Comrades (tongue-in-cheek)
by Alex Hutchins
Being referred to as a senior citizen doesn’t bother me anymore (as it did when I was 50 and contacted by AARP) and being on the verge of retirement, be it partial or full, does not bother me either since all the bullshit I have put up with over my working career makes me feel like I have earned it; but, I do have some concerns and those concerns have led me to develop some serious concerns about this life I am about to leave and this new life I am about to enter as they will no doubt be the same since I will have to continue working (thanks to the assholes that poorly invested our money) until someone hits me on the head with the bucket I am supposed to kick. And, just so you’ll know, sometimes the use of profanity is the only adjective that is contextually perfect.
One of my concerns is the absolute stupidity (and this is another perfect word) the media has in asking the questions that they do, especially since they are supposed to be professional journalists. For example: “Why do you suppose the Captain left the ship?” or “What do you suppose can be learned from slicing a football off to the right and not making the field goal?” . . . other than, using a golf analogy to describe another sport. “What did you feel when the soldier (your friend) died in your arms?”
Another one of my concerns is how idiotic actors and actresses sound when asked a question and they do not have a script to follow. Kinda makes ya realize how good Reagan was… well, not quite! And, are all these script readers as tall (or as short) as they really seem to be when standing adjacent to someone who is of average height? WOW, no wonder they went into acting.Another concern is how all the people who commit white collar crime look like Enron Executives or Politicians wanting to get re-elected because they just couldn’t get it together their first term. But, one thing that they all seem to agree upon is how to lie or how to consume valuable air time not answering the question that was asked of them.
Since I have a 60’s attitude with an anti-war theme, I have never quite understood why our military which, by the way, is the most powerful and technologically advanced in the world, takes so damn long trying to win a war. I understand that the Politicians held them back in Vietnam but certainly our retaliatory efforts in the Middle East as a result of 9/11 could have and should have been over by now, don’t-cha think?
And, what I really don’t understand is why we just don’t send Stallone, Norris, Segal, et al and just git er done? I mean the TV is full of all these “black ops” guys and gals who single-handedly obliterate 20-30 well armed men at a time. Or, if we want to make it fair, we could send the “Hell’s Angels.”Another big concern of mine is all these reality shows that are available and I heard recently that somewhere in the world, there was going to be a reality show revolving around playing “Russian Roulette,” and I wonder how they will solicit participants unless they offer some sort of term life insurance.
But seriously folks, the reality shows I like are really on the Food Network where all these Chefs compete with one another and based upon a panel of judges win the contest and receive a monetary award or recognition.
My favorites are: Cupcake Wars and Iron Chef but there is a new show on the horizon called, “FAT CHEFS,” where they (these fat chefs)are tantalized by fixing calorie hefty meals and then forced at gunpoint to exercise; although, I believe the weapon is a metaphor.
Nevertheless, it is interesting (at my age) to see how far the American Entertainment industry has digressed; but more importantly, how far Americans have de-evolved to accept the garbage that is being tossed to them and passed off as entertainment.
ARE WE AWARE OF WHAT WE’VE TURNED INTO?
1 comment:
I hate to generalize about the Amerikan public and its values because we are too diverse for that. However, it is obvious what the media has turned into. Entertainment TV has always been pretty much mind rot which I refuse to watch. I actually attended a class in Hollywood, CA, on "How to write for television." We were told that the result of our writings always had to appeal to the mean age of 13-17 year old. So I am giving away a trade secret now. Additionally, news is no longer news. It is opinion. Remember Walter Cronkite? He only gave us news and at the end he would say "And that's the way it is." There are only two exceptions he made to that, and when he did he let everyone know it was his opinion, and then he did not use his closing phrase of "That's the way it is", because it was not fact. Gosh I miss that man! If you wish me to voice my opinion on what we have become, I can say what most of us have become, and that is people who expect Hollywood endings to life, and Hollywood action in our news; sensationalism, loud noises, explosions, sex, violence, hate and gore. In general, the more negativity the better. Instant gratification, only thinking of self and not concerning ourselves about the future (generations) or others around us. That is what the majority has become.
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