Sancta Santorum

1/9/2012

I have a lot of ambivalence about the common usage of the word "santorum" (is it capitalized as a noun?)

In 2003, I was an avid reader of the East Bay Express and had even written a very popular, 7,500 word cover story for them.

My secret pleasure was reading the sex column in the back pages written by Dan Savage.

Wow, did I learn things! Savage was so outre, so bold, so progressive in his sexual advice. I simply had no idea...

I recall clearly the day I read the answer to the question about what Santorum really means. And as most of you know by now, the answer wasn't pretty. Little did I know that sitting there in that cafe, I was looking a phrase that would go viral and enter our modern lexicon.

To this day, I don't know how I feel about this definition. Don't misunderstand me: Rick Santorum's position on gays is repulsive. Bestiality? Excuse me?

My husband thinks the new definition of the man's name is hilarious and justified. I don't know. I just don't find my self laughing out loud about it. Santorum's political positions are insane. His character is creepy, as are some of his past actions, in my opinion.

But the word. Really, must we? How do you feel about "santorum"?

Sunday

1/9/2012 02:03:10 am

No right to marriage if you're gay! Bring back DADT!

When I hear or read the hatred that Santorum spouts, I have no problem with his name being associated with that vile substance. It really just seems appropriate. I hope his kids are smarter than he is.

mistah charley, ph.d.

1/9/2012 02:48:37 am

I see your illustration is dog-on-man.

WakeUpAmerica

1/9/2012 09:22:19 pm

Ok, now that was funny.

Ginny

1/9/2012 02:57:15 am

It fits him to a tee. Just couple (uh oh) his position (oops) on birth control and sexual matters and his name definition is perfect. He would go back to the time when woman was her husband's PROPERTY. No birth control unless he says so, no job outside the home unless he says so, the kids raised the way he says so. Do you really think this throw back to the stone age deserves anything less than 110% derision? If not, then be uncomfortable with Savage's nickname. I for one use it daily and out loud when ever I mention that cretin.

Everyday Freethought link

1/9/2012 03:06:56 am

Then let's call him "Scamtorum", because he's a liar.

Laura Novak

1/9/2012 04:05:17 am

Yes, Mistah Charley...glad you caught that. I could not resist!!!

No, I hear all of you about your hatred for his politics and his perverseness. I really do. I'm still stuck though. Perhaps it's my New England sensibilities. Or it's that I find him a temporary nuisance who will go away soon. In survival of the fittest, he can not win. Personally, I never got past the story about the dead baby. I read about it in the Times years ago and I never recovered from that. It would not have been my choice, but then again, I believe in choice.

Diane

1/9/2012 04:12:31 am

It makes me uncomfortable too.
But, he is a nasty piece of work. Another one of those, "do as I say, not as I do" type of people
It don't care what your religious beliefs are, but don't make me live by them.

DebinOH

1/9/2012 05:03:23 am

Just wanted to let you know that I am finally reading your book. It is a hoot!

Santorum - just one more asshat running around calling himself a republican & you know, one with great morals & values (gag). He should really stop running and just go on TV with Pat Robertson and his 500 club. He would fit right in.

Laura Novak

1/9/2012 05:10:51 am

Deb, SO great to see you again! Always love your comments. First, thank you for reading Finding Clarity. Glad you're laughing! It really is a fun read. Can't wait to hear what you think of the end.

As for Santorum's fixation on men and sex...it doesn't take a degree to figure out the guy's motives. It's embarrassing. He thinks he's protesting, but we know he is protesting TOO much. Poor man.

Thanks again, Deb! Happy New Year to you and yours.

LisaB

1/9/2012 08:11:27 am

I think it merely drags the conversation further into the gutter. I mean, do we really need MORE distractions from the issues facing this country? Also, it allows him to play the victim card. "They hate me because I'm Christian."

FrostyAK

1/9/2012 09:07:01 am

Maybe we should just call him Sanctimonious Ricky and leave off his surname?

Having been with an organization that fought against the spread of the dog fornicators' message on the internet, I find all allusions to the practice DISGUSTING. It is a much greater problem than the average American could imagine...

Best to keep bestiality out of politics, unless it is to pass laws against it in the MANY states where it is not illegal.

Laura Novak

1/9/2012 09:50:05 am

There are so many people who despise the politics of our incumbent. But to make a disgusting alternative noun out of his name would only make me think those people are stupid, bitter, inarticulate, and gutter snipes. That's why I'm not sure it elevates us above that, even though I really despise the man's immaturity, fixations and politics. I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud here.

Thanks Frosty and LisaB. Thanks for weighing in.

V-A

1/9/2012 10:20:17 am

Can't help it. My husband and I were cookiing dinner while listening to NPR and laughed out loud every time the word "Santorum" was spoken, thanks to this post. Husband's comment: "When you mess with whole sections of the American population like that, you get what you deserve." (no pun intended)

Lisa

1/9/2012 12:01:03 pm

I dislike the man immensely and think he has a problem speaking before thinking things through. It does not bode well for him and it makes me wonder how he made it through law school with such an inelastic mind. I am pretty certain this word won’t go viral in my world.

Sherryn

1/9/2012 02:57:33 pm

I understand how you feel, Laura, why bastardize our bastardized language to invent a vile word of one's name? It's the same as people who ennunciate the President's middle name to imply he's muslim or equal to Saddam Hussein.
I think the political pendulum has swung too far right, that the left feels it has to push back even more to overcome it. (no pun(s) intended),

To me, Santorum is Palin on Steroids, a minor irritation that will flame out the more people get to know about him.

My husband also finds it quite funny, but it bothers me that it's become so popular, our kids are hearing of it in school.

There's more to the dead baby story, but I've lost the link. Apprently, She had some kind of proceedure done at 20 weeks, and she contracted an infection, and labor was "induced" to "save the mother's life" or they "both would have died, leaving the other children motherless" A "personal matter" (paraphrased from memory, will post link if I find it) :wink wink nudge nudge say no more.

The Dan Savage link IS interesting to read, he sounds like quite a character. My Mom used to clip and save a column from the Philadelphia IInquirer, about various subjects, by Joe McGuinness,. Sometimes I wish she was a pack rat, I would love to read his early work!
I didn't get the photo at first, very clever!

Ottoline

1/9/2012 03:41:31 pm

I hadn't paid any attn to Santorum until recently, and I hadn't heard about Savage's definition or the dog until now. My first thought was I guess it's time for the Roman empire to fall, we are all so degenerate now.

But after a little thought, the Savage ploy seemed very clever to me. Puts a whole new spin on the old "pen is mightier than the sword/ penis mightier than the sword" jokes. Savage did a better job like that than by protesting in the rain with a tattered placard.

And the disgusting nature of it seems pretty minor compared to the travesty of reduced services, reduced civil liberties, reduced women's rights, people dying in our wars, too-little help for returning vets. etc. The effect on our most vulnerable (the "depopulation" effort I'm keeping my eye on) is a lot more vile and dirty than anything Savage did.

I'm also starting to think the turbulence over contraception and pro/anti choice is not the real issue -- it's just smoke to get low-info voters energized to vote. The various low-IQ candidates might even not be aware of it. But it's just a way to bring people to the polls to vote for the Koch/Murdoch+pals group. The war-profiteers. The kleptocracy. The point is the money. To them, it's obsessive greed and control. To the vulnerable, it's life and death. To the middle class, it's the eventual descent into severe vulnerability also: many are already there.

(Although I'm a staunch pro-choice feminist, I have admit that the scary new realities we face are even more threatening than the women's issues I've cared about all along. Women have gotten along without those rights, but we can't get along without jobs, food on the table, good education for our children. But of course it's not a choice.

So: GO SAVAGE! be as subversive as you know how. This is going to be life and death for many if the Repubs prevail.

SLQ

1/9/2012 03:49:32 pm

Hi Laura -- I agree with you, but for a slightly different reason. When I read the description, used as a definition for his name, I always think it seems disconnected, from an English language standpoint. I understand and agree with the strong objections to his policies, and I even agree that he deserves derision because of his viewpoint on gays, contraception, etc.

But from an English standpoint, it just never settles well with me. I think it's becuase I KNOW it's his name, and his name already has a meaning to me (admittedly, one that makes me cringe as much as the definition of this . . . substance). But I can't pretend I don't know it's his name. I do. I think that's why it feels unauthentic.

Is it unnecessarily harsh and distasteful to associate a person's name with a substance that is distasteful? Probably, in my opinion. It does smack of schoolyard taunts, which I didn't do, even when I belonged in a schoolyard. My nature has always been not to engage in name-calling of any kind. But I don't think that's why I find it weird. I think it's the above. I also vehemently dislike the variations on President Obama's name, which I do think are racially based: Omomma, Obummer, etc. I espeically dislike them because I think they are intended to be dismissive and demeaning.

Sure, there are times when I don't find it unauthentic or unnecessarily demeaning to use a variation of a person's name, i.e. "palinisms" to mean idiotic statements made in an incoherent manner. But I do feel that she earned that title, after repeatedly making gaffes. Tebowing would be another, recent example, which is not necessarily derogatory. But he has repeated his unique move so many times that it fits. Though it isn't a new word, I have sometimes used the term "Clinton sex," to describe oral sex, particularly when the person using it claims it "doesn't count" as cheating. That is well deserved, because of his very public lie on the subject. Other examples don't immediately come to mind, but I'm sure they exist.

I think the bottom line, for me, is there needs to be more of a believable connection with Santorum for it to feel authentic and to justify the derogatory term. For me, the connection just isn't there, and it doesn't ring true, making it seem like it was just made up as a slam to Santorum (which it actually was, as the result of a contest.) He deserves the slam, but I think existing words suffice to convey my contempt -- making one up doesn't make me feel better.

WakeUpAmerica

1/9/2012 09:25:40 pm

It's beyond time to move on past the junior high snickers about his name. I'm more than a bit tired of it. And yeah, he is a creepy piece of work and out of touch with reality.

lilbit

1/9/2012 10:17:51 pm

I don't like the definition because of the image that appears in my head, however, I appreciate why Dan did it. I have never heard anyone I know use the word santorum in that context, so it is not common at all where I live. I personally would probably never use it, but don't have a problem with it overall.

I don't have a problem with it because I believe Dan did it to make a very important point. A good point. It highlights to the gross hypocrisy espoused by Santorum and people who agree with him, especially those who claim to be Christian.

Jesus said " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. " Period. He did not say except for___________ (fill in the blank).

lilbit

1/9/2012 10:34:41 pm

Furthermore, I not only think that Dan's definition highlights the hypocrisy of those Christians who choose to cherry pick the bible, it sharpens the focus on the pure audacity of people who think they have a right to control the private behaviors and choices of others.

The audacity to impose their personal beliefs on EVERYONE is beyond the pale and truly incomprehensible to me. I don't care what Santorum does behind closed doors, and he shouldn't care what anyone else does behind theirs.

Who does he think he is???

This is a new kind of prohibition, it's dangerous and WRONG.

I hope he wins the GOP nomination as he has NO chance against President Obama.

Ottoline

1/9/2012 11:22:20 pm

The big emphasis on "anyone but Mitt" plus the quality of these candidates keeps me thinking they are planning to introduce a dark-horse alternative after the base is sufficiently energized, when there is not enough time to debunk the candidate or the dirty tricks that will surely be aimed at Pres Obama right before the election. The coming election, with the faulty voting machines.

mistah charley, ph.d.

1/9/2012 11:40:13 pm

Jeb Bush. And Liz Cheney as his running mate.

Ottoline

1/10/2012 12:50:25 am

Yeah. Except 3 Bushes? Even 2 was beyond my pale. But that's the idea.

V-A

1/9/2012 11:48:14 pm

First, the substance described by the new word, "santorum," is not necessarily distasteful to all people. By calling the word distasteful, it seems one is also branding the form of sex distasteful. It is not to my taste, but I know it is to others'. Second, new words come into being in ALL kinds of ways. I would guess that many commonplace words we use today come from 16th century street slang.

Santorum, the man, is a relic. He is an outsider and a fool. While he may have done much wrong to women (and others) with his political cruelty and subconcious grandstanding, this brave new world has ways of striking back. Videos go viral. One's name becomes a new kind of mud.

Or joke. Or both. Google santorum. Not a bad legacy for a man like this.

My children's generation has no interest in these kind of attacks on homosexuals, Muslims, women. Santorum, the man, has created his legacy, and what more fitting one than to become santorum, the word, which is a useful descriptor of a common, often homosexual, sex practice.

Laura Novak

1/10/2012 12:50:48 am

Excellent points from all of you. You speak and write in ways that I do not. I love your collective intelligence.

I shudder to think that you are right, Ottoline, and that it's all part of the further dumbing down and tossing red meat to the base. But Mistah Charley, I do a double shudder at the thought that a dark a horse as another Bush with Miss Neocon 2012 (I birthed five babies) right behind him makes my stomach turn.

However, I'm not so sure the party thinks that hard about these things. I think loose cannons like Santorum just get out there, with all their creepy rhetoric and wild ass stories from the back of the closet (yes indeed, a procedure at 20 weeks!) b/c they believe their own bullshit. They are filled with the spirit and are certain their beliefs are better than the craven liberal masses who incite Catholic priests to ply their trade on innocent children. Who exactly lets nut jobs like Santorum go out and spew this shit?

And V-A I see your point as well. Great discussion all. Now, what Tao verse can possibly follow this tomorrow?

Pete

1/10/2012 11:23:48 am

Here's the thing...you don't have to find yourself laughing out loud about the definition of santorum, in fact some people may feel "grossed out" or disgusted by the definition. But that doesn't change the fact that, based on Rick's vile and disgusting anti gay hate speech, the definition of santorum is totally justified!! Eight years have passed and Rick still hasn't tried to find a way to fix his google problem. His hatred for minorities is obvious to all, and now he's trying to capitalize on that hatred by playing the victim card in order to solicit campaign funding from the religious right! After 8 years of continuous discrimination and hateful rhetoric Rick deserves hell of a lot worse than his little "google" problem.

phantomimic link

1/10/2012 11:27:35 am

The guy has made some very inflammatory comments that are insulting to a minority in the US. So I have no sympathy for him. You reap what you sow. Having said that, I find the neologism vulgar and I think that these "tailored" terms just make English more complicated. However, that is the price we have to pay to allow others to fight back against their discrimination.

Ottoline

1/10/2012 01:52:14 pm

Language has a life of its own, in spite of our wishes to control it. Look at the Academie Francaise, who worked so hard to keep French pure, but when I graduated to speaking with real people instead of out of the textbooks, I found that "Le bebesittaire is in le living watching le television," etc. Does anyone remember when "rock and roll" clearly meant s-e-x? How do we keep people from saying nucular? Or real-a-tor? Or using "presently" to mean "at present" instead of "in a minute." (I think we have lost that one.) Of course the obvious ones, the x-words: f-, c-, n-, etc. How did they take over?

The Santorum definition would not have gained traction or staying power if disgust for him hadn't been "in the air." (Which term comes from Nobel laureate Bethe declining credit for his work, saying lots of people were about to do a similar breakthrough, because it was "in the air.") I do think it is a very creative and powerful version of nonviolent protest. Disgusting as it is, and vulgar, the injuries and deaths of violent protest is way worse than vulgarity.

A friend used to chide me for not understanding the concept of literary "decorum," which is "the appropriateness of an element of an artistic or literary work, such as style or tone, to its particular circumstance." So one would not properly use obscene language for a children's fable (at least not in the past), but it might be appropriate for a searing political/legal issue. Which is what i think Savage did.

I'm all for less vulgarity -- less is the norm in my local interactions -- but our national dialogue clearly has a huge need for vulgarity of the most distressing kind. Look up the lyrics to "Cash Money Motherfucking Millionaire" by Lil Wayne, as I once did when I found this almost (but not quite) incomprehensible song as the sound effect on my 11-yr-old's MySpace page (which his pals "helped" him put up). Lil Wayne has won prestigious awards from the music industry (based on records sold). Tipper Gore did not have a chance.

So now at least we have some good coming out of Santorum's Google problem -- increasing awareness of the low esteem in which this politician is held by many.

Ottoline

1/10/2012 02:11:25 pm

I do take your point, V-A, re whether poop is universally disgusting, and of course it's contextual. I remember being THRILLED to see the first poop of my child, as confirmation that all his little plumbing was working right. Although it soon loses its charm, unless one has some special circumstance that overrides our hard-wired (I think) disgust of it (for easily understandable survival reasons).

MaryB

1/10/2012 10:20:09 pm

I am so glad to have read these comments. I had the same sense of unease that Laura expressed so well, and while I don't giggle (as much) anymore when 'santorum' is used in a sentence (I believe santorum the noun is not capitalized), I now see in it in a whole new light: the living language.

I discovered 'ecotistical' this week (having an elevated opinion of self because of one's conservation practices) and had to admit that people's ability to coin new words is really impressive. Language is always changing. I had not tied that to santorum until today, instead feeling a tad bit sad about what is says about the state of politics today.

Santorum the noun may die out, or may not. People will continue to make up new words to highlight persons or concepts. And yes, why does Santorum (the man) seem to be unable to handle his Google problem after all these years?

Laura Novak

1/11/2012 01:01:14 am

Pete, you bring up an interesting point, as did you Phanto. And that is that the man did NOTHING to create a new Google image of himself or delete that definition in the minds of many. But that's because he holds dear his narrow beliefs. Phone just rang. must take this call. more later.

1/15/2012 10:45:19 pm

"Romney" has become a verb as well, meaning "to defecate in terror," based on his putting his dog on the roof of the car 30 years ago.

Now if only the verb to "Palin" would gain common usage and mean "to fake a pregnancy for political gain." Or maybe "Palin" could be a noun meaning "compulsive liar?"

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Sancta Santorum

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