Baby, it’s cold outside.
Apparently, Dean Martin had a dirty mind, as d0 the millions of people who have enjoyed that song over the past 74 years. I must admit that in all the times I’ve heard that song, I never once thought “date rape” – I just always figured the girl would stand her ground and that the gentleman would acquiesce and then escort her home. After all, it’s supposed to be a love story, not a horror movie.
At least in my younger days, that’s the way it worked. I can remember being 19 and in an apartment, alone, with a male acquaintance. We had been out shopping together and when it started to pour down rain, his apartment was closer than mine, so we ducked in there. Sure, he tried a kiss, but when I refused that was the end of it. And I never worried about drinking whatever I was served. Maybe I should have worried. Maybe I was simply lucky in my naivety. At any rate, once the rain ended, my friend escorted me back to my own apartment, like a gentleman should and said goodbye on my doorstep, as I expected.
Heck, I can remember being chased around the office by a boss who wanted a kiss. I was 18, and it was his last day. He literally chased me from department to department, until eventually I found my way back to the steno pool. the steno pool supervisor was a huge, tough old broad who took no nonsense from anyone. She thought of the stenographers as part of her extended family – and no one was going to mess with one of her girls. I was safe, and the old fart skedaddled away.
The incident passed, and I never thought anything more about it until recently. After all, in those days a young woman simply learned how to avoid unwanted passes, and knew when help was needed.
Be that as it may. I didn’t intend this post to be a commentary on current events and predatory practices. My intention was merely to complain about the way everything is taken wrong these days.
“Baby’s It’s Cold Outside” is a song, only a song. Like many songs, it can have different meanings to different people. It’s impossible to please everyone.
Other songs fall into the same category. I used to love Neil Diamond’s song, “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon“, but now find the lyrics and the nursery-sounding background music a little unnerving. Perhaps that song should be banned, too.
It goes beyond music. Certain fictional characters should be banned. Take, for instances, Santa Claus.
I mean, really. Santa Claus is a fat old man who goes around calling out, “Ho Ho Ho” (isn’t “ho” a derogatory term these days?), and all the little girls and boys then come and climb onto his lap, and he whispers that if they are very, very good, they will get a special treat. Perhaps the mall Santa should have the children line up six feet away and simply shout their gift wishes to him, or better yet, write their wants on a piece of paper which can then be passed to Santa by an impartial third party (preferably not a pretty young girl in an extremely short and sexy glittery outfit). Maybe the parents should sign a waiver on behalf of their children.
I think that would apply to the Easter Bunny, too. The persona of the Easter Bunny is not only politically incorrect from a predatory standpoint (kiddies on laps again), but how about animal abuse? Making a poor bunny hop from house to house hiding eggs and dropping off baskets of goodies, probably until he collapses from exhaustion? People can simply go to the store for their candy, can’t they?
I’ve heard that PETA is having a problem with many long-time sayings. I don’t wish to feed two birds with one scone – I don’t even like scones – nor do I find the term “bitches” particularly derogatory when referring to female dogs. I don’t particularly like being called a bitch by people I’ve wronged, but consider it simply their opinion. When pigs fly, I’ll take umbrage at someone else’s irrational outburst.
Meanwhile, I intend to go on saying, “Merry Christmas”; I intend to continue to listen to whatever music (Christmas or otherwise) I wish to hear, and I plan to continue using old-time sayings that seem to fit a particular situation. Heck, I may start fighting back by deliberately using politically incorrect terms. After all, there are many ways to skin a cat, sometimes it rains cats and dogs, and we all know that “Uncle” Sam is watching.
I have a headache now.
May your weekend be warm, safe, and uneventful.
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Image by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
Maybe what we need to do is eliminate all touching, dress both women and men in burkas, and forbid talking between the sexes. Then no one can complain, except those perverts who actually have the nerve to enjoy a little sexual tension.
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Ah, but that would then offend the exhibitionists. They have rights, too.
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I did a post on this today as a song from The Little Mermaid is under attack as is the Fairytale of New York. They don’t ban swearing in rap records though do they?
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No, they don’t. The world has gone crazy, hasn’t it?
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To be honest, I despair sometimes.
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Not all men are rapists and animals. Garry isn’t. Wasn’t. Couldn’t be. But there were bad ones amongst the good ones … and like other women, I took the bad with the good.
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We were raised to know the difference, though, right? Most of us stayed away from the bad ones.
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Hear, hear!
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Thank you. Thank you. 🙂
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Can banning be banned and teaching why and how not to do things in the first place be enforced, CM? So complicated, our issues and problems …
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I think that’s the core of the problem. People are not being taught properly when young – whether by their parents or their teachers. Something needs to change.
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I just spat my coffee out at the Santa Claus comment. Ho ho ho indeed.
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Thank you, Trent. I got the distinct impression that most of my readers never got that far in the post, and that part was why I started the post to begin with!
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Thank you for ruining every holiday for me from now on! (kidding)
But damn, now I think about that Neil Diamond tune? It does have a slightly pedophilia undertone. Blech!
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Shocking, isn’t it?
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Hmmm, Santa Clause…Seems most little kids cry and squirm to get off his lap. Actually, I’ve never liked the practice—letters, (or emails and/or texts dictated to mom or dad) would work as well! Like rivergirl12ll, I’m uncomfortable about the Neil Diamond song as well. Maybe he’ll be the next one to be caught in the net!
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I sure hope not. I like Neil Diamond. That song didn’t have that connotation when it was originally written. At least, I hope not.
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I read the PETA thing and found it bizarre. Really, why?
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Ya know, CM, to heck with what this crazy worlds deems as politically incorrect. I create my own world and what I say is always from my Heart. I even say “God bless you” at times (I know … gasp!) and me too I’ll say Merry Christmas all I want. In fact, I say that all the more cuz so many think Happy Holidays cuts it. It don’t. Whatever view someone has on Neil Diamond I honestly don’t believe his music is what some say it is. Sure we all go through phases when we are more sensitive then at other times and words do seem to get a new meaning, but hey, really, hasn’t this crazy world gotten tired of spoiling just about everything?
Tween you and me, I was super afraid to sit on Santa’s lap. I won’t go into why but you knowing some of my past, may guess as to why.
GREAT POST!! (clap clap) Love the way you write!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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