I'm Back
I'm back. It's far too long since I've posted, this admitted despite my "Blogging Without Obligation" banner.I've got some catching up to do. I could tell you about the wonderful prize I won from the give-away that generous Amy ran a few weeks ago. I could write about the truly worthwhile two-day professional development seminar that I attended, the outcome of which was that I agreed to co-organize the next annual meeting of the group. I could review the book that I managed to get read in my down-time this week. I could even show an picture of where I am with the Jacob's Ladder blocks (where I am is quite the windblown look -- I lined them up on the rug in the lower level, and Bodacious apparently did not care for the arrangement, and has strewn them all over). And at some point, hopefully before too long, I'm going to catch up on all of that.
But what is on my mind today is something I've not read about anywhere else (granted, I am not that well read), nor have I heard anyone talk about it. I was sure my buddy Chez would take this issue on and perhaps with a bit of nagging he will.
Does anyone have any opinions about Oprah and Obama? And their new relationship? I need to tell you that it worries me.
It isn't that I don't like Obama. I do. He strikes me as a decent human being (probably an outright contraindication to White House occupancy). I've not decided who my particular candidate is (although when Andrew was home at Thanksgiving I asked him to spend a little time giving me some things about Hillary to feel good about since it looks as though she has it pretty well wrapped up -- or at least at that point that was my impression).
My problem is Oprah's endorsement. I don't have any feelings one way or another about Oprah as a person. Frankly, I've never even once watched her program. But I know that a lot of people -- even supposedly intelligent and supposedly sophisticated ones -- do watch it. And I know that any book that she endorses skyrockets to the Best Seller List within a week, be it decent writing or tripe.
Oprah is a powerful and influential person, the likes of which I've no recollection of, apart from folks like Jim Jones. My belief is that she has a huge piece of the Black community in her pocket. Similarly the afternoon TV watchers.
Barak Obama may not be the best candidate for President. Then again, he may well be. As I said, I'm undecided at this point.
But if he gets the nomination, if he wins the election, don't you think it should be because he is the best person for the job? And not because "Oprah said so"? Is anyone else at all concerned about this?
Comments
As much as I would like to be on the Hillary bandwagon, and would love to feel confident voting for a woman, but I'm just not. At this point, I'm OK with the Oprah/Obama thing because it could prevent Hillary from running away with the nomination because "Someone" decided that she should be "it" (Saturday Night Live poked fun at the media's love affair with Hillary on their last episode before the writers strike)
Now if Americans would do their election homework and not just vote like sheep, we'll all be in better shape. Sorry for the extra-long comment. You must have hit a nerve with me! :)
It was creepier that Madonna's British accent...
Also, as a note to the comment about Oprah "playing to her audience" - I have very dear friends who are black. When I am with them or they are in a business setting, if you overheard the conversation you would never know who was black or white. However, when they are together, their language is different and their accents are different. That's just the way it is.
It frightens me because if the Dems don't get their act together soon, we'll get stuck with another Republican because they are far better at this game than we are. Sigh.
What do they say about great minds?
Or is it sick minds?
I agree with greyhair that the hype over Oprah's endorsement of Obama reveals the shallowness of our culture. We each have brains, hearts, and guts, and why SHOULD a celebrity's opinion mean more than anyone else's? Sure, Oprah seems like a "nice" person, and she has done a lot of "nice" things for people in need. But she is not infallible, and I fear that the extent of her involvement with a political campaign (no matter what candidate it is) may hurt her reputation in the long run rather than help it. I just kinda feel that politics has a nasty, ugly side that rears up when you least expect it. But so does the Church and every other system of human organization. So who am I to say?
In regards to "playing to an audience"...well, I think that is a technique used by any trained public speaker. An effective public speaker knows the importance of taking into consideration her or his audience - their culture, education, social status, geographical location, race, etc. etc. As a minister, I have learned to fashion the sermon, first and foremost, with the respective congregation in mind. If the speaker wants to be heard, he or she must frame the argument/statement/whatever in "the language" of the audience - and "language" meaning more than just words.
I don't think what we see/hear on TV/media has anything to do with anything -- it's all a 3-ring circus and we'll see who is the last clown standing. (ouch!)
Oprah is always up to something - she's brilliant and clever and seems to be able to do anything. I've got to hand it to her, coming from humble beginnnings, she done GOOD!
Sure, there is poverty and injustice in other nations, and I am all for eradicating that -- that's where the church and other organizations come in. But I think our national government needs to stay out of it and rather concern itself with ensuring that the constitution remains our foundation, and liberty and safety is guaranteed to every person in this country.
Sure, there is poverty and injustice in other nations, and I am all for eradicating that -- that's where the church and other organizations come in. But PERHAPS our national government needs to stay out of it and rather concern itself with ensuring that the constitution remains our foundation, and liberty and safety is guaranteed to every person in this country.
Just some recent thoughts.
Sure, there is poverty and injustice in other nations, and I am all for eradicating that -- that's where the church and other organizations come in. But PERHAPS our national government needs to stay out of it and rather concern itself with ensuring that the constitution remains our foundation, and liberty and safety is guaranteed to every person in this country.
Just some recent thoughts.