labels

[MASCARO at humnet.ucla.edu]

Astute question as always, from Murthy:

? Sure, people have the
>right to call themselves whatever they want, but is everyone else
>obligated to classify them under that label? If  do I have to agree or be accused of
>squelching his freedom? Just what does that label signify, then?


I thought about this, but just wrote out the short version.  If Rush Limbaugh 
 calls himself a liberal,  obviously we wouldn't take him seriously.  We'd figure he was 
jusdt setting us up for another of those really really funny political barbs he aims with 
such deadly accuracy, like maybe he was gonna deliver another zinger about--Hilary 
Rodham Liberal--or some other piece of fine spun wit.  My point assumed a legitimate 
context, as I think Paglia could easily provide for her claim.  

BTW, on a note of humility, it was really hard for me not to describe Rush Limbaugh the 
way David C. describes Camille Paglia.  Ain't human nature funny?

john m