An Ode To Anything But Joy
Kim Ode writes a column in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Variety section. I usually take a pass on reading Ode, since she typically concentrates Erma Bombeckesque family/lifestyle subjects such as whether watching television is good for your kids (surprisingly Kim says no). But for some reason I was drawn to her latest effort that appeared on Wednesday, called We must pay attention -- it's our country and events are important. Hard to argue with that statement.
It's so tempting to stop keeping up with the news. Most of the recent headlines either bring us down or raise our blood pressure. What would be the harm in not paying attention?
Us? Hmmm....Doesn't really seem to describe the way I react when I follow the news.
Not everyone feels this way, of course.
Well, that's good to know.
A certain proportion of the population devours the news with a satisfied righteousness.
Substitute the word conservative for "a certain proportion of the population". Yeah, that's exactly how I feel. Smug, satisfied, righteous, bastard. That's me.
Another group may wonder why I'm so bummed about the stuff on SNL's "Weekend Update".
Because "Weekend Update" hasn't been funny since Norm McDonald?
Still others don't pay attention at all and are OK with that.
Yes, the great ignorant masses. If only they watched CNN or read the Star Tribune.
But some of us read and watch the news with an increasing sense of despair and a growing suspicion that we've been snookered. It would be so easy to turn away, just for a while.
An increasing sense of despair? Despair? Are things really THAT bad?
Paging Dr. History. Report to the offices of the Star Tribune. Kim Ode needs a 200CC injection of perspective. STAT.
Think of the time we could save by ignoring coverage of congressional investigations about Sept. 11, or tell-all books about backstage action, or efforts to amend the Constitution about anything. Think of the projects we could finish if we just said no to following the presidential campaign, or the path of environmental legislation, or the quest for who outed the CIA's Valerie Plame.
Think of the purpose and clarity that you could bring to your writing. Tell-all books about "backstage action"? Efforts to amend the Constitution "about anything"? What the hell is she talking about? The Clarke book or Behind The Scenes of American Idol? Gay marriage or efforts to repeal the 16th Amendment and abolish the income tax?
No longer would the kids' eyes glaze over at the mention of Iraq.
Do you think it's "the mention of Iraq" or the fact that you're about launch into another lengthy diatribe about how evil Bush is for taking us to war that causes your kids to tune out?
Dinner parties wouldn't end up sounding like support groups.
Note to self: Decline any future invitations for dinner parties at the Ode's. The words parties and support groups should never be used in the same sentence.
There'd be a lot less sputtering. There'd be a spring in our step, maybe even a fresh coat of paint in the dining room.
If only Kim could be like the conservatives. Dumb, uninformed, and happy.
More and more, I get the feeling that this administration wishes that we'd do that, that we would just take their word for it and move on, go to Disneyland, or to the casino, or to our couches. It's a tempting suggestion, just for a while. A while is all they may need.
A while is all they may need? For what? To consolidate their stranglehold on our democracy? To crush the last of the brave dissenters? To establish the Ashcroft/Rove/Cheney/Halliburton military theocracy?
We should never stop paying attention, of course. Paying attention is good for the country, good for our conscience.
Sigh. Good for our conscience? This perfectly encapsulates how many on the left view politics. It's not right or wrong or good or bad results. It's all about how it makes you feel.
And, like it or not, we're all in this together.
No, we're quite obviously not.
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