Thursday, June 19, 2014
A Rose By Any Other Name is Still a Rose
I propose the following descriptive names be changed to those which are less racial in nature: White Cloud, Brownies, Black Forest and Black Forest Cake, Black Jack and Black Jack gum, White Shoulders perfume, Red Box, Red perfume, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, Black Box, brown water, Black Hawk, black Irish, black clouds, red skies, and many more. Let us now begin to wonder when The White House will come under fire for being a racist name? Perhaps everything should be named one of Fifty Shades of Grey, thereby also neutralizing any possibly unscrupulous sexual activities? You know, like former President Clinton's activities with Monica Lewinsky left children as young as elementary school age thinking bj's were ok for everyone, were safe, and didn't get people pregnant. No matter how we argue and fight over names society assigns to various groups and items, it still remains the same: A rose by any other name is still a rose.
Monday, February 24, 2014
The Deterioration of TV Standards
For years, I watched Good Morning America. I stopped when Diane Sawyer left. I watched the CBS Morning Show until they changed to their current and very boring co-hosts. When The Today Show dropped Ann Curry, I stopped watching because I was angry. Occasionally, I watch one or the other but I am always displeased with either the show hosts or their celebrity-focused content.
In the past, I liked Matt Lauer, but in recent years he has become weasel-like, and I have this gut feeling about his relationships with his co-hosts that I just can't get past. When Ann Curry was co-hosting, I watched because she could be counted upon to present professional and generally unbiased stories. No one will ever convince me Lauer didn't have anything to do with Curry's firing.
Lately, I've been watching Good Morning America, but I am not liking what is happening there, either. George Stephanopoulis seems like the fatherly figure who sits there watching his offspring with amazement. Robin Roberts is much the same as she was when she co-hosted with Diane Sawyer. The problem I am having is watching what appears to be a rivalry between Lara Spencer and Josh Elliot. The latter increasingly seems to be trying to steal the spotlight from the others, possibly with the goal of taking over for George. Lara Spencer, delightful as she can be, appears to be in competition with Josh for that coveted limelight. When all the younger people are placed around the table with the co-hosts, they all talk at the same time. Believe me, show producers, viewers can not hear anything that is being said when you permit this kind of behavior. It isn't a party we are attending. It's a tv show and only one person should be speaking at a time.
The morning shows can't take all the guilt for the "everyone talk at once" syndrome. Political programs are worse when they have opposing opinions presented by guests. Fox News is guilty of that, with Bob Beckel and Juan Williams talking over everyone else on all the shows upon which they appear. Many of us change the channel when this happens, and rightly so.
Maybe talk radio is the answer. TV is, pardon the pun, going down the tubes. Apparently, TV is following the US education goals - reaching the lowest common denominator. Anyone with any sense realizes where that kind of pandering to the uneducated and intellectually lazy leads - nowhere. It could have been so much better.
In the past, I liked Matt Lauer, but in recent years he has become weasel-like, and I have this gut feeling about his relationships with his co-hosts that I just can't get past. When Ann Curry was co-hosting, I watched because she could be counted upon to present professional and generally unbiased stories. No one will ever convince me Lauer didn't have anything to do with Curry's firing.
Lately, I've been watching Good Morning America, but I am not liking what is happening there, either. George Stephanopoulis seems like the fatherly figure who sits there watching his offspring with amazement. Robin Roberts is much the same as she was when she co-hosted with Diane Sawyer. The problem I am having is watching what appears to be a rivalry between Lara Spencer and Josh Elliot. The latter increasingly seems to be trying to steal the spotlight from the others, possibly with the goal of taking over for George. Lara Spencer, delightful as she can be, appears to be in competition with Josh for that coveted limelight. When all the younger people are placed around the table with the co-hosts, they all talk at the same time. Believe me, show producers, viewers can not hear anything that is being said when you permit this kind of behavior. It isn't a party we are attending. It's a tv show and only one person should be speaking at a time.
The morning shows can't take all the guilt for the "everyone talk at once" syndrome. Political programs are worse when they have opposing opinions presented by guests. Fox News is guilty of that, with Bob Beckel and Juan Williams talking over everyone else on all the shows upon which they appear. Many of us change the channel when this happens, and rightly so.
Maybe talk radio is the answer. TV is, pardon the pun, going down the tubes. Apparently, TV is following the US education goals - reaching the lowest common denominator. Anyone with any sense realizes where that kind of pandering to the uneducated and intellectually lazy leads - nowhere. It could have been so much better.
Friday, February 14, 2014
A Special Valentine
Valentine's Day. Females have long been seduced and targeted by the corporate world to expect the men who love us to bestow us with cards, flowers, chocolates, and diamonds. It can be wonderful if you have a sweetheart, but demoralizing if you don't.
Back in the nineties, I was alone and when Valentine's Day arrived, I often found myself in a depressed state of mind. The mantra repeating itself in my head was, "No one loves me." I never spoke to anyone about it, because I found it embarrassing to not even receive a card in the mail, let alone flowers or candy. Just like many other single females, I dreaded this day as well as all the other holidays I would spend alone.
In 1998, I attended a few Christian counseling sessions with Ann, a woman who was a recognized Prophet in her church. This church was a non-denominational and charismatic type of church where speaking in tongues, prophecy, and being slain in the Spirit were all part of the services. I was attending counseling with her after experiencing a very painful break-up with someone I had loved.
A week or so after Valentine's Day, I went to see Ann and she started the session, as always, with a prayer asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Her prayers were powerful, and when that Presence joined us, it was palpable and emotional. During the sessions, Ann would occasionally tell me that the Lord had a message for me. Always, it was about something which was causing me concern or sadness, and frequently wasn't concerning anything which we had discussed. On this day, she closed her eyes during the session and held up her hand signifying I should be quiet. When she spoke, eyes still closed, she said, "The Lord wants you to know that he has something to tell you. He seems to be holding something out to you. I can't quite see it....oh, yes! It's a Valentine and it says 'Be Mine'." I was astounded and deeply moved. God knew my heart.
Because I had never mentioned anything to Ann or to anyone else about my unrealistic expectations on Valentine's Day, this message held great meaning for me. On every Valentine's Day since, when I haven't received a declaration of love, all I've had to do is remember the most special Valentine of all - the one that told me I am loved by God.
Back in the nineties, I was alone and when Valentine's Day arrived, I often found myself in a depressed state of mind. The mantra repeating itself in my head was, "No one loves me." I never spoke to anyone about it, because I found it embarrassing to not even receive a card in the mail, let alone flowers or candy. Just like many other single females, I dreaded this day as well as all the other holidays I would spend alone.
In 1998, I attended a few Christian counseling sessions with Ann, a woman who was a recognized Prophet in her church. This church was a non-denominational and charismatic type of church where speaking in tongues, prophecy, and being slain in the Spirit were all part of the services. I was attending counseling with her after experiencing a very painful break-up with someone I had loved.
A week or so after Valentine's Day, I went to see Ann and she started the session, as always, with a prayer asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Her prayers were powerful, and when that Presence joined us, it was palpable and emotional. During the sessions, Ann would occasionally tell me that the Lord had a message for me. Always, it was about something which was causing me concern or sadness, and frequently wasn't concerning anything which we had discussed. On this day, she closed her eyes during the session and held up her hand signifying I should be quiet. When she spoke, eyes still closed, she said, "The Lord wants you to know that he has something to tell you. He seems to be holding something out to you. I can't quite see it....oh, yes! It's a Valentine and it says 'Be Mine'." I was astounded and deeply moved. God knew my heart.
Because I had never mentioned anything to Ann or to anyone else about my unrealistic expectations on Valentine's Day, this message held great meaning for me. On every Valentine's Day since, when I haven't received a declaration of love, all I've had to do is remember the most special Valentine of all - the one that told me I am loved by God.
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