While there is news of significance out today [see my post Plane crash in Manhattan - 10.11.206.1] I wanted to discuss lighter, or at least different, thoughts here. The audio file for this post will have to wait until I recover from the cold I currently have.
The first thing I want to mention is about Mr. Jon Stewart and Mr. Stephen Colbert. It seems that here are t-shirts out that promote these men as candidates for the Presidential race in 2008. While both men deny any intention to run for political office, I understand why such thoughts may be in the public mind. While both are hosts of cable network programs that mock actual news, they are quite intelligent in how they do so. They bring the political news into an everyman aspect. And they question our politician actions and statements the same way that some of the average Americans do.
Honesty is rare in politics. Conviction has become more of a fluid item dependent on poll results more than constituent concerns. So when 2 individuals stand up and point out these flaws it is to be admired. Even though Mr. Jon Stewart is more liberal and Democrat in his program, an even approach to both parties is generally observed. And this is perhaps the prime example of what political comedy should be and do. I disagree that people are ashamed of the country by showing interest in Mr. Colbert and Stewart. I think that they are saying that they are happy someone can be honest and direct when it comes to politics. It’s the same reason I think one man was suggesting Oprah as a Presidential candidate. And that is worth electing into office. Politicians should take note.
Turning to more serious news, Mr. Bill Cosby has returned to the second poorest city in the nation. Detroit has nearly 1 million people and a majority of them are African American. This is why it is the perfect place for the comments Mr. Cosby has made in the past, and continues to make now. Mr. Cosby is continuing to promote a line of thinking that has been advocated by Mr. Booker T. Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Mr. Malcolm X.
That line of thinking [I spoke about this in my post Do you qualify to be black? - 10.01.2006.1] is one of self-responsibility and self-improvement. In a city where 31% of the population is in poverty there is no place where the impact of changing cultural attitudes can have better results. Some may wish to condemn Mr. Cosby for his direct and honest words. I for one am glad that someone with enough celebrity and international renown is willing to step up, get the media coverage needed, and say what needs to be said. It’s obvious, at least to me, that saying nothing isn’t working. Nor does blaming someone trying to point out the deficiencies.
Perhaps one of these days we will see more rappers and athletes speak along these same lines. I doubt it though. Self-empowerment doesn’t sell well. At least it hasn’t since Public Enemy and other rappers of the early 1990’s. Thugs, drug dealers and pimps need victims, and willing victims are not found in those trying to improve their lives.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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