Barbie: From Burbank to Burka

Yes ... it's true. Mattell has issued the much celebrated girls doll, "Barbie", in a traditional Muslim Burka. Now I have no qualms with Mattell going after roughly 1 billion potential customers, that I get. Nor am I here to bash the traditions of a major faith (being a Christian of the Mormon religion I know the ignorance of such foolishness first hand). However, it does occur to me that Barbie established both its' name ID and casche as the "liberated" woman of the 60's. THIS was the emphasis behind its' original market pitch - no longer "kept", no longer bare foot and pregnant in the kitchen, but rather owner of her own destiny (not to mention a flashy sports car). And most of all - a woman whom sets her own "liberated" fashion trend by accentuating rather then covering her bosom (man, one just don't find enough opportunities to use the word "bosom" in today's vernacular ... but I digress). And low these many years later do we arrive at perhaps the most flagrant fashion example of a repressed woman in modern (or lack there of) society, the Burka. Again, Mattell is free to pursue whatever legal revenue stream they wish, as is any person within the borders of various democracies (presumably the only lands where this toy would be on sale) free to practice their religion in a manner they see fit (so long as it stops at the end of his or her neighbor's nose); but I find this a perfect, near irresistible illustration of just where the 1960's "liberal" ideology has journeyed: freeing us from the social repression, bigotry and "want" they once protested by nestling us all firmly in the dual arms of state induced bondage and social pc.

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A good series of posts Titus, as it strikes at the heart of my own concerns as of late. I find your frustration in the conservative movements' inability to articulate a clear, persuasive message reminiscent of the shouting going on within my own head, car and living room each and every time I expose myself to the news in the age of Obama. The elected government of my country is so upside down, living in this fantastical wonderland of an alternate reality that be it fiscal policy, personal liberty, war making, or foreign affairs in general I feel as if at any moment the Mad Hatter is set to poor me a piping hot cup of Earl Gray ... and I'm left simply deciding whether I'll take one lump or two.

What we both know is that basic, commonly held, traditional values such as a Jude-Christian value system; heterosexual marriage; low taxes; limited government / personal liberty; the sanctity of life; defeating our sworn & deadly enemies - these, though long a part of the American experience and identity, are enough to get you labeled an intolerant, rabid, right winger in today's media (from "news" agencies to Hollywood). And what makes this scenario particularly maddening is those whom would call us such things are in the minority. Put quite simply our traditional views are the norm within this nation by and large in my opinion, meaning if a traditional/conservative leader with a coherent, succinct message would simply point this out and deliver such a message, he or she would quickly find a ground swell of support (just look at the enormous crowds at Sarah Palin's book signings - its a book signing for crying out loud ... the people are hungry). In other words the left is a hyper organized minority, and this will always beat the PR of an unorganized majority.

The heartening thing though is in the absence of a single, or group of organized leaders on the national stage, the common sense, traditional individual American citizen has turned up at town hall meetings, tea parties, and book signings, and they will undoubtedly turn up at the ballot box in November of 2010. And in a way that is stronger and more sustaining then a single, prominent voice. Because before our Founders were the stuff of legend they were simply a bunch of regular citizens, pissed off to beat hell over taxation and a cumbersome, distant government ... and they didn't fare too bad.