Spears, Clinton, Kucinich and Camelot

Been thinking about entertainers losing kids, politicians losing elections and the public losing interest.

Why do we, as a nation, believe that the "glammor" of the entertainment industry and the political election industry even merits the "industry of the public" to pay attention?

What I mean by the "industry of the public" is simply this: normal hard-working everyday Americans have worked their butts off. They've given every last ounce of energy and industry to make their country better. Towards that end they planted vineyards and orchards with their industry.

When they bit not into an apple from the orchard of their hard work, they /we have puckered up pitifully because it's actually not an apple...it's a bitter, bitter lemon...

Somehow a long-long time ago we were initially sold the image that JFK/Camelot-melded Hollywood and Washington...creating a fictional land of HollyCamelTon. In that land, we'd find American princes who cared for their "subjects" and legislated "love" to all who lived there. A land where no "lemons" existed and only sweet apples bloomed.

Yeah...

I know it sounds weird. But the whole JFK/Actor/Actress "celebrity thing" seemed to make many in the US (who are now either Boomers or the children of Boomers) seek out opportunities to be famous. Witness American Idol - and the battalion of cheap immitations that followed it. Witness the Iowa Caucuses.

Just finished "Reckless Youth" by Nigel Hamilton last week and it sharpened the lead in my pencil, I suppose. It is a JFK with whom you would never want to be friends. A JFK who once walked the Iowa Caucus trail in 1960.

And I submit that some in America still want a "King Arthur" from Camelot to rule and reign. A Hollywood starlet to gaze on, a boy-wonder mayor to shoot for President. They want a JFK who live in black and white photos and presents the best in us...to us.

With Camelot, though, you get a failed Arthur, you also get a bastard Mordrid, adultry, death and rebellion....ultimately breaking the hoped-for Round Table to bits.

You get JFK, the 1960's, 70's and today.

So what of Brittany, Hillary and Coingressman Kucinich? They are saddly fromed together as products of that "selling" to the American audience. They are being seen for who they have ultimately idolized. Kenndy and DC? No. Camelot? Nope. Hollywood? Nah.

The American Idol is themself and it just isn't real. Just like JFK. I think America may just be waking up to realize that we don't really want stardom. We don't want kingdoms. We simply want "real" and are losing interest in the high gloss of nothingness.

Your thoughts?

Dennis

Comments

[Dennis Mansfield]

And we are listening to you, Paul.

Politics, by its very nature, is the wonderful art of compromise. People soften hirk from the word but the meaning of the word should engender hope. Think of it: Com=with Promise. Agreements happen to help all sides. To do so "with promise" does not dilute, nor does it diminish, if done openly and honestly.

If done for personal gain, it's sickening. If done for ego, it's even more sickening. Listening to others helps us grow and change. That's what the last several years have been for me. Listening and changing.

Dennis

[Paul D. Smith]

Yes America is finally waking up, in this world there is corruption on all sides of the table. From the scandals of prominent ministers to the perversion of our lawmakers, we are beginning to see right through the fake candy shell of the figures that claim to be for the people. My generation, the youth of America, is crying out for someone we can trust and we no longer are looking to people with a title or some prominate name. We want people who are real and truly looking out for our best interests. My generation needs a real God with real power and real people who really love and care for us despite past mistakes. This is why it is so important for real everyday people to become history makers and world changers. The day of royalty politics is gone, it is time for the everyday joe to rise up and believe that he/she can make a difference in this world. We are listening to you, not them.

[Dennis Mansfield]

Thanks for your comments, Wendy!

Hope all is well with you.
Dennis

[Believer]

Everyone seems to think that fame is the ultimate goal. It leaves those who are not famous feeling that they have somehow "missed out" or that they are in some way "less than." Rather than giving accolades to the hard-working people who try to live a right life (and inevitably fall short, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"), we galmorize those who can play a part publicly. But then we try to find chinks in their armor to make ourselves feel superior to those we have put on pedestals. End result? We are left disillusioned and feel there are no "heroes" in the world, that everyone is out for number 1. Nobody is perfect. As a matter of fact, the last perfect person was crucified for being perfect. Yes, it was all part of the divine plan, but man's flaws made that plan work to God's perfect will. We need to stop working to find that "perfection" and embrace our fellow man, not in spite of the imperfections and differences, but because of them. And this can only be accomplished by following the teaching and life of Jesus, the Messiah.