From the desk of Olivia Cooper as the sounds of the mini-city are being stifled by a rather loud rendition of The Real Slim Shady. It is a Spanish rendition being sung to her by her cousin, a soon to be eighteen year old, who apparently thinks that Olivia’s apartment would be a nice place to hang out for the summer.
Barack Obama: Too much Paris Hilton, not enough Darfur coverage
“We see it in a media culture that sensationalizes the trivial and trivializes the profound,” he said, “in a 24-hour news network bonanza that never fails to keep us posted on how many days Paris Hilton will spend in jail but often fails to update us on the continuing genocide in Darfur or the recovery effort in New Orleans or the poverty that plagues too many American streets.”
Good point of course, but “DUH” - I just want to scream no friggin sh–.
The whole thing is posted at The Swamp/ link above.
Obama’s rhetoric as usual is worth the read, at times it’s riveting, but it becomes less so in that it has been said before - many times.
When does all this rhetoric get translated into action? It’s not like most people aren’t aware that Paris is inconsequential, so who is going to go after the media. Which politicians are going to say don’t feature me, feature Darfur? I want a president who refuses to go on entertainment media. Who is going to step up in Darfur - it’s been four years Obama. Waiting for my generation is unacceptable.
Talk is cheap no matter how good you are at it. Your voice sounds good, you are a riveting speaker, but I want my president to be pro-active, not afraid to take action where action is needed. I want my president to instigate changes so that the working poor are no longer poor but working insured and with a good chance of sending their children to college. I want a president who knows that we all need an equal education. A president who knows that the “American Dream” is becoming impossible to achieve, and a president who is willing to make the calls that will make it possible again.
I’d prefer a president who spends the two years prior to the election actually legislating instead of campaigning.
I want a president who doesn’t buy into the Laws of Attraction.
eh - we do love our Paris Hilton’s though. I’ve never really gotten that. Guess it’s because I missed the video.
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Interesting Case in Maryland which will cause much bio-ethical debate for sure, an appellate court in Maryland issued a 4-3 ruling which allows technically for there to be no mother in the case of a surrogate.
Ruling alters idea of mother
Md. high court finds paternity laws must apply equally to men and women. This type of law has been in place for males but this declares the issue gender neutral, but it raises some bio-ethical concerns for many. Children bargained for and made even with all good intentions could end up parent less, at least if I am reading this correctly.
I have mixed feelings, but certainly as we head into a world where parents will be able to choose their child’s sex and maybe even their IQ we have got to start thinking about this.
I’m going to follow this one over the next few weeks as I’m sure there will be much discussion on this.
Cooper I’m at a loss about surrogacy and the larger issue of paternal rights.
There is a big problem when a woman decides on an abortion and the man tries to block it. This happened in the 80’s often
Got a 404 error when trying to read the link, and haven’t had time to read today’s paper or rather never finished the front page
It’s scary to think that parents could determine so much.
At the same time there’s a movement to stop women from having abortions when the amnio shows Down Syndrome.
I’m sorry but the costs to the family themselves and society in general could be very high if that happens.
Your generation is going to have deal with so much and this will be as big as global warming, in its own way as it determines so much about familial makeup
I’d prefer a president who spends the two years prior to the election actually legislating instead of campaigning.
My dear naive Olivia,
A politician’s job is to get elected-legislation only occurs if it will help them get re-elected.
Just watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with Jimmy Stewart-it is a good documentary.
Humbly Yours,
DannyJ
Danny: I am young not naive.
Well, possibly somewhat naive. I am well aware of the chances of what I want to be is never going to be. It is all an “id the scenario were ideal” kind of thing. It does not mean I can’t use (what I want) to base (what I think) of whichever old candidate is vying for a position I ultimately pay for…or sadly don’t pay for as most political candidates are bought. Yes I do know this.
pia: I fixed the link. It’s something worth following, although my area of interest is not bio-ethics I think rulings such as thins are interesting in light of what it could mean for some child. Born to no parents…no one claiming them.
I’m certain it would be rare but to allow for it..I don’t know….
At this point I’d settle for being able to say something about a candidate that rings better than, “he’s the best we’re gonna get.” And maybe Barack does have more going for him than that, but that’s mainly what I see. The fact that he’s passionate and eloquent doesn’t really count there as far as I’m concerned. If a politician isn’t passionate he shouldn’t be in the game, and if he isn’t eloquent he needs a familiar name and a cabal of rich supporters to win at it.
Damn reality…
You’re right, it has all been said before. I know I’ve mentioned it already, but Norman Corwin’s book “Trivializing America” (1983) is a brilliant analysis of the trend. Unfortunately the only predictions of his that didn’t come true are the optimistic, hopeful ones. E.g. 24 hour news was completely new then, and his hope was that by specializing on news, these stations might have turned that trend around.
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I think the idea of choosing IQ is nonsense. There are so many factors besides genetics that go into the making of a mind, not to mention the interaction of the unborn child with the body of the mother, there will probably be a lot of disappointment and even lawsuits (Where’s my wunderkind?).
C~
Yes, I know you aren’t naive, I guess the sarcastic tone didn’t translate well through the electrons…
“I’d prefer a president who spends the two years prior to the election actually legislating instead of campaigning.”
That would be a coup.
Funny that case in Maryland skipped by the lower courts, it makes sense to make the situation gender neutral. the whole thing does have some scary implications - as rare as they might be.
Cooper, most people in these United States would not agree with the statement that Paris Hilton is inconsequential. Especially not the media moguls. They go where the profit is. If Darfur was profitable, we’d hear of nothing else.
But Darfur is a synonym for bankruptcy, and the media and the politicians know this well. No. Paris Hilton is profitable. And American Idol, and Dancing with the Stars. You might get a sound bite out of Darfur, or the garbage dump pickers of Guatemala, or Hispanic migrant workers, if it will raise an eyebrow on the Paris Hilton crowd long enough for them to get the idea that Candidate X has compassion. But he better not actually talk “action”, because then We the People might have to turn off Paris Hilton and do something. And We can forget that.
Yes, you’ve heard this before from me. Don’t blame “them” for doing exactly what We tell them to. See “tragedy of the commons”.
I don’t wish to go where the Maryland courts are taking us until we’re a whole lot better at cybernetics. Will the real R Daneel Oliwa please stand up … (take that, M&M ;) ).
Obama has the advantage in the speaking department.
I don’t know who is the best candidate at this point. I agree all the “wish for” thoughts would be nice, but highly unlikely.
That ruling is what I call fair, (considering the situation as it applied to males - making it gender equal and all) but it is freaky if you look at the possibilities.
Inde:
I am glad you are back. It’s alright to go away of course - how selfish of me.
You are always helpful in suggesting books I otherwise would probably not read.
Danny: I am a tad sensitive to being called naive as I don’t feel so. I also know you haven’t read me long enough to know if I am naive or not. I’m sure a percent of the people who read this regularly think of me as naive anyway I prefer to call it idealistic.
Sarcasm - a hard one online.
I don’t offend easily so even if you did mean to call me naive it would not have bothered me I would just counter it with my opinion on the subject. ;)
jacob: A Coup is right.
OC: I know we have covered this before. I know
it’s profitable but I think on some level people watch that stuff because they can’t face reality. Knowing she is inconsequential ( which I believe most people do 0 doesn’t matter because watching reports on Hilton are easier than watching real news.
casey: Good Ole Maryland.
Your ears have my pity re: pre-18 cousin.
The reason it has to be said over and over again, is because nobody is making a change. And it isn’t going to change. Talking about Paris gets higher ratings, which turns into advertising dollars. What makes even less sense is, since there are cable channels devoted to celebrities, why can’t the people interested in such things just go watch those, and leave the rest of us alone (the same applies to sports, in my opinion, but that is a seperate issue).
My dad came up with an interesting idea: turn the presidency into a single 6-year term, no re-elections. Then every president is a lame duck, and doesn’t have to work on getting reelected. They can just do the job they are meant to do. I doubt it is a realistic solution, but it has some potential.
I read that article on the paternity laws. I am all for gender neutrality in ALL laws. But I can see how that could cause some problems, like one of your other readers brought up, when a man may want a child that a woman doesn’t want to carry to term. That would effectivly again take control of a woman’s body away from her. I think the solution would have to be full gestational technology: a baby incubator that goes from fertilization to birth.
You could rename this “Olivia Opines” now that you have published your name.
All politicians are the same in my book, they may have different ideologies, but until one proves me wrong politicians, are people who say what they must to get elected.
If they do anything worthwhile for the people afterward is just luck or chance.
The last thing I care about from any politician is their position on the media. It’s the one part of life, besides religion, that’s constitutionally none of their damn business and yet what they want to talk about. The second-to-last thing I want to hear from any politician is what’s painfully obvious (as you said) intoned as a serious stand. It really didn’t take Obama long to become one of them.
As for you, Ms. Olivia/Alice/Tricia/Cooper, you do realize you’re now the T.S. Garp of the internet?
coyote: She is actually pretty cool, and easy to be around and thankfully she is smart and as she is fluent in Spanish being of Cuban descent she helps me keep that up. I let her stay the night; it will not become a habit. She leaves for college in less than three months and is employed and her boyfriend in home for the summer so I do not feel it will be that bad. I’ve not seen her very muchover the least several years or my life for that matter so it’s not that bad.
Talk very seldom means action. I just want action, and I wish they would button their lips until that time.
On the bio-ethics, it will be interesting to follow the story. I see a horror/ sci-fi / melodrama in the making.
G: yea, I agree so there is no where to go here.
Doug: Yes I know your views, oh….didn’t I get my views from you?????????
Funny I thought I was “Alice” .
Either is better than Humbert Humbert, so what can I say.
Like the new look and the use of the name Olivia, which I have seen you use before along with all the rest
Can’t see most of the comments but can see your answers
When I say your generation I mean it specifically on questions such as neurobiological because your generation will be hit with both the personal decisions and the larger ones
About politics I think we all have a responsibility, and are all failing. Don’t like the way Barack separates himself from baby boomers. Technically is–he’s at the tail end, the people he is trying to distance himself from–Hil and Bill are at the beginning
But that’s just semantics and no presidential candidate will go to real issues because it just isn’t sexy
You got it, talk is cheap, “we the people” are Cheap. I don’t know why everyone uses words to determine who might be the better candidate. There needs to be a better litmus test.
Paris: inconsequential and too skinny.
Pia: Is is because the fonts are too pale?
I can see them but want to know if others are having
a hard time.
The old templates second sidebar stopped working in IE so I am looking around fro something simple.
Actually no one calls me Olivia except my mother, and a few random relatives, it’s Tricia most often but I’m used to being called cooper more than anything else.
Maybe we should just pick the sexiest candidate, we couldn’t do much worse.
Dane: You’re robotman again?
She does look anorexic at times.
Cooper, throw around the name Humbert Humbert here and see how many hands go up. You’re funny.
Groan?
It’s always interesting to see the views on Obama. I would say he’s a pretty genuine guy, but I’m a little biased I would think.
Action on Darfur is way over due. But it’s like Pia said, it just isn’t sexy. It’s sad, but true.
Now speaking of sexy, Paris Hilton sure isn’t either.
Chris: In general it is my view on most political
candidates not just Obama. That article just happened to strike me,and because his rhetoric is at times riveting I needed to express my views on rhetoric versus the results or at least the action. He may be the best of them at this point. I am not convinced.
I am about to fall asleep… but I wanted to come by and say “hey” and my goodness every time I stop by this place has a different look… I can never tell if I am in Wonderland or Not! ;)
No need to be convinced just yet. There’s still plenty of time to make a decision. Just knowing that you’re not voting for Bush is enough to make me respect you even more ;)
Obama looked so much better kicking Brad Berenson’s neoconservative ass in the battle for law review editor. He’s losing his glitter with all this “we gotta withdraw” mumbo-jumbo without thinking about the consequences of that act. Bad enough the chimp in the oval office got us there in the first place.
As for paris, she’s a rank skank who holds my interest about as much as that possum thunking around under my exhaust maniflow. Yeah, I know. I ain’t supposed to look. …
This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything - and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”