The "con" in "crunchy con" is a clue. It's just the latest manifestation of what was once known as Former Hippies With Money.

The End Is Nigh update: it's gotten worse -- behold Metrocons. Where's my shotgun...

Oh, great...metrosexual conservatives. Guys who wear expensive sandals and get pedicures so that their toes look pretty.

I need a barf bag...

"Oh, and one more thing -- Birkenstocks are uglier than homemade sin and men look goofy in sandals."

Amen! I thought I was the only person on earth who didn't like Birkenstocks...

My Birks may be ugly, but they are the most comfortable sandals I have ever owned. Plus, when I was walking around this summer carrying 20 extra pounds of water weight and my feet and ankles were terribly swollen, my Birks were the only shoes I could wear. If that makes me "crunchy," so be it. I don't eat organic, though (too cheap), so what does that make me? I don't think of my clothes as political statements.

Hi Lee Anne,

No that doesn't make you "crunchy"...it makes you practical. I used to work with a lady who wore Birkenstocks all the time because she had really bad feet from working many years as a waitress when she was younger. She admitted they were ugly, but they were about the only shoes she could wear.

I don't think of my clothes as political statements.

I totally agree. The idea of using things like clothes and where you shop to sort of set yourself up as being better than other people was the thing I was ranting against.

So basically, if you wear Birkenstocks because of health issues and because they're comfortable, that's cool. It's wearing them or anything else as some sort of status thing that chaps my butt.

Hi NeoFacist?,

Just about everybody I know thinks they're ugly. Even people who wear them out of necessity think they're ugly.

Yeah, I sort of got into this issue (about organic food) with the folks over at Intellectuelle. One of the writers was opining that buying organic was more godly. You're supporting farmers and taking care of your temple (body). I guess that's OK, if that's how you want to care for your family. I just hate to see one more thing used as a measure of "spirituality." I have enough trouble getting myself to eat vegetables at all, let alone organic ones. ;-)

Lee Anne,

I agree...things like that should not be used to measure "spirituality". It seems pretty legalistic to me to say that someone is a better Christian if they buy organic vegetables. And I'm in the same boat as you...I have to make myself eat more fruits and vegetables anyway, so organic isn't going to make much difference. :-)