If you’re going to drop names, drop big ones. Last night, our friend Tammy invited Sheryl and me to have dinner with Mary Cheney. She was in LA (fresh from a Larry King appearance) to promote her new book – Now It’s my Turn: A Daughter’s Chronicle of Political Life. Of course we were pleased at the invitation. How many times do you get a chance to meet the daughter of a sitting vice president, especially one at the center of controversy herself? Mary, as most of you undoubtedly know, is the first publicly out homosexual child of such a major executive official. Who wouldn’t be curious?
With us for the occasion were producer/manager Douglas Urbanski (The Contender) and his wife television writer Diane Wilk. The venue was Maple Drive, the by now almost venerable restaurant in Bev Hills.
Well, since it was an evening with more film people than political types, I will “cut to the chase.” Mary was a charming person, quite friendly, approachable and at ease with herself (more than I would ever be, I think, with a secret service cadre accompanying me everywhere I went). The predictable topics flitted by in the conversation – movies, Islam, gay marriage, what’s Larry King like, the food at Maple Drive (still up to snuff), our kids’ schools, etc. Mary chimed in with the rest of us but, like any author on tour, her mind was on her book, as it should be. (We will have a podcast interview with her on that subject on Pajamas Media shortly).
In all, I would have to say that Mary Cheney had what some of the Amazon “reviewers” of her book do not – common decency. Many of the reviews are excellent, but it is those ad hominem attacks that are really the subject of this post. And I have the “reviewers” in quotes, because I doubt most of them have read the book (it’s barely out). In fact, some of them even admit that they haven’t. Here’s one “gentlewoman” who reviews under the handle of “smtpgirl”: I saw Larry King, and after that diatribe, I will not read the book. The five-star raters are a bunch of SCHMUCKS. So far 37 of 43 readers of that vitriolic nonsense have branded it as “useful” (wonder why some people distrust the Internet?). Another “great intellect” named Drew Janson (at least he signs it) has this to say: “I thumbed through the book elsewhere…no way I’m giving my hard-earned $s to this self-loathing, opportunistic sellout…and must say it’s one of the most tedious, boring, pointless wastes of paper ever. Then again, Mary’s heroes…especially her precious father…never cared too much for preservation of the trees, anyway. For shame, Mary.”
Well, you get the point. Indeed this is about common decency, civility. Without that, we can’t begin to talk with each other. I’m buying Mary Cheney’s book and I’m taking it on the plane with me to New York on Saturday. It was a pleasure to meet her.
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23 Comments
1. Johnnie:Roger, I could not agree more with you. I was long ago completely dismayed by the casual way that those who characterized themselves as “progressive” or often “liberal” would launch into vitrolic and unwarranted attack on anyone who crossed some invisible line or who actualy questioned them about their own position.
It is now apparent that such people are almost totally empty and even primative. They do not give a damn for logic or the sincere intent of people who might have a thought different from their own. This is almost a definition for indecency.
Without logic, they have only vitrol. Without empathy, they have only their own delusional psychodrama. We human beings deserve better.
With respect,
Johnnie
May 11, 2006 - 7:48 am 2. vnjagvet:My wife was cable surfing last night and stopped when she saw Larry interview Mary. I did something I have not done for years — watched Larry (because of Mary).
It was refreshing to see her speak with love and respect of her parents, and at the same time articulately and dispassionately relate her rather profound disagreements with them on certain social and political issues.
I think there is a certain element in our society (on both sides of he political spectrum, unfortunately) that is as unable to do this as to pat the stomach and rub the head at the same time.
The Cheney’s sure raised a stand up daughter.
May 11, 2006 - 7:57 am 3. Jumbo:Roger, you may think this an odd comment, but I want to thank you, THANK YOU, for this sentence: “Last night, our friend Tammy invited Sheryl and ME…”. That’s right, I’m ecstatic over the proper use of “me”. Saints be praised! Finally, someone in the public eye who understands the difference between subject and object!
But then, you’re a writer who is, uhm, of a certain age (as am I), and were no doubt educated at a time when youngsters were expected to master the basic rules of grammar by the 7th grade. Today, it’s the world of bizarro-grammar, and the “I-me” pendulum has now swung so far to the “I” that figures who are daily in the public eye regularly and embarrassingly misapply it. Movies, television, interviews, press conferences, arrrrghhhh! Surely I am not alone in the great annoyance and dismay such blockheadedness causes me.
Thank you for sticking to your grammar guns. As well as remaining a bastion of clear and courageous thinking. Long may you wave!
May 11, 2006 - 8:10 am 4. submandave:Jumbo, as a younger fellow (and an Engineer, to boot) who nonetheless still remembers the distinction between subjective and objective tense encoded into that terrible orange book in 7th grade I take small umbrage at your characterization of whippersnappers like myself. There is certainly no age limit for the misuse of “there” and “their” or the application of an improperly placed semicolon. Likewise, one is never too young to employ gramatically correct sentance structure.
May 11, 2006 - 9:24 am 5. Peg C.:Roger,I will buy the book merely on your recommendation. I surely disagree with Mary on certain issues but I have nothing but the greatest respect for her, and I have long been a huge admirer of both her parents, both accomplished, erudite intellectuals. I hope the book does well and I look forward to the podcast!
As an aside, I, too, am driven crazy by the misuse of “me,” “I,” “myself,” and so many others. Although I have to say, the briefest perusal of any lefty blog’s comments will reveal much worse language problems than mixing up subjective and objective. Those rantings are so full of hate and obscene vitriol that grammatical, syntax and spelling errors are just a distraction. All in all, most of those ranters are unreadable. I can imagine them turning their obscenity-laden untelligibles towards Mary. I’m sure she’s developed a tough hide by now.
May 11, 2006 - 9:50 am 6. Stephen_M:submandave#
May 11, 2006 - 9:52 am 7. AlanC:Let me third the hear, hear for grammatical correctness. I would like to say, however, that sometimes There, Their and They’re show up incorrectly in my typing. Seems my fingers didn’t learn grammar as well as my brain.
And, for all fans of Roger’s novels, I would like to add a plug for my favorite mystery guy and great grammarian….Rex Stout and his Nero Wolfe.
Oldies, like me, but goodies, unlike me. ;^)
Oh, and submandave, it’s been my experience that engineers have better language skills then thos in the humanities and have had for a long time. Twenty years ago I spent many Sunday mornings proof reading professional tech writers on their grammar, as much as their technical details.
May 11, 2006 - 10:21 am 8. Old Dad:To continue the grammar hijack…
AlanC, I taught freshman comp at a big time engineering school almost 20 years ago. Most college freshmen, even at that fine school, had average to poor grammar skills, including engineers, but my engineers almost always improved rapidly. I’d simply explain that language had rules called grammar. Engineers love rules and learned them quickly.
May 11, 2006 - 10:42 am 9. ic:She is Hot.
May 11, 2006 - 1:27 pm 10. Jamie Irons:Roger,
I hope you didn’t make any tasteless jokes if Mary ordered quail for her entree.
The “their/ there/ they’re” and “here/ here” (among others) confusion of homophones is interesting to me, because I find myself doing it all the time when I type in electronic modes like email or comment sections like this one, but never in ordinary composition.
Does anyone else find that is the case for them, and if so, does anyone have an explanation?
Jamie Irons
May 11, 2006 - 5:31 pm 11. JM Hanes:Jamie
Indeed, yes. It’s probably because your fingers are typing, not your brain! The faster I go, the more likely such errors are to occur. I’m not sure whether it’s a function of which form you’ve previously typed most frequently or which form you’ve struggled hardest to learn. For example, I routinely find I’ve inserted an apostrophe before the “s” in a perfectly normal plural. Odder still, I also find that I’ve inserted commas for every verbal pause I’d normally make in conversation, even though it’s incorrect in written form. I’d call them mechanical artifacts. If you are basically touch typing, your fingers are all moving independently over the keyboard; when you’re writing, your hand does the work as a single unit and, in my case, more slowly.
Roger
I’ll look forward to Mary Cheney’s book. What has always astonished me is the Edwards’ implied criticism of Ms. Cheney’s own reaction to Candidate Edward’s patently gratuitous, slickly condescending reference to her sexuality and the Cheney family’s private choices.
May 11, 2006 - 9:58 pm 12. Peg C.:JM Hanes, I second your astonishment at Edwards’ grotesque abuse of Mary’s sexuality. The Cheneys display infinitely more grace than do most Democrats, as evidenced by the Dems’ willingness to exploit in the most repulsive manner the homosexuality of any Republican.
Back to grammar/syntax/spelling, I’m in IT. In my experience, most notes by programmers and engineers are concise and intelligible compared to the misspelled gibberish that frequently flows from management. (Don’t get me started on management. As in politics, the cream rarely rises to the top.)
May 12, 2006 - 3:06 am 13. AlanC:Arrrrrgh, Peg C.
You’ve gotten me started on management!!!!!
Approximately 20 years ago I got an e-mail from a senior manager that made me realize that all hope of proper grammar had been lost.
After attending one of those upper mgmt. junkets she reported on “The learnings I am having…”
My brain shorted out at that point and I gave up on things such as “functionality” which I had fought for 10 years.
My own grammar is far above average though I don’t have an “educated” form. My mother drilled me to know what was proper more than any school I ever attended. I tend to know what’s right, but rarely why.
Re: typing. Jamie & JM you are definitely correct.
Their, there…your, you’re, to, too, creep in all too often…and yes I touch type.
Of course then there are the total typos, leaving off letter, ither fron or ack, etc.
May 12, 2006 - 6:02 am 14. Godzilla:Not to open up a can of worms, but the real bugaboo with the correct use of pronouns is whether to use the objective or nominative case.
i.e. The person who wrote this post was thought to be I.
The rule: pronouns used as subjects, subject complements, and complements of the infinitive to be without a subject must be in the nominative case.
It is when to be is involved in the sentence, and pronouns are used, that I have the most trouble:
Then it must have been (he, him) and (I, me) (who, whom) should have taken the initiative.
The correct choices are he and I (nominative case) and who (as subject of should have taken).
This per the Webster’s New World English Grammar Handbook, The Ultimate Desk Reference.
~wouldn’t want to be accused of plagiarism!
May 12, 2006 - 12:37 pm 15. mythusmage:Grammar:
Has it ever occured to anyone that grammar (among other subjects) is de-emphasized in education in order to make people dependent on authority figures? That the purpose of the educational system is to foster a sense of dependency on ‘betters’?
Mary Cheny:
Mary, you feel like dropping a comment here we’ll do our best to keep Roger from acting like a drooling fan boy. But we can’t guarantee absolute success.
May 12, 2006 - 2:11 pm 16. dick:While I understand the errors mentioned above, the one that really grinds on me is reign/rein. I haven’t seen it so much lately but for a while there almost every one wanted to reign in the government or reign in the spending or talk about the rein of Queen Elizabeth.
I am reminded of a high school English teacher I had, the only one who was not an old-timer. She was talking to us about peddling the bicycle, pedaling food, etc. She also had no idea about affect and effect. It drove me crazy!!
However, the one that trips me up is whether you buy CD’s or CDs. I am not sure which is right when you have a plural of something that is all caps. Anyone have a rule for that one?
May 12, 2006 - 4:13 pm 17. mythusmage:With Father on his deathbed a crown prince once sang, “Soon I’m gonna reign, I can feel it.”
May 12, 2006 - 9:45 pm 18. Godzilla:In the unabridged online Merriam-Webster dictionary, CD is the following entry, followed by the required citation (wouldn’t want to be accused of a copyright violation!):
Main Entry: CD
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
: COMPACT DISC herein
“CD.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (13 May 2006).
The Inflected Form entry gives guidance on forming plurals, comparatives, and superlatives, so it looks like CDs is the way to grammar heaven. At the very least, using CDs, you will be armed to the teeth with weighty justification.
P.S.
Not wanting to bum dope anyone, I must amend a previous statement:
“It is when to be is involved in the sentence, and pronouns are used, that I have the most trouble:
Then it must have been (he, him) and (I, me) (who, whom) should have taken the initiative.
The correct choices are he and I (nominative case) and who (as subject of should have taken).
”
The reason why he and I are the correct choices has nothing to do with to be. The reason they are correct is because they are subject complements of the subject It.
The choices were correct but not for the reason I had implicitly stated.
Again, the same sentence was taken from:
This per the Webster’s New World English Grammar Handbook, The Ultimate Desk Reference.
This is a plagiarism and copyright-violation free zone!
May 13, 2006 - 10:32 am 19. Captain Hate:“Back to grammar/syntax/spelling, I’m in IT. In my experience, most notes by programmers and engineers are concise and intelligible compared to the misspelled gibberish that frequently flows from management. (Don’t get me started on management. As in politics, the cream rarely rises to the top.)”
When I studied for my MBA at Case-Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School of Management, I was appalled at the grammar of my peers (I’m in IT also, btw). Whenever we had a group paper, I insisted on preparing the final copy since I was opposed to being represented by sloppy and illiterate writing. I was used to having comments on my individual papers that they were the best written of those submitted.
The poor grammar of today is a major failing of our school system, although my parents had something to do with it because, even though they didn’t attend college, they were very well-spoken and insisted on the same for me. I expected the same for my children, although the one attending public school had problems until she went to a tutor (at the school’s suggestion and her parent’s insistence) during her first year at Bard College. Her high school English teachers performed no positive function; they should have been embarrassed to receive their paychecks. My wife and I continually complained to them at the parent/teacher conferences, out of which nothing positive happened. So much for this empowerment garbage when dealing with the education establishment.
May 13, 2006 - 11:45 am 20. Captain Hate:Obviously I didn’t intend to blame the poor grammar of today on my parents, which is what the first sentence of the last paragraph implies. Which goes to point out another thing about my grad school experience: I would never submit a paper unless I’d reviewed a hard copy of it (usually many iterations of corrections). It’s surprising how something on paper can appear so differently than the same text on a screen. It’s even better than “Preview”.
Then again, maybe this thread is dead and nobody noticed!!
May 13, 2006 - 12:23 pm 21. smtpgirl08:HELPING, NOT HURTING
WAS MARY CHENEY’S DINNER A BUST?? I DO HOPE THE SNAKS WERE UP TO PAR, RIBS NAPKINS
I, AT LEAST HAVE A DIRECTION, NO PUBES IN OFFICE
Jun 20, 2006 - 9:47 pm 22. smtpgirl08:How do I email Roger directly for this shitty piece?
Mary Cheney’s book TANKED
What more drivel do we consume before the reality sets IN!!!
Jun 20, 2006 - 10:01 pm 23. smtpgirl08:How do I email Roger directly for this shitty piece?
Mary Cheney’s book TANKED
What more drivel do we consume before the reality sets IN!!!
Hey people, no direct link for the letter to the editor, what a putz.
I guess Roger doesn’t like critism, whether good or bad.
FORVEVER SMTPGIRL
Jun 20, 2006 - 10:08 pm