Long but well worth it.
Oh yeah, and this.
I was talking to an old friend last night and joked about how just as I won't let Oprah (arguably my most-despised American after Dick Cheney) influence my book choices, likewise with presidential candidates. What I meant to say was, even when I've wanted to tackle a novel widely critically acclaimed, something happens as soon as I spot that O label, and I'd sooner curl up with Danielle Steele than be caught with it. (My almost-exception being Night, by Elie Wiesel, which was on my Amazon wishlist years before gaining endorsement by her maudgesty. Honest.)
What I meant to say was, I have always had a difficult time with the cult of personality, Oprah or otherwise, and this blind worshipful thing in the media with Obama (did you read the fanboy article by Chabon?), whom I like OK, is irksome. I guess I inspire the opposite of that maternal adage: If everyone jumps off a cliff, would you?
See for me, it comes down to the heart vs. head thing, and it's why no matter how many lavish talks my born-again folks glob onto me, I just.don't.feel.it. Promises of heaven and eternal soul sound purty, but homegirl needs the nitty gritty, or just evidence, lots of it. I'm not willing to will a half-full glass out of thin air.
So what I'm trying to say is, given the state of our country, I don't want a prez who'll take a bit to get his feet wet, who conveniently has no record of human failings up for attack. And really, I'm rather pissed at Obama for throwing himself in the way right now, when what we want is to wrestle the WH away from the Repugs. Come back in 8 or 12.
But what I really, really want to say is, this is the first time I've actually liked our top two, and that fact alone gives me hope. No audacity needed, thankyouverymuch.
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2 comments:
Living here in the land of Oprah, I heartily share your disdain. Like most major media figures, she gets a big pass from the press. That seems true of Obama, too. My main problem with Hillary is that there is a long history that I may or may not find compelling. Sometimes the freshness of what a candidate offers is a good enough reason in itself.
The "freshness" factor is an incredibly inane criterion for choosing a president and is so far down the list of skills needed to run the U.S. government. Vision, flexibility, and openmindedness can be valuable -- but none of these come from inexperience, much as inexperienced candidates would like you to think the contrary.
I don't think I'm qualified to take over the CEO helm of IBM and I don't think someone who is inexperienced in governing should take over the presidency.
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