Words can be harmful
Paul: “Yes Virginia, there is an Archie Bunker.”
Virginia: “Who’s Archie Bunker and what do you mean by ‘There is an Archie Bunker?’”
Paul: “Archie Bunker” was a fictitious character on a television sitcom. He was an archetype. That’s probably why his first name is ‘Archie.’”
Virginia: “What’s an ‘archetype’?”
Paul: “An archetype is a stereotypical representation of a particular group.”
Virginia: “What did Archie represent?”
Paul: “Archie” is an archetype for those who express racist, misogynist, religious bigoted and homophobic views. Archie also suffered from the “Rip Van Winkle syndrome.”
Virginia: “’Rip Van Winkle syndrome’, what’s that?”
Paul: The “Rip Van Winkle syndrome” is when someone is stuck in some “golden” bygone era that never existed.”
Virginia: “That’s kinda weird.”
Paul: “Indeed. Archie was stuck in this nonexistent “golden” bygone era. He was unable or unwilling to accept modern liberal, progressive ideas. Anything he didn’t understand or agree with, he feared and hated. Anything he feared and hated he lashed out and ranted against. Archie was “king” and his home was his “castle.” His “castle” was his bunker from which he defended himself against an outside world he neither understood nor liked and felt threatened by. Hence the last name ‘Bunker.’ Because he suffered from a paranoid intolerant bunker mentality.”
Virginia: “What did you mean by ‘there is an Archie Bunker?’”
Paul: “Although the actor who played the original Archie Bunker character on television has passed on, because the character is an archetype, ‘Archie’ still lives.”
Virginia: “Where does ‘Archie’ live?”
Paul: “‘Archie’ can live anywhere. Why, we even have an Archie in our own fair city.”
Virginia: “We do? How do you know?”
Paul: “Because he sends letters to the local newspapers that express the racist and bigoted things the TV Archie expressed.”
Virginia: “Oh. You seem to write an awful lot of letters responding to this ‘Archie.’ Why?”
Paul: “Because I’m frightened. It’s bad enough when one holds such disreputable and dishonorable views. It’s worse when one publicly expresses such views. As we know, bad, hurtful words can lead to bad, harmful actions. While I don’t think this ‘Archie’ would act upon his bad thoughts and words, who’s to say who else might be influenced to have bad thoughts, words and might act upon them. Bad, hurtful words thoughtlessly expressed by someone who ought to know better, in my opinion.”
Virginia: “I think I understand. Could you give me an example to make this more clear?”
Paul: “Yes Virginia, remember (former) Colonel Russell Williams?”
Virginia: “Yes I do. What ever happened to him? I see why you are frightened. Oh, now I’m frightened too.”
Paul: “I’m sorry I frightened you, Virginia. Mr. Williams was fortunately caught and will serve a long, long time in jail.”
Virginia: “As a somewhat comedic and tragic figure, the TV Archie was cute. The real life “Archie” is not.”
Paul: Quite right, Virginia. I couldn’t have expressed it better myself.”
Virginia: “C’mon Paul. With the holiday season just past, haven’t you got something festive and worthy to say?”
Paul: “I’m not sure. Can you tell me what it is?”
Virginia: “I’ll whisper it in your ear.”
Paul: “Oh, yes! How could I have forgotten? What’s that? You’d like us to say it together? OK.”
Virginia and Paul together: “Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.”
Paul Demetrick
Penticton
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