Ok, last night I watched the Oscars to the bitter end, only it wasn't bitter at all. Kudos to the producers for making this one of the shortest shows in a long time. I got to bed before midnight (I was already in the bed, but at least the show was over by then), and although it got a bit tiring at the end, all in all it was a decent show. So, here is my take on the evening, as if anyone cares:
The Host
Chris Rock was very good! He started off a little too stiff, which I think was understandable due to the pressure he faced as a first-time host, but I think he did a great job. If I were to grade him, he'd get a B+ because of the slow start and maybe a bad joke or two, but hey, he did WAY better than David Letterman and Whoopi on her last turn as host.
This morning I read a review of his performance by Tom Shales in the Washington Post, and I just have to strongly disagree. Tom, it appears that you and Sean Penn have the same poor sense of humor. I haven't seen any other reviews of Rock's performance yet, so I don't know if there is an overall consensus. If I were to vote, I would say that he should definitely come back again as host in the future because I can't imagine that there's another guy out there willing to do it (see "The Men" below).
The Dresses
Well, as far as I could tell, no one hit a sour note. Everyone looked lovely and very glamorous, so no red carping from Joan and Melissa Rivers, which made things kind of boring. It reminded me of parties here in DC, where everyone knows the rules so no one messes up. It is much more entertaining when someone looks silly, like Bjork a few years back with the swan dress, but no such luck this year.
One good thing was that color was everywhere, because the basic black look made everything seem so somber. In terms of the best dressed...well, Halle always dazzles and Selma Hayek was definitely the bomb this year. I really liked Hilary Swank's dress, so I think she was also a fave. My least favorite was Beyonce's Phantom of the Opera attire because her makeup was too spooky, but her red carpet look was fab.
The Men
None of them bothered to show up, and I was quite surprised. Sure, there were some guys, but none of the big name stars--no Tom Hanks, no Denzel, no Tom Cruise, no Russell Crowe, no Will Smith...not even Jude Law. What gives, fellas?
The only men who came were either presenters or were nominees. I think this means that the Oscars are becoming more like a girls' night out since most of the focus is on what the women wear. Soon it will just be a stag prom.
Is it me, or did Johnny Depp look like a bad Prince imitation?
The Brothers
What can I say? I was so happy for Jamie Foxx and Morgan Freeman. Morgan Freeman has been a sentimental favorite for me ever since he was Easy Reader on Electric Company, so I couldn't be happier for him. I think his win is one of those "body of work" awards that are given to certain actors eventually. In a few years, Sam Jackson might get one too.
As for Jamie Foxx, well he has come a long way from Wanda on In Living Color. I just hope that he does the right thing, and takes this for what it is worth. No more Cuba Goodings! I loved Chris Rock's line last night about how he saw "Snow Dogs" and sent Cuba a check for $80.
As for Don Cheadle? I think he'll get another shot soon because he's been consistently good in every role I've seen. No one really talks about him because he isn't a *star* but hopefully that will change. There are other very consistent character actors who don't get recognized or honored (Laura Linney is another one), but who always pull out great performances. At some point that will change, because talent always wins in the end.
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black...
So here I am, cracking up at the skit where Chris Rock was at the Magic Johnson Theater, but truth be told, I haven't seen most of the nominated films either. I am ashamed to say that I wimped out on seeing "Hotel Rwanda" and "Million Dollar Baby" by myself, but then the hub says he wants to see them with me, so that is my excuse. We saw "Ray" a few months ago, and I saw "Sideways" on my own a few weeks ago. But I can also admit that I did not see "White Chicks" either.
Well, that's all folks. Maybe I'll tackle my race topic later this week. In the meantime, Ciao!
Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Pre-Oscar Thoughts
In just a few minutes the Oscars will start and I plan to be glued to the TV set until the bitter end. I'll be watching for several reasons, Chris Rock, the dresses, the film clips, but also because I really want to see when Jamie Foxx wins the best actor statue.
Earlier today, I attempted to blog on the broader subject of race, and I intended to bring my weird brand of humor to the mix based on my TV watching this past week in Florida. It got to be too big a subject for me to tackle in my condition (I'm sick with a mild flu of some sort), so then I decided to focus on the Oscars and what it would mean if the black actors won this year.
But I got tired as the medicine kicked in, so I abandoned that post and took a nap. A few minutes ago, I watched Jamie Foxx's interview with Barbara Walters, and I think he has *it*--an understanding about race and its implications to young people of color. I hope that it is his night.
This week, I saw lots of bad examples of what it means to be black, or at least what it costs to be black on TV these days. It is terrible--one-dimensional caricatures that present a false image of blackness. I am one of those people who hates to reflect on how *we* look to *them* because I would rather that we be accepted as the multi-faceted race that we are. Yes, we are a people that can be represented by crack-heads, drunks, criminals, but also by teachers, bus drivers, parents, and of course the secretary of state.
Jamie Foxx told Barbara Walters that it is important for him to win as a black man because he wants to counteract of all those negative images of blackness. He wants to be an example to the millions of black men that they can make it, that they can be successful. His portrayal of Ray Charles, a man who lived a rough life but who still became one of America's most loved entertainers, serves as further proof that being black in America is something worth celebrating.
If Jamie doesn't win this evening, it will not be the end of the world. He is such a great talent that I fully believe that his name will appear on more envelopes for this category. I feel the same way about Don Cheadle, who is also one of the greatest talents (he is up against Jamie tonight, so I doubt his chances this time around). It took a while for the Academy to honor Denzel with the top prize, and it has taken them a while to honor Morgan Freeman (an oversight that I hope will be corrected tonight as well). There are plentyof others, and I hope that these brothers will turn these nominations into the same type of star power that the white actors do (did someone say Cuba Gooding, Jr...yeah, I'm talking to you).
I hope that this means more doors opened for black actresses, black writers and others in the film and entertainment industry. I also hope that this translates into more diversity for other actors of color. It is about time that actors of color received the same notice that white actors get, including more diverse projects, creative casting and even more race-specific stories. Its 2005, and as blacks often trailblaze for others, so let's hope that this is the beginning of something new in Hollywood.
Earlier today, I attempted to blog on the broader subject of race, and I intended to bring my weird brand of humor to the mix based on my TV watching this past week in Florida. It got to be too big a subject for me to tackle in my condition (I'm sick with a mild flu of some sort), so then I decided to focus on the Oscars and what it would mean if the black actors won this year.
But I got tired as the medicine kicked in, so I abandoned that post and took a nap. A few minutes ago, I watched Jamie Foxx's interview with Barbara Walters, and I think he has *it*--an understanding about race and its implications to young people of color. I hope that it is his night.
This week, I saw lots of bad examples of what it means to be black, or at least what it costs to be black on TV these days. It is terrible--one-dimensional caricatures that present a false image of blackness. I am one of those people who hates to reflect on how *we* look to *them* because I would rather that we be accepted as the multi-faceted race that we are. Yes, we are a people that can be represented by crack-heads, drunks, criminals, but also by teachers, bus drivers, parents, and of course the secretary of state.
Jamie Foxx told Barbara Walters that it is important for him to win as a black man because he wants to counteract of all those negative images of blackness. He wants to be an example to the millions of black men that they can make it, that they can be successful. His portrayal of Ray Charles, a man who lived a rough life but who still became one of America's most loved entertainers, serves as further proof that being black in America is something worth celebrating.
If Jamie doesn't win this evening, it will not be the end of the world. He is such a great talent that I fully believe that his name will appear on more envelopes for this category. I feel the same way about Don Cheadle, who is also one of the greatest talents (he is up against Jamie tonight, so I doubt his chances this time around). It took a while for the Academy to honor Denzel with the top prize, and it has taken them a while to honor Morgan Freeman (an oversight that I hope will be corrected tonight as well). There are plentyof others, and I hope that these brothers will turn these nominations into the same type of star power that the white actors do (did someone say Cuba Gooding, Jr...yeah, I'm talking to you).
I hope that this means more doors opened for black actresses, black writers and others in the film and entertainment industry. I also hope that this translates into more diversity for other actors of color. It is about time that actors of color received the same notice that white actors get, including more diverse projects, creative casting and even more race-specific stories. Its 2005, and as blacks often trailblaze for others, so let's hope that this is the beginning of something new in Hollywood.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
I'm Back!
Yes, after a week away from the computer I am back, but I'm sick. I had a cold before leaving for Florida, which mysteriously (thankfully) disappeared for the entire week I was there. Then yesterday morning, it started its way back. By the time I reached BWI, I was really feeling it, and this morning, I am stopped up and congested. It has to be the drastic weather change. It is 80 degrees in Florida, but there is snow on the ground here in DC...
I only got a few minutes last week to blog a complaint about timeshare presentations and the guy who was hogging the spare computers with his kids in the business center at the resort. It is hard to create with so many 'eyes' watching me as I type (folks were pacing the hallway and breathing down my neck for *my* computer, but no one said a thing to poppy and his kids).
The resort was very nice and our accommodations were swell. I really can't complain about any of that, but then again, I rarely complain about hotels, and this was simply a nicer hotel. I can complain that they didn't have recycling facilities, which is surprising in a vacation locale. And I can complain about the computers--there should have been more of them located in each vacation building so that more people could use them. I found Weston to be a sleepy little town that literally shut down at 8pm during the week (whoever heard of a pizza place that stops serving at 9pm). And of course, I really hate the timeshare people! I cannot say that enough, but it will suffice for me to say that I will NEVER buy a timeshare. Since my parents bought one, I will just bunk in theirs.
With that out of the way, I had so many things I wanted to write about, but with no computer, I had to resort to pen and paper. That wasn't so bad, but then you need time to write in the old fashioned way as well, and this vacation was not about relaxing and taking time. We were constantly on the go, although we found plenty of time to watch cable TV (which is a luxury for us). Today should be my rest day from my vacation, but I have to go to rehearsal in a few hours.
So here are a few thoughts about Miami/Southern Florida:
I only got a few minutes last week to blog a complaint about timeshare presentations and the guy who was hogging the spare computers with his kids in the business center at the resort. It is hard to create with so many 'eyes' watching me as I type (folks were pacing the hallway and breathing down my neck for *my* computer, but no one said a thing to poppy and his kids).
The resort was very nice and our accommodations were swell. I really can't complain about any of that, but then again, I rarely complain about hotels, and this was simply a nicer hotel. I can complain that they didn't have recycling facilities, which is surprising in a vacation locale. And I can complain about the computers--there should have been more of them located in each vacation building so that more people could use them. I found Weston to be a sleepy little town that literally shut down at 8pm during the week (whoever heard of a pizza place that stops serving at 9pm). And of course, I really hate the timeshare people! I cannot say that enough, but it will suffice for me to say that I will NEVER buy a timeshare. Since my parents bought one, I will just bunk in theirs.
With that out of the way, I had so many things I wanted to write about, but with no computer, I had to resort to pen and paper. That wasn't so bad, but then you need time to write in the old fashioned way as well, and this vacation was not about relaxing and taking time. We were constantly on the go, although we found plenty of time to watch cable TV (which is a luxury for us). Today should be my rest day from my vacation, but I have to go to rehearsal in a few hours.
So here are a few thoughts about Miami/Southern Florida:
- There are a lot of fake boobs.
- There are a lot of tanned folks, which leads me to think that either Florida has high rates of skin cancer or maybe there are just a lot of fake tans.
- The people in Coconut Grove do not want Home Depot. Based on the three hours I spent there, I think Home Depot should build elsewhere, like maybe in Opa Locka. I spent an hour or so there, and I suspect the Opa Lockans could use a Home Depot (really).
- You have to pay a toll to get into certain parts of Miami, but not so in Ft. Lauderdale. This is logical, because who would want to pay to get anywhere in Ft. Lauderdale?
- At times, I found myself humming the theme song to "Miami Vice" and I fully expected to see Philip Michael Thomas or Don Johnson cruising through Weston or at the Bayside Mall.
- The Everglades experience was great until it got dark. Then it got scary and it reminded me of Jurassic Park. A better sign pointing the way out would be very helpful, thank you.
- South Beach rocks! Jose, the bartender at Mojitos, was the best.
- However, the waiter at the Big Pink was terrrible. It's a good thing that we went to Mojitos first because then I might have been really angry (and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry).
- Key Largo rocks! Big ups to the *band* at Snook's. We got a kick out of the drunk baby boomers and their hyper grandchildren.
- Did I mention that we actually went to Florida for a wedding? Congrats to the happy couple and many years of love and happiness!
Well, that's all for my trip. I thought about giving a day-by-day, but that is boring. Suffice it to say, we had a blast! Tomorrow's topic will be race-o-rama and cable TV.
Ciao!
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Quick Post on the Run
I've got about 8 minutes to type, so I've got to make this meaningful. I am in the computer room at the resort where we are staying in Weston, Florida. There is a kid next to me who has been playing games on the computer for at least 45 minutes while his father and brother hold up another computer. The limit is supposed to be 15 minutes...
I have lots of random things to say, but I will complain about the timeshare presentation that I had to suffer through this morning. First, I had no idea it was a timeshare presentation until I showed up and saw the room set-up. By that point, it was too late to escape. Then we did the obligatory tour of the premises, made small talk with the sales person, and then sat through the pitch. My husband prolonged things by being too friendly and chatty. Then the check out guy was just plain rude. And of course it took 3 hours.
I have a suggestion, why not just dispense with the pretense? Anyone who stays at one of these resorts has been through at least two of these presentations already. They've already seen the model suite and assorted amenities, and either they bought or they didn't. And you know this so there is no need to go through the song and dance. In our case, we've now gone through three renditions of this same presentation--in Williamsburg, VA (2001), Las Vegas, NV (2003)and now in Weston, FL (2005). And guess what, we still aren't going to buy, no matter how many free T-shirts, free meals, bogus *free* trips, and whatever else you offer!
Gotta go before the computer logs me out. Ciao!
I have lots of random things to say, but I will complain about the timeshare presentation that I had to suffer through this morning. First, I had no idea it was a timeshare presentation until I showed up and saw the room set-up. By that point, it was too late to escape. Then we did the obligatory tour of the premises, made small talk with the sales person, and then sat through the pitch. My husband prolonged things by being too friendly and chatty. Then the check out guy was just plain rude. And of course it took 3 hours.
I have a suggestion, why not just dispense with the pretense? Anyone who stays at one of these resorts has been through at least two of these presentations already. They've already seen the model suite and assorted amenities, and either they bought or they didn't. And you know this so there is no need to go through the song and dance. In our case, we've now gone through three renditions of this same presentation--in Williamsburg, VA (2001), Las Vegas, NV (2003)and now in Weston, FL (2005). And guess what, we still aren't going to buy, no matter how many free T-shirts, free meals, bogus *free* trips, and whatever else you offer!
Gotta go before the computer logs me out. Ciao!
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
An Entire Week
I have done this for a whole week! And I think I like it.
Yesterday, I went looking for one of the blogs I read when I first started mine, but couldn't find it. Instead I found other bloggers like me who also cite "The Wiz" as one of their favorite movies (I think that is how I found this other person's blog the first time). Anyway, I found other kindred spirits out there, which made me feel not so weird anymore. I found a guy who used to write for NetNoir, which is a site that I wrote for back in 2001. I liked writing for them, but then the terrorist attacks occured, and then I got married, so I just got too distracted to continue it. Too bad, because I might have been able to parlay that into something really prominent.
Oh well, so I start again with an anonymous blog. I am not sure how a blog becomes public or how people finally decide to respond, but at some point, someone should discover my ramblings. I saw a blog circle yesterday for other Black writers, and it looked promising that maybe one day I might join it and maybe my work will be discovered there.
There are thousands of folks like me out there, which has its advantages and disadvantages. We are all trying to get our writing noticed, and I am not so sure that these little pages are the best way. At the same time, when I read that guy's page about his past writings for NetNoir, I realized that the blogs are most valuable for practice and revision. Even if only a few folks read our writing, we get practice at our craft and we also get to *publish* our work. Thus, if I am eventually discovered, I can point people to my site. So, let's just see how this progresses.
However, I am such a perfectionist, and for at least three days this past week, I spent hours on just one posting. I still have not gotten to the point where I can just dash off a few lines and just post. (Well, this one may be one of the first). I think that when the spirit moves me to say something *profound* I have to take the time to write it well. Then I get into a cycle of constant revision and re-writing, which then turns into hours of time, which then feels wasted. But, when I re-read the results once they are published, then I don't feel so bad. I've read much worse.
I'll be on vacation next week because we are going to a wedding in Florida. One of my friends from law school is getting married and we got free accommodations through my parents' timeshare. Unfortunately, it is still expensive because of the airline tickets, the rental car and the other expenses of going on a vacation for a week. But I am looking forward to it because I need a break from DC. I love this city and all of its drama, but sometimes I just want to get away to see how other people live.
Not that Floridians live any different than the rest of us, except that they live near the water and in the sun. I love the beach! I rarely get in the water, but just to be near it makes me happy. One day, I'll retire to the beach and I'll spend the summers with my visiting grandchildren. It will be wonderful. (Does this sound extra hokey?)
After the wedding, which is on Saturday, we will spend the week in Ft. Lauderdale. I went there as a teenager with my family, and I don't remember anything nice about it. Hopefully it's been built up a bit. If not, then we will go to Miami and to other points of interest.
I will also spend a chunk of time preparing for this class I'll be teaching on the Civil Rights Movement. I am a little overwhelmed by this, because teaching is new to me, but I am still excited.
Anyway, I am happy to say that this blog took me only 30 minutes to write and revise and I will quit while I'm ahead. I will try to squeeze in time to write next week, just maybe not everyday. If anything interesting happens, I'll be sure to share it.
Ciao!
Yesterday, I went looking for one of the blogs I read when I first started mine, but couldn't find it. Instead I found other bloggers like me who also cite "The Wiz" as one of their favorite movies (I think that is how I found this other person's blog the first time). Anyway, I found other kindred spirits out there, which made me feel not so weird anymore. I found a guy who used to write for NetNoir, which is a site that I wrote for back in 2001. I liked writing for them, but then the terrorist attacks occured, and then I got married, so I just got too distracted to continue it. Too bad, because I might have been able to parlay that into something really prominent.
Oh well, so I start again with an anonymous blog. I am not sure how a blog becomes public or how people finally decide to respond, but at some point, someone should discover my ramblings. I saw a blog circle yesterday for other Black writers, and it looked promising that maybe one day I might join it and maybe my work will be discovered there.
There are thousands of folks like me out there, which has its advantages and disadvantages. We are all trying to get our writing noticed, and I am not so sure that these little pages are the best way. At the same time, when I read that guy's page about his past writings for NetNoir, I realized that the blogs are most valuable for practice and revision. Even if only a few folks read our writing, we get practice at our craft and we also get to *publish* our work. Thus, if I am eventually discovered, I can point people to my site. So, let's just see how this progresses.
However, I am such a perfectionist, and for at least three days this past week, I spent hours on just one posting. I still have not gotten to the point where I can just dash off a few lines and just post. (Well, this one may be one of the first). I think that when the spirit moves me to say something *profound* I have to take the time to write it well. Then I get into a cycle of constant revision and re-writing, which then turns into hours of time, which then feels wasted. But, when I re-read the results once they are published, then I don't feel so bad. I've read much worse.
I'll be on vacation next week because we are going to a wedding in Florida. One of my friends from law school is getting married and we got free accommodations through my parents' timeshare. Unfortunately, it is still expensive because of the airline tickets, the rental car and the other expenses of going on a vacation for a week. But I am looking forward to it because I need a break from DC. I love this city and all of its drama, but sometimes I just want to get away to see how other people live.
Not that Floridians live any different than the rest of us, except that they live near the water and in the sun. I love the beach! I rarely get in the water, but just to be near it makes me happy. One day, I'll retire to the beach and I'll spend the summers with my visiting grandchildren. It will be wonderful. (Does this sound extra hokey?)
After the wedding, which is on Saturday, we will spend the week in Ft. Lauderdale. I went there as a teenager with my family, and I don't remember anything nice about it. Hopefully it's been built up a bit. If not, then we will go to Miami and to other points of interest.
I will also spend a chunk of time preparing for this class I'll be teaching on the Civil Rights Movement. I am a little overwhelmed by this, because teaching is new to me, but I am still excited.
Anyway, I am happy to say that this blog took me only 30 minutes to write and revise and I will quit while I'm ahead. I will try to squeeze in time to write next week, just maybe not everyday. If anything interesting happens, I'll be sure to share it.
Ciao!
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
So Now What?
There are so many issues to discuss this morning, I don't know where to begin. Here are a few salacious headlines:
Michael Jackson plans to call Elizabeth Taylor, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker, Steve Harvey, and about 300 others as witnesses for his child molestation trial. However, he doesn't plan to call any members of his immediate family...
"Nightline" devoted its program last night to the upcoming wedding of the British royals. The topic focused primarily on the stuffy protocol of what to call Camilla after the nuptials. I rolled over and went to sleep, proud to be an American. We've got better things to discuss, such as Michael Jackson and...
Mary Kay Letourneau is going to marry her little boy, I mean, young lover now that she is out of jail for seducing him seven years ago. Their two love children will be in the wedding as flower girls. Well, some stories do have happy endings, but I doubt this is one of them. I will wait for the inevitable implosion and for Mary Kay's mea culpa interview with Barbara Walters...
That's all the tabloid stuff for today!
The Marriage Campaign
The moral majority people are at it again! On Saturday, I saw an ad in the subway for a campaign that promotes marriage. Seemed benign enough until I saw more of them on my way out of the station. The photos depicted smiling couples in wedding attire, while the captions touted the benefits of marriage for society and for children. It was all very warm and fuzzy, kind of like eating wedding cake.
Then yesterday, there were the TV commercials, which took the cuteness a few steps further. The commercial focused on that part of the wedding ceremony when the officiant asks whether there are any objections to the marriage. The voice-over then offers a variety of statistics on the benefits of marriage. Let them eat more cake!
I think the campaign is clever, but sneaky as it relies on sweeping generalizations that leave too many false impressions. At least one of the statistics is probably true--married people live longer and are healthier, but the veracity of some of the other statements is suspect. For example, the ad claims that married people have lower rates of substance abuse, but then I wonder if that group includes alcoholics and smokers. It also claims that married people are happier, and that is usually true until one partner files for divorce.
The boldest statement refers to the status of children in marriage. These statements are most troubling because they place children at the center of the marraige relationship. Like any other good family lawyer will tell you, marriages should be about the couple and parenting should be about the children. When we blur this line and make raising children the primary focus of marriage, then we set families up for failure.
These ads stigmatize non-traditional family arrangements as unhealthy. Thus single parents (whether widowed, divorced or never married) must take the blame for society's problems. The children of these families are painted with a broad brush--they are more likely to be the drug users, the poor kids, and the drop-outs.
The other curiosity about the campaign is the conspicuous absence of same-sex couples. I know that is a political and social hot potato, but the same stats could easily be applied to children in those family arrangements. If you accept the idea that two-parent families create stronger communities (which is essentially the message of the campaign), then children of same-sex couples would stand to reap the same benefits. This is especially true when these couples adopt abused and neglected children who languish in the child welfare system.
This pro-marriage campaign is really a veiled attempt to impose a "traditional" value system. The billion dollar wedding industry is proof that people don't need to be sold on getting married. A more honest ad campaign would focus on strong families, instead of promoting utopian ideas of marriage. I can hardly wait for the next ad campaign that will extol the virtues of stay-at-home mothers...
Until something else gets my goat, Ciao!
Michael Jackson plans to call Elizabeth Taylor, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker, Steve Harvey, and about 300 others as witnesses for his child molestation trial. However, he doesn't plan to call any members of his immediate family...
"Nightline" devoted its program last night to the upcoming wedding of the British royals. The topic focused primarily on the stuffy protocol of what to call Camilla after the nuptials. I rolled over and went to sleep, proud to be an American. We've got better things to discuss, such as Michael Jackson and...
Mary Kay Letourneau is going to marry her little boy, I mean, young lover now that she is out of jail for seducing him seven years ago. Their two love children will be in the wedding as flower girls. Well, some stories do have happy endings, but I doubt this is one of them. I will wait for the inevitable implosion and for Mary Kay's mea culpa interview with Barbara Walters...
That's all the tabloid stuff for today!
The Marriage Campaign
The moral majority people are at it again! On Saturday, I saw an ad in the subway for a campaign that promotes marriage. Seemed benign enough until I saw more of them on my way out of the station. The photos depicted smiling couples in wedding attire, while the captions touted the benefits of marriage for society and for children. It was all very warm and fuzzy, kind of like eating wedding cake.
Then yesterday, there were the TV commercials, which took the cuteness a few steps further. The commercial focused on that part of the wedding ceremony when the officiant asks whether there are any objections to the marriage. The voice-over then offers a variety of statistics on the benefits of marriage. Let them eat more cake!
I think the campaign is clever, but sneaky as it relies on sweeping generalizations that leave too many false impressions. At least one of the statistics is probably true--married people live longer and are healthier, but the veracity of some of the other statements is suspect. For example, the ad claims that married people have lower rates of substance abuse, but then I wonder if that group includes alcoholics and smokers. It also claims that married people are happier, and that is usually true until one partner files for divorce.
The boldest statement refers to the status of children in marriage. These statements are most troubling because they place children at the center of the marraige relationship. Like any other good family lawyer will tell you, marriages should be about the couple and parenting should be about the children. When we blur this line and make raising children the primary focus of marriage, then we set families up for failure.
These ads stigmatize non-traditional family arrangements as unhealthy. Thus single parents (whether widowed, divorced or never married) must take the blame for society's problems. The children of these families are painted with a broad brush--they are more likely to be the drug users, the poor kids, and the drop-outs.
The other curiosity about the campaign is the conspicuous absence of same-sex couples. I know that is a political and social hot potato, but the same stats could easily be applied to children in those family arrangements. If you accept the idea that two-parent families create stronger communities (which is essentially the message of the campaign), then children of same-sex couples would stand to reap the same benefits. This is especially true when these couples adopt abused and neglected children who languish in the child welfare system.
This pro-marriage campaign is really a veiled attempt to impose a "traditional" value system. The billion dollar wedding industry is proof that people don't need to be sold on getting married. A more honest ad campaign would focus on strong families, instead of promoting utopian ideas of marriage. I can hardly wait for the next ad campaign that will extol the virtues of stay-at-home mothers...
Until something else gets my goat, Ciao!
Monday, February 14, 2005
Love is at the Store...
Which means that today is Valentine's Day!
So what are you doing for your sweetie? Roses? Candy? Jewelry? Lingerie? Romantic Dinner? Don't know yet? Well, you've got a few hours, but I'll warn you in advance...all of the good stuff has already been bought and what's left is gonna cost you dearly.
There was an article in the Washington Post this weekend about how men are feeling increased pressure to make this holiday special for their significant others. Men are filling the malls and specialty stores in search of the perfect gift--the only other time of the year when men shop! Therefore, this humble feast day for St. Valentine (which the Catholic Church later dropped from its official calendar) is now another casualty clever Madison Avenue marketing. Personally, I think it should be called "Christmas in February" because it gives all those guys who gave their wives/girlfriends something aweful or thoughtless in December a second chance to make an even bigger mistake. Ain't America great?
I really don't care for Valentine's Day. I had a string of years before I met my husband when I ended up disappointed (got nothing or got dumped), so it is just another day on the calendar. But because it is so unavoidable, I am cooking something special for the hub. I did the same thing last year, but to be honest, I don't even remember what we ate. I only recall that it took me forever to make the chocolate mouse for desset, which he later complimented as "good pudding".
In Honor of Two Shining Black Kings
In other news, there has been an outpouring of love for two late great giants in the entertainment industry. The Grammy folks really loved Ray Charles last night with 8 awards for his posthumous album of duets, "Genius Loves Company". And I think that love is going to continue with the Oscar folks at the end of the month when they give Jamie Foxx the best actor prize for "Ray". Another icon of the theater, Ossie Davis, was remembered by thousands of New Yorkers at his funeral over the weekend which culminated a week of tributes from fellow actors, Howard University (his alma mater), and civil rights activists. Even the Democratic National Committee issued a press release.
A Moment in Black History
Black History Month is in full swing. In addition to Valentine's Day, today is notable as the birthday of abolitionist and civil rights advocate, Frederick Douglass. Because he was born a slave and didn't know when he was born, he picked February 14.
To clarify an oft mis-stated reason for February as Black Mistory Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson originally identified the second week of this month to commemorate Negro History Week. He selected this week because of Abraham Lincoln's birthday on the 12th and Douglass' birthday on the 14th. Later on, the commemoration extended to include the entire month. So no, we didn't get the shortest month on purpose!
And Finally
I don't yet have cable so I missed Lackawanna Blues this weekend on HBO. However, I saw it performed on stage in a brilliant one-man show by its author, Ruben Santiago-Hudson (and bluesman Bill Sims), two years ago with my mother and we were absolutely mesmerized.
Too bad it wasn't released as a motion picture, but I won't go there...
Ciao!
So what are you doing for your sweetie? Roses? Candy? Jewelry? Lingerie? Romantic Dinner? Don't know yet? Well, you've got a few hours, but I'll warn you in advance...all of the good stuff has already been bought and what's left is gonna cost you dearly.
There was an article in the Washington Post this weekend about how men are feeling increased pressure to make this holiday special for their significant others. Men are filling the malls and specialty stores in search of the perfect gift--the only other time of the year when men shop! Therefore, this humble feast day for St. Valentine (which the Catholic Church later dropped from its official calendar) is now another casualty clever Madison Avenue marketing. Personally, I think it should be called "Christmas in February" because it gives all those guys who gave their wives/girlfriends something aweful or thoughtless in December a second chance to make an even bigger mistake. Ain't America great?
I really don't care for Valentine's Day. I had a string of years before I met my husband when I ended up disappointed (got nothing or got dumped), so it is just another day on the calendar. But because it is so unavoidable, I am cooking something special for the hub. I did the same thing last year, but to be honest, I don't even remember what we ate. I only recall that it took me forever to make the chocolate mouse for desset, which he later complimented as "good pudding".
In Honor of Two Shining Black Kings
In other news, there has been an outpouring of love for two late great giants in the entertainment industry. The Grammy folks really loved Ray Charles last night with 8 awards for his posthumous album of duets, "Genius Loves Company". And I think that love is going to continue with the Oscar folks at the end of the month when they give Jamie Foxx the best actor prize for "Ray". Another icon of the theater, Ossie Davis, was remembered by thousands of New Yorkers at his funeral over the weekend which culminated a week of tributes from fellow actors, Howard University (his alma mater), and civil rights activists. Even the Democratic National Committee issued a press release.
A Moment in Black History
Black History Month is in full swing. In addition to Valentine's Day, today is notable as the birthday of abolitionist and civil rights advocate, Frederick Douglass. Because he was born a slave and didn't know when he was born, he picked February 14.
To clarify an oft mis-stated reason for February as Black Mistory Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson originally identified the second week of this month to commemorate Negro History Week. He selected this week because of Abraham Lincoln's birthday on the 12th and Douglass' birthday on the 14th. Later on, the commemoration extended to include the entire month. So no, we didn't get the shortest month on purpose!
And Finally
I don't yet have cable so I missed Lackawanna Blues this weekend on HBO. However, I saw it performed on stage in a brilliant one-man show by its author, Ruben Santiago-Hudson (and bluesman Bill Sims), two years ago with my mother and we were absolutely mesmerized.
Too bad it wasn't released as a motion picture, but I won't go there...
Ciao!
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