The Big "O" (as in "Oh My Goodness")
I can’t stop thinking about something I saw awhile back when I was in the car wash (it’s like the suburban Internet cafe without the wireless, background jazz, and decaf soy lattes). I was killing time as my car went through the automatic thing, and idly watching the TV mounted up on the wall. A reality show was on. Now I came in during the middle here, so I am not quite sure what the whole deal was, but it was something about five hot bikini-clad young things vying for the attention of one lucky hunky guy. They each got to spend some quality one-on-one time with him doing such culturally enriching activities as racing tadpoles and going down a slip-and-slide.
At the end of one “date,” in an effort, I guess, to get to know her a bit better, the guy asked one girl what adjective she’d use to describe herself. Hmm, I thought, trying to guess what it would be – Fun-loving? Outgoing? Okay, maybe sexy?
Nope. “One word that I use a lot to describe myself,” she said smiling her blindingly bleached teeth into the camera, “is orgasmic.” O-k-a-a-a-a-a-y. I could see the guy trying to figure out what was up with that, too. Cause I know what I’m thinking to myself: “What the heck does that mean? Does she give a lot of them? Get a lot of them? Or just like them a lot?”
Yup, the times they are a'changing. In the hook up era, is "orgasmic" just the new word for "friendly?" Am I alone on this one? Help me out here. Please.
Comments
There isn't a day that goes by that I am not completely shocked by the moral degeneration of our society. That's all this is, and reality TV fans the flames.
We are standing at the edge of the abyss...don't even get me started.
Why are we accepting the sexual climate the media is creating for our kids? They're targeting increasingly younger children with sexual messages. Internet predators say they appreciate it.
Suburban parents get together for various purposes. Why not discuss the disturbing development? Why not write letters to networks who provide such programming? Why not contact sponsors?
Many parents are planning to do that in regard to the Don Imus situation. Have we reached a point where parents stand by and allow a whole team of girls to be publicly denigrated?
Are we so busy that we're willing to allow Imus to trade a few good deeds for those which are dastardly?
Have we become so jaded ourselves that we label his remarks "free speech"?
As we put in our time working for charities, we need to ask ourselves if we're just doing it to be seen as good people...or are we actually good people...people who won't stand by and allow the media to exploit kids. Networks won't stop unless they know how we feel.
On a totally unrelated topic - I am visiting NYC for the first time in August. What, as a native, do you suggest I do and see?
Wow, Rachel, there's just so much to see! You'll want to hit all the highlights - have you thought about a good old fashioned bus tour to get you acclimated before you set off on your own? But for sure go to the top of the Empire State Building, visit the UN, take a hansom cab ride through Central Park, eat a cannoli in Little Italy, tour the Guggenheim (start at the top and work your way down the ramp), try shrimp with lobster sauce in Chinatown, and (a must) go see a Broadway show (order tickets ahead of time via Tele-Charge or try the TKTS booth for discounted tix once you're here). Bring your sneakers, leave plenty of time for wandering around and exploring, and don't be afraid to ask a New Yorker for help; we really are friendly. Enjoy! You'll have a blast! Laurie
Most importantly, take a chance and just explore the City without a GPS! You won't get mugged. I promise!
In the interest of our Constitutional Right of Freedom of Speech, I'm going to say something nice about Imus and something not so nice about the over-zealous prosecutor who tried to ruin the lives of the three Duke University lacross players.
Both of these issues have provoked bitter debates over racial prejudices.
In the case of the over-reaching district attorney who ignored all of the evidence to the contrary, he condemned three college kids of raping a Black woman. He stereotyped and disparaged these young men as "rich college athletes" who committed a horrific crime. By doing so he managed to create both a political and racial conflict. And he has offered no apology for his actions.
Imus made a racially disparaging remark about a women's basketball team. He is ashamed. He was wrong and he admits his mistake. BUT he did not ruin these girls' lives. If anything, he
has made us even more sensitive to racial stereotyping.
I hope that these young women take the "high road" and forgive him.
If someone were feeding our kids poison, would we argue that he had a right to do it because others had done it before him?
Why is the debate over who has a right to deliver the poison and not the fact that the poison is harmful?
If we found that our plate of healthy vegetables contained poison, would we say, "Well, the vegetables are healthy." and continue to ingest.
Why are the journalists (who made their names on the Imus program) frantically attempting to absolve Imus of responsibility...saying that his program was one of quality? Are they trying to convince themselves that their appearances elevated the tone of racism, sexism and misogyny?
How many times have Imus and his friends used the word charity in the past week? Al Capone gave to charity. It looks as if journalists bought into what Imus (and Al) believed..that high profile charitable acts excuse all else. In fact, Imus disciples made sure that their contributions to his charities were mentioned.....gaining much more $ than they gave.
An addendum about the Rutgers Girls Basketball Team and Imus's stupid remark: These young women who accepted Imus's apology have just shown us all how much class and dignity they have. And they have made us all more sensitive to racial stereotyping, especially the ones made in jest.
And to Imus: I'm going to miss your morning radio show patter. The one thing that I can say with complete certainty is that you never missed a beat during your morning show. I loved waking up at 5:30 a.m. and hearing your voice -- and you were certainly an equal opportunity stereotypicalist- I knew early on that it was just part of your schtick so I always went straight to work, never stopping to call the network to lodge a complaint against you...
These motivated girls have shown us that they will soar in life.
The networks have shown us that they are only motivated by money.
Imus has shown us that he is only motivated by being a shock jock and doing good deeds.
Let's open our eye to notice the differences
For Rachel, looking for things to do in NYC. Take the Circle Line Tour, a boat that goes all around Manhattan Island. It's a fun boat ride and you get to see all the major sites--without fighting traffic. I tell all my out of town friends to do this!
