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What Is The Meaning Of "The Emperor's New Clothes"?

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John McArdle Profile
John McArdle answered
Explanation of my comment 'The Emperor's New Clothes':     The title is often used to describe a situation in which people are afraid to criticize something because everyone else seems to think it is good or important (i.e. The cuts in general and the Welfare Reform (cuts) Program in particular.    The story is also used to express the state of morality in a society, expressed through the medium of a fable.     Generally, the moral standard is attacked as being self-deceiving, with the emphasis on 'form' rather than 'substance'.    Additionally the tale show the vulnerability of conceited people who practise self-deceit to exposure as frauds.     The power of the innocent and uncorrupted to name deceit (as in 'Out of the mouths of babes' quote from the Bible) in high places is also highlighted (think of the wee boy who was visited by anti-terrorist police because he wanted to hold a demonstration to save his community youth club!).    The Emperor's clothes - like the economic state of affairs and government policy regarding it; both who started it and why cuts are both deeply wrong, immoral and unnecessary - are supposed to be invisible to anyone unworthy of 'his post' - i.e. Us ordinary mortals.     "Ours is not to question why" but to swallow hook, line and sinker the mendacious propaganda of 'our superiors' - i.e. The 'political class' and the 'policy wonks'!    Like the young boy in the story - we see through all that  - don't we?!    The story can be found here:
thanked the writer.
John McArdle
John McArdle commented
‎"To fool the world is one thing,
but to fool yourself is no big deal.

You're a fool for wanting to fool yourself
--and anyone can fool a fool."

(from the sayings of Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch)
Will Martin Profile
Will Martin answered
In this fable by Hans Christian Andersen, an Emperor is persuaded by two swindlers to order an expensive suit of clothes. The special property of these clothes, they tell him, is that anybody who is unfit for his post will be unable to see them. The Emperor places the order, sure that he at least will be able to see the clothes. After a few days he sends some important statesman to visit the "tailors" and see how the garments are progressing. The officials arrive at the workshop, to find the two men very busy weaving and sewing – but they can't see any cloth. Of course neither of them dares to admit this, so they praise the beauty of the clothes and send the Emperor a glowing report.
Finally, on the day of a great procession, the "new clothes" are ready. The Emperor is horrified that he can't see the clothes. Thinking this must mean he is unfit for his post, he pretends to admire them, has himself "dressed" and parades naked through the city streets. The crowd all exclaim at his smart appearance – until a child cries, "But he's got nothing on!" Gradually this fact is admitted by everyone.

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