Saturday, October 25, 2008

In Defence of Elitists



The latest Right Wing ephitat hurled at The Left through lips that contort to even pronounce the word.

"ELITISTS!"

Let's examine this word.

An Elitist would be a member of The Elite.

"e·lite or é·lite (-lt, -lt)
n. pl. elite or e·lites
1.
a. A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status: "In addition to notions of social equality there was much emphasis on the role of elites and of heroes within them" Times Literary Supplement.
b. The best or most skilled members of a group: the football team's elite."


Let's look at some examples of people who would be considered to be among The Elite.

The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron



The textbook definition of the Elite. These are the absolute best Naval Aviators in the world. Their precision and discipline is unsurpassed. They truly are the Best of the Best. The Cream of the Crop. A Pilot's pilot, each and every one.
They can fly F-18's better than anyone in the world. That put's them in The Elite.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron



Although they are the Elite within the U.S.A.F., the Thunderbirds are still the 2nd best pilots in the world. Why 2nd best? Because they don't have to routinely prove that they can land on the front third of a carrier flight deck the relative size of a matchbox, bobbing and weaving in the middle of a violent ocean, and snag an arrestor cable with a trailing hook they can't see, at night, under combat conditions.




Sorry guys. I got nuthin' but luv fo ya. But as long as you have some highway or desert within 100 miles, you are all good to go.

But they can still fly F-16's better than anyone in the world. That put's them in The Elite.

O.K., except for this ballsy Air Force muthafucker.



He get's into The Elite. Dayum!

U.S. Navy Seals



These are, quite literally, the baddest motherfuckers on the Planet Earth. There is no combat unit, from any country that can survive an encounter these guys.



You think the Hell's Angels are bad boys?



They are Red Hat Ladies compared to Navy Seals.



Rocket Scientists



Among engineers, "rocket scientists" are certainly among The Elite. They shape the future and explore the unknown. They go where no man has gone before. You can't get any more "elite" than that.



High Energy Physicists






This shit was built by scientific "elitists". People a whole lot smarter than you.

So, what have we learned about the term "Elitist"?

It pertains to a member of the Elite?

What is "The Elite"?

A group of people who excel at what they do.

The very best and most skilled at their chosen vocation.

So why does the Right Wing think it would be a bad thing to have people who are actually educated, skilled, and know what they are doing to be controlling the direction of the country?

Why do they think some plumber with delusions of grandeur is in a position to dictate strategic financial policy for the entire country?

Why do they think that some buzzword-spouting, hollow-headed, Barbie Doll who has the hubris to think she is qualified to be a heart beat away from the presidency behind a 72 year cancer survivor with a bad temper can possibly be a good thing?

I got news for you folks.

"The Elite" don't just "think they are better than us"...they really are better than us.

That's what make them The Elite!

Colin Powell really does know more about military matters than you do.

Bill Richardson really does know more about negotiating with North Korea than you do.

There are people in this world who actually know what the fuck they are talking about and what they are doing. They have taken the time and effort to educate themselves and become subject matter experts in things more complex than NASCAR eyeware and NFL endorsement trends.

They should be calling the shots.

Not you or me. Not Joe the Plumber.

We can vote and we should.

But we don't have any business directing strategy because we don't have the skills or tools.

That should be left to the "Elitists" who actually know what the fuck they are talking about.

I will vote for an "elitist" over a "guy just like you and me" every fucking time.

10 comments:

"The D" said...

I take issue with your statement about the Navy Seals. You stated "These are, quite literally, the baddest motherfuckers on the Planet Earth."

This statement is untrue.

If you were to reference the Marine Corp Force Reconnaissance (Force Recon as we called them) then your statement would be true.

I know what your going to say "Force Recon who the fuck is that?" Exactly who is Force Recon?

Americans know of the Navy Seals from the movies. There are lots of movies about them. A simple google search will result in a plethora of results.

How many movies can you name that were about Force Recon? Don't bother searching the answer is one you may have heard of it "Heartbreak Ridge?" Staring Clint Eastwood.

Why are there so few movies about Force Recon? Why are there so few Ferrari commercials? and so many Ford, Chevy, or Toyota commercials? Simple, it's because the best doesn't need to advertise.

Force Recon is the Elite of the Elite.

Anonymous said...

I loved those pictures esp the one where Bush looked like he was falling asleep...

FletcherDodge said...

You might also want to look up the work "ephitat" -- if you can.

Anonymous said...

i tab'd in '68 and got to see a lot of beenies, 'con and seals: we tended to have different parts in the same plan...

anyhow i was filled with enough testosterone at the time to jump in when my fellows would start a bar fight (rangers: too tough to die, too stupid to care) with any of the above sobs.

for my money seals are the meanest, bennies the most inventive and the 'con will just flat wear your ass out.

however, rangers rule. period.

now, you want to start talkin' about the cousins, you got to talk sas, nzsas and the sasr (who, incidentally, will drink you under the table after first doing their level best to bash your brains out - they'll even refuse to let you buy).

now there's a brawl i'd love to see.

elite, one and all.

SmedRock said...

A 2 year old with a glint in his eye will run all of those bad asses ragged. :)

But Xo is right on this one. Their is a reason we hire specialist in the fields they work. Because they are supposed to know WTF they are doing.

Anonymous said...

Whole post reminded me of sexy men...

Xavier Onassis said...

travel - Because I wrote it, right? That is where you were going, I assume?

Satyavati devi dasi said...

I am tired of the Marines claiming to be the best at everything under the sun.

No self respecting Marine would even admit a Navy man beat him at foosball, never mind special forces.

I'm not knocking the Marines. They're good. We know it. They know it.

But good above, beyond and further on than everyone else, in everything and anything you can name? I call bullshit. This is where they start to buy into their own hype.

I'm standing behind the Seals on this one.

Not to mention that the Navy has the best damn dress uniforms in the entire military.

Xavier Onassis said...

marines vs. Satyavati - Marines, you're on your own. I can't help you. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

But of course....lol