visit Phoenix House
	9/25	Pennsylvania	“Chemical People” antidrug program
	10/1	Missouri	antidrug program event; United Negro College Fund event
	10/29	San Francisco	third annual “Pros for Kids”
	11/6	New York	attend Charles C. Dana Foundation event (antidrug program)
	11/17	New York	honored by American Sportcasters Association for antidrug program
	11/25	Nebraska	visit Boys Town re antidrug program
1987
	2/10	Los Angeles	visit elementary school re antidrug program
	3/9	Georgia	attend PRIDE conference
	3/19	New York	honored at Metropolitan for support of the arts
	3/24	Florida	visit TPC village, re antidrug program
	5/7	Louisiana	attend Just Say No rally
	5/12	Los Angeles	attend Just Say No rally and Volunteers of America event
	6/6	Sweden	re antidrug program
	6/25	New Orleans	attend Just Say No rally
	7/28	Maine	visit Agassiz village; summer camp for handicapped children
	9/16	Los Angeles	meet with Pope John Paul II, and schoolchildren, re antidrug program
	10/7	Chicago	honored at Ronald McDonald children’s charities dinner
	10/16	New Hampshire	attend Foster Grandparents Conference
	11/11	New York	attend US debut of pianist Vladimir Feltsman
1988
	1/7	Tennessee	Foster Grandparents Program event; antidrug program at elementary school; receive award from the Country Music Association
	1/11	New York	receive CFDA award
	2/4-2/5	Indiana	visit high school re antidrug program; attend “Just Say No Night” at basketball game
	2/24-2/26	New York	included attending tribute to James Stewart
	3/21	New York	attend performance of Phantom of the Opera
	4/13	Georgia	attend PRIDE conference
	4/29-5/2	California	Nancy Reagan Center
	6/8	Florida	attend Foster Grandparents Jamboree
	10/4	New York	attend dedication of Nancy Reagan Cardiac Wing at St. Francis Hospital (where Korean children had surgery)
	10/15	Los Angeles	World Series events: antidrug ceremony, throwing out of Game 1 first pitch
	10/25	New York	address United Nations General Assembly re drugs
	10/30	Los Angeles	receive award from Simon Wiesenthal Center for antidrug efforts
	12/6-	New York	included Mikhail Gorbachev visit (President Reagan arrived separately)