19.

THE AGEIST

King Canute ordered the waves not to come onto the beaches of his empire. In similar fashion, various levels of government are trying to stem the flow of time and aging—by ordering citizens to disregard their effects. Canute failed to flout the laws of nature, and the government is not likely to succeed either.

Consider the following items:

20.

THE HOMOPHOBE

In October 1983, an appellate court in Los Angeles ruled that the Boy Scouts of America could not discriminate against homosexual Scout leaders.

This decision was widely hailed as a victory for civil rights by homosexual groups, by “human rights” associations—and by the homosexual Scout leader in question. Said the assistant Scoutmaster one Timothy Curran, “I’m very surprised and pleased with this court decision. I think the Boy Scouts will have a very hard time proving I’m immoral in a trial.”

21.

STEREOTYPER

Stereotypes get bad press in our modern politically correct era. Those who engage in creating and disseminating them are seen as promoting discrimination, profiling, hard feelings, ignorance, and worse.

22.

THE WAR TOY MANUFACTURER

What do some peace groups, religious organizations, feminists, and child care experts have in common? They are up in arms (pardon the pun) against war toys.

23.

THE COLORIZER

Colorization has taken our society by storm. This process, which re-issues in color the older black-and-white movie classics such as Citizen Kane or City Lights, has been greeted with howls of outrage by the arts community. Even though TV watchers can simply dial out the color and view these movies in their original, pristine black and white, the culture vultures are still vociferously opposed.

24.

THE BABY SELLER

At first blush, there could be fewer things more heinous than child selling. The very concept evokes pictures of child abuse, venality, and greed. Since toddlers are among the most helpless of human beings, our hearts go out to the supposed victims of child selling, and we become enraged at those who perpetrate such a despicable act.

25.

HERITAGE-BUILDING DESTROYER

There is a small but highly organized and influential group of people who are trying to force their views on aesthetics and history down the throats of the rest of us—whether we like it or not.

I refer to those vociferous busybodies who try to impose historical landmark status on old and decaying buildings in the central city.

26.

THE BAD SAMARITAN

In the Bible, the tale of the Good Samaritan is a dramatic one. After other travelers have passed by the man lying by the side of the road in need of aid, the Good Samaritan alone stops to succor him.