I was trying on clothes the other day (by the way, I hate to shop..) and as I did so, I paused when I looked at myself in the mirror. I cannot be that old. Do I really have bags under my eyes? Who’s waistline is that? Where is all my hair? And so on and so on.
As much as I may hate to admit it, the truth is this – the image in the mirror IS me. It is a reflection of what I am, physically. It is what others see. End of story
When I am not shopping or doing something else just as enjoyable, I watch the news – all channels (CNN, FOX and MSNBC) – and several newspapers (WSJ, Washington Post AND NY Times) – to get a perspective on what is going on in this crazy world from different perspectives. And what I see disappoints me. Baffles me. Confuses me. What do I see?
This ridiculous Presidential Primary circus. Every day. On every channel. In a nutshell….
I see debates where the audience is not only allowed – but encouraged – to cheer, clap, boo and hiss IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ANSWER being given.
I see “news” programs ceasing to be an unbiased critical look at the days events morphing into nothing more than “infomercials” for particular candidates or political parties (matching the station with the party is easier than matching colors when I dress in the morning)
I hear ridiculous promises and statements being made without any basis in truth or thought – without any accountability.
I see candidates acting like 5 year old children – and being applauded for their actions (it’s ok – because “he started it”).
I see that to be a serious contender, you must be either an admitted Socialist, potential felon, an egomaniac, pompous amateur or a rigid, right -wing activist. Oh and don’t forget that being a serious an avid Xenophobe is a plus.
I see that being a serious, thoughtful candidate with realistic ideas is a negative. Yelling and calling people names is a positive.
THAT pisses me off. When did substance, decorum, class and respect cease to be EXPECTED requirements of our candidates and press. How do we celebrate actions of our potential leaders that would put a 5th grader into detention? Here is a hint…
Grab America. Put us in front of a mirror. What do you see?
Our kids cannot name the President before Obama. But they know the name of ALL the “Kardashians.” Making a sex tape is an acceptable way to further your career. Yelling “Fuck!!!” in public is okay. Being loud is more important than being right. We step over the homeless and complain about where they are sleeping instead of worrying about why they exist at all. We text instead of talk. We get our news on Twitter. It is more important to get Facebook “likes” than to be “liked” for the substance of our ideas and actions.
What do we see in the mirror? We see us. And this election campaign and those participating in it are nothing but mirror images of what we are becoming. And it better stop before its too late.
But hope is on the way. I heard Kanye is running in 2020.