Saddam

[/ dave /]

Oiboy27 at aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 99-09-22 03:42:48 EDT, you write:
> 
> << It reminds me of the way American southerners would only refer to
>  African-Americans by their first names' -- never as "Mr.," or "Mrs."  It's
>  deliberately condescending.
>   >>
> 
> No shit. I hate gratuitious informality anyway.

Yes, but Mr., Ms. and Mrs. are equaly repugnant for their dehumanizing
effect, adding a superfluous layer of psychological disengagement
between individuals; rather than equalizing the terms of engagement as
many people might allege, they actually seem to erect an opaque barrier,
opening the way for the objectification of the other.

Or so I once surmised. Anyone have any thoughts? Is the use of titles as
manifested above a uniquely Western construction, and will its demise
signify the end of capitalism?

-- 

/  dave  /