I waited a number of decades before being allowed entry into the “Grumpy Old Men” club.  A club wherein one is allowed to speak critically of much that is paraded as “our” brave new world.  A club wherein mistakes of the past (re-branded as our hope for the future) are often shown to have the substance of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” – style over substance (and all that).

Grumpy is different to angry.  Angry demands angry in return – or surrender – or obedience – because angry is demanding.  But grumpy is usually met with resignation (on all sides) – acceptance that age is at work  – both less flexible AND more accepting (and resigned – very resigned).  Grumpy is inclusive whereas angry is exclusive.

Angry … ?

“In tone and demeanour, the differences between Mr Trump and his predecessor have never seemed greater.  In a fundraiser on Thursday night, Barack Obama told Democrats that his party needs to preach hope and unity in the forthcoming mid-term congressional election campaigns. “The majority of the country doesn’t want to see a dog-eat-dog world where everybody is angry all the time,” he said.
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Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, says that while things are bad, the current “level of vitriol” is far from unprecedented.  She points to acrimony following the 2000 presidential race, which had to be resolved by the US Supreme Court, Vietnam War protests and civil rights upheaval in the 1960s and, of course, the real Civil War – the one resolved by bullets and cannons – as times when things were worse.  America was founded in revolution and war, she notes, so confrontation and conflict are, in a way, hardwired into the nation’s DNA.”
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If there’s something that’s different now, it’s the ubiquity of social media and the immediacy that it gives every instance of confrontation and conflict.  Where in the past, Perry says, an unpleasant restaurant episode might take days to make it into a newspaper or appear in a political memoir decades later, modern society means within hours the entire nation can be tuned in with outrage or approval.”
“A US civility crisis: Total political war”: BBC news website – today

Grumpy … ?

“Grumpy Old Men, Series 2″: BBC television – 2003 onwards

I enjoyed these fine programmes back in the day (and enjoyed watching this one again before writing today’s post).  Grumpy has great humour – it’s just that you have to be in the “Grumpy Old Men” club to appreciate it

Not only the humour … “grumpy” knows love is more important than chasing the next orgasm … that grumpy does not expect change – because “grumpy” is also “style over  substance” as well … just a “style” whose “substance” is of acceptance and resignation – and inclusivity and humour that anger cannot (and must not).

Bible bit … 

Maybe we could distinguish between angry and grumpy when discussing the bible … and religion … and the church …  Maybe we could find less anger and more grumpy – “grumpy” (with affection and resignation) – “grumpy” that simply calls out “He’s wearing nothing” (rather than invent another ology to validate “nothing”).

“Suddenly the voice of a small child was heard: “Oh .. He’s wearing nothing!”” : The Emperor’s New Clothes”

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“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:3

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Over the course of my life I have changed and continue to do so.  Everyone – including me – expects that.

So why can’t we expect the same of this whole God thing?  Why do we have to find a viewpoint – an opinion – a “belief” … And then defend that to the hilt … defend it to the death … defend it even beyond death … ?

I used to be expected to be angry – now I am allowed to be grumpy.

I used to accept “The Emperor’s New Clothes” of religion – and now I don’t.

I used to think I was right – and now I think we all are.

I used to be passionate about being right – now I find love without any condition the only valuable “clothes of (any) substance”.

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My life-cycle “ex-God stuff” is expected to change – so why when it comes to “inc-God stuff” am I expected to remain silent when the clothes I see are often …

No clothes at all?

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