Thursday, June 07, 2007
stereotypes are a challenge to be different
Michael Savage uses his love for radio and writing to express himself and his beliefs. In his work, The Savage Nation, he explains the reason for all the corruption in the Unites States of America. He proposes that the problem of all problems in this country is the “left-winger” liberals. He begins the book with an overview of himself, his childhood, and his critical stages of development. He credits his humor (now used in radio broadcasting) to the bullies in his school. He said, “So this kid could be sixteen years old. A juvenile delinquent with a zip gun or a knife. I’m five… I’m like 1’9” and he’s 6’2"… So what do you do?… To survive, I had to learn to tell quick jokes. I would disarm the guy with my humor…(Savage, 6).” This “surviving tactic” is how he learned to be quick. So, after he got into the radio business he began broadcasting his views on the Democratic party and the “savage nation.” Like I said before, he blames the problems of America on the liberals of the land. He views the future as so: “the future of America hangs in the balance like a loose tooth. Everything you and I have worked for is being wiped out before our eyes. Our borders, our language, and our culture are under siege (Savage, 19).” He feels that in order to ‘save’ America from being thoroughly destroyed by liberals, we (non liberals) must rise up and stand for what is “right.” Now, in his book he does a lot of stereotyping (Savage, 29).
What do I, personally, think of all this? Well… I think he is entitled to his opinion. I think he has some important insight: that the nation of America is headed in the wrong direction. Whether I, myself, would blame that all on liberal Americans, I don’t think so. Many non liberal people have played a part in this decline of values, morals, etc. Yet, by reading his book, and through what I see around me it seems that the liberal people have a stronger voice. He does not want his cause to be trampled on and left in the dust, so he’s speaking up and proclaiming his beliefs. I give him credit. I still have more to read of his book before I comment further on this subject. I am still in the process of formulating my point of view.
Savage, Michael. The Savage Nation. New York: Plume. 2002.