10.09.09
Can’t reconcile your racism?
“These people who are also being led by the Glenn Becks, Michelle Bachmanns, the Rush Limbaughs, whomever, they are no different than any other white-identity movement that’s part of our history. – Janeane Garofalo”
For those of you who missed the October 2,2009 episode of Bill Maher, it is worth watching.
So my ex calls me this morning to essentially bash Obama now that he has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Sure, we can all agree that this is politics at play– but does he deserve it? Yes, he does. As I tried to tell my ex this morning, but instead of listening to me after asking for my opinion? He talks over me. Doesn’t let me say anything, so I say “Fuck it,” and hang up. Repeat.
The resounding question seems to be: But what has Obama done?
The question that I pose to him/everyone else: What will they LET him do!?
People say “Bush got things done by just pushing things through when Congress was not in session”. Thereby implying that Obama should do the same thing. But as soon as he did something like that? Those same pundits would say “Oh, look at Obama! He’s breaking his word! Where is the Change?! He’s doing the same thing Bush did illegally!”
People say that because Obama did not call the race card or admit that racism was a factor in the opposition he is facing that clearly, there is no racism. Do you HONESTLY think Obama COULD admit that it was racism? As soon as he did, those pundits would say “Oh look! Obama is weak and vulnerable– he had to blame his failure on racism!”
If he does the right thing: he isn’t strong enough. If he displays any signs of strength?: he isn’t being bi-partisan and therefore breaking a “promise”. Give him an avenue of success! 65% of the American people want a Public Option. He is trying to give them a Public Option! But REPUBLICANS and SOME Democrats don’t want to approve it! Why? Because they are in bed with lobbyists and don’t want to lose any potential campaign funding. Don’t blame Obama. Look at your own Senators. Reevaluate.
So as you can see, the man cannot win for losing.
So I ask you: are people blind?!! The man is trying to get a Health Care Bill passed but people are in strong opposition for a NUMBER of reasons! Be it bribes, money, press, whatever– Look at Joe Wilson, look at the Tea Party people, look at all of the “Socialist” propoganda. Jimmy Carter was right when he said racism is a factor. You give Obama 9 months to try to bring completely new reform, and when YOU don’t see tangible impacts, YET, you come to the conclusion that “he isn’t doing anything”!? REALLY people!?
I was even MORE disgusted when I voted in this poll on AOL.
70% say Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. WHY. NOT? Look at the opposition he has overcome. Look at all of the people who said “No you can’t”, look at how people are so willing to criticize him just because of one bill?! Look at what he has done with the EPA! With using diplomacy! Even BILL MAHER admitted that the only reason we are making strides with Iran is because of diplomacy.
This sort of negativity is toxic. And I am sick of hearing it. When I look at the Tea Party people, when I look at Joe Wilson, I am sorry to say it, but all I see are uneducated white people who refuse to concede power to not only a multi-racial man, but to a man who also has more education, is more articulate and tempered than many of them. They want to undermine Obama to weaken him. Because he is NOT WHITE. And he is educated. They called him and the people who support him elitist when hi is the least elite of all. He is the one who comes from a broken family, he is the one who has had to make it on his own, he did not get into Harvard and Columbia through legacy, but hard work. But now he is a Socialist because he is trying to help the American people? This is absurd! Why don’t you all open your eyes and take a good, long look at yourselves. Turn that reflective lens inward and tell me what you see. Because I see a racist and I commend Barack Obama for being better than all of the mud slinging; for rising above the smut in the Senate and the South and taking everything in stride.
People say “Oh, but he isn’t even all Black!” You’re right. He’s not. But guess what? It doesn’t matter. Because to all of the racist, uneducated white people out there like my ex? He’s Black. And he isn’t doing anything.
Grow. Up.
And before you say that Bill Maher and Janeane Garofalo are not viable sources? Attack the issue. Don’t give me flawed logic.
And for all of you critics out there: you can say that my entry was a rant. It is. But call it what you will, it’s true. The only reason you can’t admit it’s true? Is because you have a hard time reconciling your racism.
07.06.08
Romance makes me nauseous
Bitter. Yes, I am, what can I say. I am bitter. I am still single and hating it. Loathing it, utterly. Romance has evaded me, love seems elusive and why? Sure, I could sit here and go on about how amazing I am, how I’m the perfect girlfriend, etc, but everyone must be their own judge. Me sitting here telling you all of the fabulous things about me is not going to accomplish much. At any rate, I was surfing random blogs today and stumbled upon one chronicling the life of this girl and her fiance. “OMG I WAS SO EXCITED!” was her response when she described his proposal. It would have been sweet had my stomach not turned out of disgust.
I equally despise romantic comedies. I find them utterly unrealistic, fanciful and annoying. Take Serendipity for example.. I mean.. really. REALLY. Come on, folks. Need I even go on? A sweater falling from the sky onto an ice skating rink? ???? Exactly. Of course there is some need for fantasy in entertainment because people, often (note: not everyone) use it (films, theatre, books, etc.) as forms of escapism. My girlfriends all LOVE romantic comedies and still i cannot wrap my head around the reason why.
- HOW is it uplifting to watch the girl get the guy of her dreams?
- HOW is it supposed to make me feel ANY better that she succeeded through all of these trials and tribulations, scaled the greatest mountain to find true love?
- WHAT is her story going to do for me? Absolutely nothing. Some of my single girlfriends argue that “Oh, well, don’t you get it? It’s so sweet to see her happy..” and then I ask “Well WHY are you crying?” and they start ranting about how beautiful it was, how lucky she was, why-cant-I-find-a-guy-like-that?
- HOW is this cathartic? It is depressing.
I know the definition of mimetic theory as well as the next lity. crit. freak but watching a sappy romantic comedy replete with uninspiring dialogue and the identical plot details is unfulfilling. In fact, it makes me feel even MORE empty– as if I were not already empty-feeling enough. In addition, this is the same reason why Internet romance is equally dissatisfying. Sure, you can meet some great people, maybe even the guy/girl of your dreams but *gasp* guess what!! They are not physically there thus it is unsatisfying. Perhaps I’m an anomoly in that respect, but I need someone to be near me to feel complete. What is the point of chatting and conversing on the phone while only being able to entertain the conditional tense of “IF this person were here we would..” “When I meet this person we may..”
See where I’m going with this? Not that I am not guilty of having an AOL boyfriend or five, and it was fun, but ultimately unrewarding. As a mater of fact, there is a new AOBoyfriend that I’m talking to who is fantastic! I think I could be in love with him; this, however, does not stop me from being dissatisfied seeing as how said boy is a) not here b) cannot cuddle with me and so forth. Instead, I’m stuck with the idiot 4th year medical student who keeps calling me in a vain attempt to get me in bed which I have already explicitly told him I will not be doing. Dense, much? Honestly, it’s not wonder I lose interest so quickly.
The whole romance thing is entirely nauseating.
Sure, I can fess up to the fact that I am bitter and cold and whatever other adjective and labels people would like to throw my way. Because in truth, you may be right! I, however, am also completely capable of admitting that once (if) I find this elusive “true love” I will be able to enjoy romantic comedies– sparingly, because then, at least, i will have a nice, large, muscular arm to cry on.