My Name is Kris and I Blah-g

Simon says it all here…

As eager as I was for the inauguration stuff to be over, we are now having to hear about every move the President makes. It’s gone beyond the absurd. Even more absurd are the comparisons to great Biblical figures that President Obama has been compared to. 

“I would say that he would be Joshua going across to the Promised Land,” King told CNSNews.com. “Martin Luther King Jr. went to the mountaintop like Moses, and he said, ‘I might not get there with you, but I can see the Promised Land.’ But we gonna’ get to the Promised Land. So Joshua carried them across. Martin Luther King, Jr. was prevented from going into the Promised Land.” 

I am really having a hard time trying to wrap my hands around what Obama has done to warrant such a comparison. Really the only thing that stands out is the color of his skin. It’s the only thing. While I certainly agree that it’s time for racial AND sexism barriers to fall when it comes to this stuff, I cannot for the life of me figure out if things might have been different had Obama’s pigmentation were more like his mother’s instead of his father’s. This is affirmative action run amok. This is all about judging the man based upon the color of his skin vs. the strength of his character and works. In my opinion, there are many more fine black men with a lot more public service experience and accomplishments that would have filled the shoes of the presidency better. I certainly hope that for all of our sakes, President Obama can rise to the occasion. The bar has been set high. And given the freak out of the general population, he had better deliver or heaven help us.

I hadn’t planned on watching the inauguration. The build up and hype was wearing pretty thin. But then I happened upon Mom watching TV this morning and it was just as all the dignitaries were walking in and things were about to begin. The thought did occur to me that although I wasn’t thrilled with the outcome of the election, today is a historic day no matter who was taking the oath of office and well, being the political junky that I can be sometimes, I wanted to check it out. As the former presidents paraded to the stand I felt wistful as I watched President Bush. I mentioned to Mom that I felt like the last person in America who liked the guy. I am not sad to see his administration end. I am actually relieved that the hate talk may subside. 8 years of animosity is a lot for a regular person to take let alone a president who by the weight of his obligations and responsibilities has much to be stressed about. To be in politics one must have thick skin which is why I will never be president. Still, I feel sorrow for President Bush because from day 1 he was never given a chance. The arrows were slung before the last recount was made. He was treated unfairly from the beginning and never garnered the respect that anyone who is called President should have. I may not agree with Obama’s politics and I may pick on him from time to time. But he is our president now. Therefore a certain amount of respect is owed. It won’t, however, keep me from drawing dreads on him in my Obama calendar. I do have my limits! That being said, though, the ceremony was good. His speech was well crafted and delivered. It will be remembered as a huge moment in American history and rightfully so. As I sat there listening, I was trying to reconcile just what my problem has been this past week leading up to this moment and I would have to say that the overblown coverage and worship has vexed me most. Obama has had music rewritten for him (Solid As A Rock has now been released as Solid as Barack). His swearing in ceremony will have a soundtrack (music arranged by John Williams and performed by nearly every popular classical musicians). As the camera panned the sea of people assembled on the Mall, there were signs and hats and tshirts and people waving their fingers at the cameras screaming “We’re number 1!!” Who? Americans? Or the Democrats? Black people? Who? It was odd. It wasn’t humble or serious at all. There is a solemnity that comes with this moment. To President Obama’s credit, he was adequately solemn. He didn’t perpetuate the weirdness of the events that have been going on the past few days – at least that I could tell. But there is a frenzy that has been brewing for a while now regarding this man. Lest we all forget – he is JUST a man. He is one man. For those who have been so quick to blame President Bush for every failing in America, how quickly will they defend this one man for similar failings? Will they chalk it up to inexperience? Will they give him a pass because as a black man, who are we to criticize? Who is to say. I don’t know what lies ahead. I hope he can prove us all wrong. And I hope he means what he said today in that he’ll honor the sacrifices of those who died for our freedoms and helped pave the way to his presidency. I hope he keeps our laws in tact and doesn’t distort them for his own gain. I hope he is a good president and I wish him well. And I still think he needs to grow dreads….

I haven’t written for a while. I guess I just haven’t had a lot to say lately. I suppose I could wax sarcastic all day long about the farce that is the inauguration of Obama. I just am too disgusted to say anything other than (1) they are spending an obscene amount of money that in this current time is wreckless and unnecessary, (2) Obama isn’t Lincoln and never will be. The comparisons should just stop now and maybe we can revisit this in oh… another 4 or 8 years when he’s out of there to see if he’s worthy of such a comparison. (3) All of this adulation is reminiscent of idol worship and that is alarming to me. The guy hasn’t done anything yet to make the lives better for anyone and he’s seen as a god. I am keeping my distance big time and I shall remain skeptical of his every move. I don’t trust the guy. Not one bit. There is only one God and he ain’t Him. (4) His wife-beaters show through his dress shirts which just look tacky to me and well, he needs to grow some dreads…If he wants to have the cool factor, he may as well look the part. I dunno…all this week has been a build up and it’s just so full of hype and in a way it’s kinda good that the expectations are so high. He’s got a lot to live up to. I am not sure he’s capable.So, other than trying to ignore the inauguration, I have been putting my attention elsewhere. I was in a dilemma yesterday watching the NFL playoffs because the Cardinals won (dang it) and the Ravens made a comeback that nearly won them the game. I was trying to figure out if my dislike to Kurt Warner was more than my dislike for the Ravens. How would I be able to watch the Superbowl?? Luckily the Steelers came through for me and I won’t have to worry about that. It’d be a shame to miss the Superbowl….unless I was in Disneyland and then all bets are off. So, yeah..I’m kicking around the idea of going to the Mouse House before my trip to Disney World. WHY? Um…because I can? How about that? We’ll see though…no plans have been made because there is a lot going on these days.In two weeks my niece gets married. She is in the final moments of freak out and rightfully so. I remember what it’s like to be the bride. It wasn’t that long ago. And as she is making these plans and all the newness of her relationship with her intended is making me feel…I dunno what the word is. I don’t feel sad. I don’t feel upset. I wouldn’t say it’s jealousy or envy although, I DO admire her relationship. I see the love there and I remember what it was like. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it puts a thump in my throat but it gives me pause to reflect on how things are right now. My other niece (her sister) just announced that she is pregnant and due in early September. This is most excellent news too. Aside from a wedding, the birth of a child is the most exciting news yet. What a wonderful 9 months she has ahead of her. How thrilling for her daughter to become a big sister. And yet, again I reflect…. It’s not easy to be in your 30s and feel like the old aunt who has been there done that and has had her turn. I should still be in the game and yet I’ve been benched – not because I can no longer play but because half of my team has left the game and I can’t play it alone. I suppose MAYBE it’d be easier to accept if I was 15 or 20 years older. It’d still be painful but at least some of what would never be wouldn’t have been possible anyway. What holds it together for me right now is a 6 year old who reminds me daily that I was once the anxious bride who had her day much like my niece will have her’s and that same 6 year old once gave me a thrilling 9 months, too. I am blessed that I played the game at all. I suppose it’s just half time for me right now. I just hope there’s some good commercials because it’s gonna be a long one…

Here is a recent quote from Tom Hanks at the premiere party of this season’s Big Love which is about a polygamist family…

“The truth is this takes place in Utah, the truth is these people are some bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church, and the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he told Tarts. “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here’s what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed and people can see who’s responsible and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting constitution and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So lets have faith in not only the American, but Californian constitutional process.”

Tom…Tom…Tom….Your ignorance is glaring. I love most of your movies. You are a FINE actor and some of the time I think you can be a fine man. But this is just absurd. The only comment that I agree with here is that polygamists are a bizarre offshoot of the Mormon church. I can’t argue with that. They’re pretty weird alright. But if you think the church funded Prop 8, you’re sorely mistaken. You single out Mormons but leave out the millions of Catholics and members of other religions who stood shoulder to shoulder with members of our faith to fight Prop 8. Now, you may disagree with our values and morals but the members of the church were only standing up for what they believed in. And if money was sent by members to support the passage of Prop 8, it was certainly NOT funneled through the church. For a guy who on the surface seems smart, you should get your fact straight before you run off at the mouth.

When President Bush was inaugurated, his little party cost $50 Million. Even now, that’s a lot of money and back then his people and himself were given a lot of grief over the extravagance and expense. Because that is money that is better spent elsewhere. I can’t argue with that. Why spend so much? Well, another inauguration is upon us and in a few days we’ll have a new president. And whenever we get a new guy in there, it’s always cause for celebration. It is, afterall, exciting to be elected president. One would want to celebrate such a feat. And it IS a big deal. I say, go ahead and party. But…This shindig in DC is going to cost $150 MILLION – 3x as much as what was spent on Bush and while I couldn’t care less for the fairness (whatever!), it’s the principle. During these bad economic times we’re going through, what type of message is this sending? I would be far more inclined to send a little respect Obama’s way if he would practice what he preaches. He says that we ALL have to sacrifice and give a little for the good of the nation. I guess that only applies to us schmucks in the real world.

Well, a poll is out now that only 2% of Obama voters understood the issues and could correctly answer questions about their candidate, the campaign, etc. Zogby is now defending its poll because some just can’t believe so many people could be so naive and vote so blindly.. um, DUH!!! As I have said before, it was never about what Obama could do for the country, it was all about getting a black man elected – no matter what the cost. I, for one, would have happily voted for an African American if I truly believed he/she had the best interests of our country at heart and shared my same values. Obama did not. Obama does not. Obama never will. Stupid is as stupid does.