The Lemonade Stand: “I did a bad, bad thing.”
Step up to the lemonade stand, ladies and gents. Take a swig that will pucker your cheeks and have you asking for more sugar. I would offer you a glass of water, but I’m terribly afraid there is something in it causing rather bad behavior this week. I only hope it is not indicative of viral attitudes.
We talked about Representative Joe no-decorum Wilson recently. Yesterday he was formally admonished, and though his son now rants that Joe is no racist, I have my doubts. Much to my chagrin, Joe is becoming something of a cult hero. He has unearthed the uglies which simmer ever so slightly beneath the surface in some Americans who cannot abide a Black man as President. There, I’ve said it. Let’s out these beasts for what they are and have done with it. Joe Wilson did a bad, bad thing.
Tennis, anyone? The lovely and skilled Serena Williams lost her temper at the U.S. Womens Open and unleashed her potty mouth at the line judge. She lost her composure, lost her cool and lost the match. It may have cost her more than the match, actually. Sponsors don’t like potty mouths. But she did apologize and guess who was in the announcer’s booth staying relatively quiet? Why, it was John McEnroe who set the standard for unleashing fouls on the court. Serena apologized but she did a bad, bad thing.
Kanye, Kanye. I watched Kanye West on Jay Leno’s show Monday night. Kanye was close to tears when Leno asked him what his mother would have thought of his behavior at the MTV Awards show. Kanye apologized to Taylor Swift after stealing her spotlight moment and raving about Beyonce’s video. Beyonce’ showed grace by taking Taylor Swift on stage with her when she received her own award. But Kanye, you too did a bad, bad thing.
I may have a swig of that lemonade myself. Apologies all over the place this week, some totally ineffectual. Some outbursts can be forgiven. But I ask myself who are the people most impacted by this errant behavior? Aside from Joe Wilson, our kids are enamored of music stars and sports figures. I never bought into that line from the film Love Story which said “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” If you slink into bad behavior, you better say you’re sorry, love or no love. More than that, just don’t get yourself into that predicament. Show some R-E-S-P-E-CT. Thank you Aretha. Now let’s have another swig at the lemonade stand ’cause I need to close this thing down.
—cher
RE - A BadGalSays on 16 Sep 2009 at 12:18 pm #
that bitter koolaid is going around in the atmosphere undoubtably.
isn’t it sad.
serena shoulda known betta;
kanye shoulda known betta
Joe is a Dinosaur - his expiration date is showing; so there’s no reason he should still be in the entire mix.
this was an excellent post Cher, and certainly reminds us that those moments of weakness should be the times we take to pull it back together before we make history in a bad way.
BRAVA BRAVA !!!
Harrison on 16 Sep 2009 at 12:40 pm #
By making a big deal over Wilson Democrats have allowed him to raise over $750,000! And the White House admitted Wilson was right
Ah the ironies.
You sure Williams wasn’t racist against Asians because the judge was Asian.
Hans on 16 Sep 2009 at 12:45 pm #
Cher, I have experienced the USA as a highly emotional (sentimental) and aggresive/repressive country. No wonder why all the time this happens…
Sorry, these days I am a little scared about the USA with all those ‘tea parties’..((
Kindest
hans
Drama Queen on 16 Sep 2009 at 1:29 pm #
You do have a great way with words. I loved this one. Maybe a little on the light side, but I enjoyed it and it drove the point home. The world is going nuts and nobody seems to care.
Kenye got a raging round of applause as he came onstage during the Jay Leno show. Nobody seemed to mind that he’s an idiot, a jackass, a no-class jerk and all of the other names he’s been called in the press, on Twitter and Facebook. Let’s give him a standing ovation while we’re at it.
No wonder people act the way they do. There are no consquences to pay and people will love you no matter how you treat others. Geez.
admin on 16 Sep 2009 at 1:42 pm #
RE,
Anyone in the spotlight today certainly is aware than anything they say or do will be fodder for the media within minutes. When a person is making all that money, you would think they would be more cautious. Sometimes I think those are the very ones who throw caution to the wind, then wonder why they have such short-lived careers. Oh RE…so many questions; so few answers.
admin on 16 Sep 2009 at 1:47 pm #
Harrison,
I deleted the link you sent for two reasons. First, I am more interested in what YOU have to say, and second, I need to be careful of links unless I put them up.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I still believe that Wilson is a racist. And the last I read, Wilson’s opponent in the up-coming election has raised over $900,000 since Wilson’s outburst. There are links available on the web should anyone care to donate.
Please consider it.
Bring Back Pluto on 16 Sep 2009 at 1:51 pm #
Loved this post Cher! Love the way you tie in the lemonade. Clever and dead on!!
And sometimes sorry isn’t even enough! But at least say you’re sorry!!!
admin on 16 Sep 2009 at 1:52 pm #
Hans,
Unfortunately much of what you may see is media-driven and perhaps not always fact-checked. Not all of America is so emotonal or aggressive. There are millions of kind-hearted intellectuals who love this country. It is certainly not “repressive.” That is why you are able to see the goofy tea parties set up by fringe lunatics. It is allowed even though it shows dissent. We fought for that as well.
admin on 16 Sep 2009 at 1:58 pm #
Drama Queen,
We have seen consequences of bad behavior, though, and it has usually been through self-destruction. BadGal says on her blog today that this is a cry for help from Kanye. I respect her opinion, so she may be right. Some people have to hit bottom before they can see the light. It does show, however, that our principles and morals are dwindling. Very sad.
admin on 16 Sep 2009 at 2:04 pm #
Bring Back Pluto,
You guys just make my day! You are so right. Sometimes “sorry” is not enough. Making amends should be what it’s all about. Check out the video if you get a chance. You may like it!
Politicus on 16 Sep 2009 at 2:37 pm #
It certainly does appear that either Wilson, or his contributors, or both are racist.
As far as Kanye is concerned, who cares about that rap-crapper anyway? Wonder what it is with the seemingly ever-present rapper trouble…
If Joe Wilson was qualified, he might want to try his hand at rap - right after he is voted out of office, of course.
admin on 16 Sep 2009 at 3:54 pm #
Politicus,
I agree that Wison and/or his contributors are racisits. They could but together a rap group and call themselves The White Boyz, Nah, no rhythm.
The President called Kanye a jackass. I like that.
Tina T on 16 Sep 2009 at 4:21 pm #
I think that as a society we place too big an emphasis on expressing ourselves. People spew the most intimate details of their lives on talk shows, participate in reality shows that blur the line between public and private lives, and I don’t even know where to begin addressing all the crazy things that are shared on the internet.
We need to remember that knowing when to stay quiet is often a much harder skill to master than communicating.
Theresa on 16 Sep 2009 at 6:37 pm #
Great post Cher. One thing about the whole Serena Williams incident which really bothers me is that people compare her tirade to the shouting antics of John McEnroe. YES they both shouted at officials but the big difference is John McEnroe NEVER threatened someone. Part of the problem (IMHO) is that these people are treated like royalty, people begging to do things for them just so they can be in their presence and then get this idea that they can somehow do anything they want. Obviously they believe that money buys them the power to act any way they want.
Harrison on 16 Sep 2009 at 7:35 pm #
Since when is “liar” a racist comment?
Windroot on 16 Sep 2009 at 8:30 pm #
I just finished a comment on another blog that referenced “The Age of Stupid.” Perhaps we could call these recent outbursts “The Revenge of the Boors.” Truth be told, this sort of stuff has a long history, hence the Latin phrase “O tempora, o mores” or “Oh, the times, the ways.” We aren’t that much worse today, but we sure as Hell aren’t a whole lot better, either.
admin on 17 Sep 2009 at 8:39 am #
Tina T,
Excellent thoughts.The art of listening as a means of communications has been lost.
admin on 17 Sep 2009 at 8:42 am #
Thesesa,
I believe that this involves the ‘absolute power corrupts’ issue. Money, to many people, seems to conote to the right to behave badly. No class.
admin on 17 Sep 2009 at 8:57 am #
Harrison,
Wison’s bad behavior showed a total lack of civility. Consequently, those who did not know much about him began to dig. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., and the hightest ranking black lawmker in Congress, said he “is bothered by Mr. Wison’s membership in some groups that call into question his feelings about his whole notion of white supremacy ans his defense of the Confederate flag flying above the Columbia, S.C. Statehouse. He further said that Wilson made ‘nasty comments’ about the black woman who turned out to be Strom Thurman’s daughter.
There is much more to this guy Wilson, so if you are of a mind to do so, you can read it for yourself. Actions speak louder than words and Wilson’s actions gave us insight into his racist beliefs.
admin on 17 Sep 2009 at 9:00 am #
Windroot,
We seem to have taken steps backward, rather than forward. I do not fault Obama. I fault those who harbor hate and prompote injustice.
This truly is “The Revenge of the Boors.” Thanks for your insightful comments.
Harrison on 17 Sep 2009 at 9:48 pm #
Any links for those?
And “liar” itself is not a racist comment I see you agree.
admin on 18 Sep 2009 at 9:07 am #
Harrison,
Rather than do posts which are strictly links,
I will quote from sources and hope that those who are of a mind to read more, will do so on their own.
Suffice it to say that the comment by Wilson was racially incendiary and had malevolent intent.
Harrison on 18 Sep 2009 at 9:41 am #
If you are going to call someone a racist because of some organization you say he is a member you should provide proof… that would be a link, etc.
admin on 18 Sep 2009 at 12:16 pm #
Harrison,
Read, why don’t you? This is an opinion blog, not a news source. I will not put links up because anyone with a modicum of sense can do that. Many people read the Internet for news and they read proper news sources.
It is not good sense to constantly put links on a blog. One does a disservice to viewers because you cannot guarantee there are no bugs or malware in some links. Each blogger should do their best to provide as much safety in that regard as possible. It is called Responsibility.
Regarding this post: Google James Clyburn or any of the other tags associated with the post. Try it. It’s easy, as you know.
bluzdude on 21 Sep 2009 at 1:47 pm #
In going back to one of the earlier quotes about Wilson being “right”, I hear that as a common defense. Unfortunately, “rightness” was never the issue… it’s heckling the President on the floor of Congress. It’s just unheard of in the modern era. That’s what Wilson should be apologizing for.
I like your blog, by the way. Seems a good place for civil discourse.
admin on 22 Sep 2009 at 7:44 am #
bluzdude,
I agree that Wilson needs to properly apologize for not being proper. His disrespect was appalling.
Glad you liked the blog, and I do hope you will visit again. We do attempt to have a
civility in discourse.