I think part of our problem is that we in the US give too much credence to entertainers and pundits and not enough credence to voters. I certainly think entertainers, artists, creative people of all kinds have a right to express opinions. Just as sports people have a right to do so. Just as people in diners do. But I do not think they sh…
I think part of our problem is that we in the US give too much credence to entertainers and pundits and not enough credence to voters. I certainly think entertainers, artists, creative people of all kinds have a right to express opinions. Just as sports people have a right to do so. Just as people in diners do. But I do not think they should be driving the narrative. Part of it, yes, but a minor part.
Related to our giving way too much influence to "influencers" (!) is our worship of youth and beautiful appearance in this country. Aging comes to us all, but aging does not automatically equate with incompetence or inability. It just means aging. And that plays out differently for different people. We need to see and hear from more aging leaders and ordinary people, not less. Paying attention to wise old people on their birthdays doesn't cut it.
What we have in President Biden and former President Trump are two people aging, and President Biden's aging seems to be showing in occasional difficulty with his stutter and a gait affected by the neuropathy in his feet. But none of that points to serious decline! He continues to do his job, he handled hecklers at Morehouse and shook every graduate's hand, he gives forceful speeches (teleprompters and prep could not mask real cognitive difficulty, as Trump's rally speeches show!), he respects the rule of law even when it rules against his son, he DOES have a plan for getting re-elected and is following that plan, and most important, he is a good, decent man. Not a sign of weakness, America! That's a sign of strength. Exactly the kind of strength we need and should take great comfort from.
“He continues to do his job, he handled hecklers at Morehouse and shook every graduate's hand, he gives forceful speeches (teleprompters and prep could not mask real cognitive difficulty, as Trump's rally speeches show!), he respects the rule of law even when it rules against his son.” Absolutely!
It is a shame that we do not have a ceremonial head of state separate from the decision-making head of state. The ceremonial head would have a strong, expressive voice and no stutter. The decision-making head could get on with fact-finding, with conferring with Congress and with foreign leaders, and using his or her powers of persuasion.
It is another shame that the public knows so little about stuttering, about dementia, Parkinson’s, etc., and is willing to have strong opinions based on little knowledge.
I think part of our problem is that we in the US give too much credence to entertainers and pundits and not enough credence to voters. I certainly think entertainers, artists, creative people of all kinds have a right to express opinions. Just as sports people have a right to do so. Just as people in diners do. But I do not think they should be driving the narrative. Part of it, yes, but a minor part.
Related to our giving way too much influence to "influencers" (!) is our worship of youth and beautiful appearance in this country. Aging comes to us all, but aging does not automatically equate with incompetence or inability. It just means aging. And that plays out differently for different people. We need to see and hear from more aging leaders and ordinary people, not less. Paying attention to wise old people on their birthdays doesn't cut it.
What we have in President Biden and former President Trump are two people aging, and President Biden's aging seems to be showing in occasional difficulty with his stutter and a gait affected by the neuropathy in his feet. But none of that points to serious decline! He continues to do his job, he handled hecklers at Morehouse and shook every graduate's hand, he gives forceful speeches (teleprompters and prep could not mask real cognitive difficulty, as Trump's rally speeches show!), he respects the rule of law even when it rules against his son, he DOES have a plan for getting re-elected and is following that plan, and most important, he is a good, decent man. Not a sign of weakness, America! That's a sign of strength. Exactly the kind of strength we need and should take great comfort from.
“He continues to do his job, he handled hecklers at Morehouse and shook every graduate's hand, he gives forceful speeches (teleprompters and prep could not mask real cognitive difficulty, as Trump's rally speeches show!), he respects the rule of law even when it rules against his son.” Absolutely!
It is a shame that we do not have a ceremonial head of state separate from the decision-making head of state. The ceremonial head would have a strong, expressive voice and no stutter. The decision-making head could get on with fact-finding, with conferring with Congress and with foreign leaders, and using his or her powers of persuasion.
It is another shame that the public knows so little about stuttering, about dementia, Parkinson’s, etc., and is willing to have strong opinions based on little knowledge.
Ahhh, I call them the 'Illiterati'....an hour of YouTube 'research',then they're expert on everything.
And Mitch froze up *twice* in live press gaggles. No need to keep taking the bait -!
They need to say ‘Yeah ‘but her emails’ ain’t gonna work this time’.
Considering that 71 million people voted for Trump in 2020, I don't give much attention to voters either. Some are hardly the brightest group.
Well said, Beth!
Yes.
Well put!