Just Let Me -- G -- Indoctrinate You!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dear America,

Happy Tuesday, not to be confused with happy tuesday next week, when it will be happy happy tuesday.


It doesn't even matter how it turns out really (okay, that's not entirely true, but let's run with it); it doesn't matter because this aberration of we the people,  the one that democrats keep denying, or discrediting, or lambasting into politico oblivion, is not going away anytime soon.

And all I have to say is, where is the respect for the debate, the open discussion, the brainstorming with both fronts fired up and ready to lay it all on the line based upon the merits of the argument?  Where is this fine tuned art form of pundit meeting up with political, ethical, economical and cultural repartee?

Mercedes Benz put this in my head with their new ad:  saluting the debate in all walks of life -- sports, the arts, politics -- oh right, and cars; we debate in our heads and out loud the pros and cons from everything to how will I look behind the wheel to which model suits the family best to what color -- cause that's what we do, as Americans.

Or take the ad for Fox News..."we are not a nation of wallflowers...we act...we don't lean...we move...forward"

It's who we are; it's what we do -- we debate, we move -- heaven's to betsy, we don't just lean (nice one...give that ad agency a bonus, going against MSNBC, who by nature merely leans -- and very left, too, never a balance of both sides, but who am I to care, who watches them anyway?)

Problem with today is, even if one leans or speaks in one direction, unless you are on the side leaning left, you get blasted for it, judged, fired, maybe even get a call from the White House...

A local minister here in the San Diego area should have a good story to tell soon; Dr. David Jeremiah will be having a "follow-up" call from Joshua Dubois, the president's liaison to the faith-based community, around 11:00 this morning.  Apparently, on Dr. Jeremiah's radio show, he said this:

"I do not believe he has been an asset to our country; I don't believe he's moved us forward in a good direction, and frankly, I am praying, along with many other believers, that in this mid-term election we will find a way to slow down this train that seems to be moving us toward socialism and away from our historical moorings," Dr. Jeremiah explained. "I'm really frightened about that, and I think in that respect, I believe he's a dangerous person."

It was the part when he said the word "dangerous" in describing the president that sounded the alarms.

Besides loving the tie into the idea of moving forward, badump ba, the very thought being voiced by the good doctor seems to be one that is quite familiar with the president already...having already been over used in his teleprompted speeches and well worn responses of this very same idea -- the people are afraid.

Going a step further, it is fine by him for a certain Dr. Jeremiah Wright to speak in clear terms of fear and judgment against the G*$D@#% America, in his ranting and ravings of "the chickens coming home to roost", blaming Bush for all evil and wishing him harm from the pulpit, a pulpit where our very own president sat beside as loyal follower and mentor-ship of twenty years -- but no, Dr. David Jeremiah, who wished no harm, who did not say it in a "mean-spirited way" -- for it is just his opinion, coming from his own pulpit of his national radio show -- THAT gets a phone call.

And like Juan Williams, formerly of NPR, who gets fired for just speaking his mind, his opinion, one that sat uncharacteristically on the far right, for just once, of his usual left wing ideology -- your done, cooked, thanks but no thanks for the last ten years of service and expert opinion and insight; you associated just a wee bit too much with the other side, Juan -- no longer just bordering the danger zone,  we consider you now fully tainted by the enemy -- and we're done, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Even if we take a good look at how our dear president draws the sides should tell us everything we need to know; for just who is he wooing right now?  Who is he talking to -- as THE President of the whole United States?  Who is he addressing as his own, on his side?

College kids, Latinos, African-Americans, women in general -- but not in particular when it comes to a certain conservative leaning, Unions -- all of them -- including, those who use union dues for a political agenda that perhaps not all members agree with, along with urban communities organized everywhere  -- if minority, that is...He basically draws up the sides up, piece by piece, rhetoric by rhetoric, pinpointing a certain belief in someone's backyard, and running with it; cooking up whatever magic spell will work, matching up with whatever political bias he is with, pulling whatever punch line he can get away with -- in order to seal the deal.

Presidential?  Hardly -- not by a long shot; especially considering he was hired on account that he would be nothing like this.

The president made a point a few months back to say, in a commencement speech at the University of Michigan, "if we choose only to expose ourselves to opinions and viewpoints that are in line with our own, studies suggest that we become more polarized, more set in our ways."

Amen to that, but more important, just where did THIS president wander off to?

Oh, right, these days, it depends upon the moment, who's speaking, what they said (never mind the full context) and their political, spiritual, ideological affiliation.

The thing is, this is the wrong side of being right no matter who is in charge; the day we wipe honest to goodness debate off the face of this earth will be the day we die.  When there is no listening to both sides, the varied opinion, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, then we lose the possibility of real communication, the very prospect of making all things better across the board, or just maybe the chance to see the light altogether, and switch views entirely.

America has always valued the open debate, even going so far as settling the argument with a duel, using real guns, as crazy at it may sound (yes indeed...no lie...go ahead and read about Lincoln's era and the like) -- but that was then, and this is now; haven't we learned anything?

I wish I could run out and buy a Mercedes today; that ad worked on me like candy to a baby; but being a realist, and being so poor it takes everything out of me to pay attention, I will settle for simply taking the ad on as my muse for the day, and let the dream of sitting behind the wheel of a slick, brand spankin' new SL somethin' somethin' slip into my psyche and push me into the joy of a long, sexy, thought provoking banter with someone I love...a sleek convertible in champagne metallic has got nothin' on that. (I know, I am my own spin machine, look out world here I come vrroom vrroom)

What is dangerous, is the very thought of a phone call from the White House questioning someone's inherent God given freedom to speak freely in this country without reprimand -- but hopefully, Dubois is just calling to open up a conversation, to invite David over for a beer, a debate, a dialogue, or just maybe, he's reaching out to say that Obama is listening and will take better care of this country from now on.  It could be anything, anything at all.

I wonder what it will be...

Make it a Good Day, G

No comments:

Post a Comment