A Million Little Lies....

I was watching The Daily Show last night and John Stewart made an interesting point with his segment about the recent controversy over James Frey's memoir A Million Little Pieces. His point was the discrepency about the government lying to the public and James Frey lying to Oprah. When the latter occurs, Oprah brings the heat. As was evidenced by every cable news network in this country talking about how you dont "piss off Oprah". Oprah brought James Frey onto her show and basically took out her disdain for him lying to her and quite frankly, making her look like a fool. Which brinhgs me to John Stewarts point-the news media doesnt do the same type of hard interviews with politicians (i.e. the Bush Administration) for lying to the public. Instead they throw them softball questions. Is Oprah's wrath to be feared that much more than the government's? At this point in time its common knowledge that Dubya lied about WMD's, he illegally wiretapped Americans, people in his Administration are caught up w/ Jack Abramoff, cant forget Scooter either. But yet when Bush goes on "Face the Nation" (they should change the title, b/c they dont make the people that go on there do that), they ask him questions like when he stands on this stoop and sees the Washington Memorial off in the distance what he feels? I DONT CARE WHAT HE FEELS LIKE WHEN HE SEES THAT, NOR DO I THINK ANY REASONABLE, INTELLIGENT PERSON DOES EITHER!!! Why not ask him "So Mr. President when you stand on that stoop do you think about the American people's disapproval of how you lied about the case for war?" or ""So Mr. President when you stand on that stoop do you think about what steps you should take to correct the ills of your Administration?" Do we as a country need to rely on Oprah to ask the hard questions? Do we need any woman who caters to predominantly suburban housewives to take people to task when they lie to her? Another thing about this whole book uproar I dont get is, is it really that controversial? So he altered the details of his memoir-BIG DEAL!!! Dont read it if it bothers you that much. It wouldnt get this much press if it wasnt part of Oprah's Book Club. Are people mad because they unnecessarily read something they thought to be true when they didnt have too or could have read something they knew to be fiction? Its intresting how that parallels reading the news. Or are we mad because we too felt "duped"? Well if that is the case, how come the public cant get that upset about being "duped" by someone larger...I dont know lets say the Bush Administration? Its unbelievable that we are such a petty society that we get mad at a author for lying to us by altering details in his memoir, but we dont get equally angry when our President lies to us by altering details for going to war and killing thousands of men and women, many of whom are indigent and have no other avenues to make it other than the military. Priorities, huh?
Tune into Oprah on Friday (02/03) for her interview w/ Dave Chappelle...Black Crusaders, what!
I write this blog w/ a heavy heart today. In about 7 hours Ill be boarding a flight bound for Atlanta to pay my last respects to a close friend of mine that passed away this past weekend. My friend, Terry, passed away Saturday morning at the age of 24. T was a vivacious, socialable, gentle, and amazing man. He got along w/ everyone and regarded people he met once or a hundred times as his friend. Personally, he was someone I enjoyed spending time with, we always had a good time partying, hanging out, and laughing about the nuances of our culture . The last time I saw T was when he and his sister came up to Maryland for my sister's wedding this past May. He helped my family immeasurably that w'end by just doing little things. T was also the "life" of my sister's wedding reception. I introduced him to a drink I heard about "The Godfather" and that is all we drank that w'end. In fact, T made sure that everyone had a Godfather and he helped me get the wedding party and some of my cousins together (and my Moms) to do a Godfather shot. It was always good times w/ T.
Terry you will be missed and I will see you again one day brother.
R.I.P. Terry Thomas (1981-2006)