This morning while we read the paper at breakfast, Husband looked over at me as I snorted over the celebrity watch that masquerades as news these days. First, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez is due in court again to answer charges that he assaulted his girlfriend’s father following a game this past summer at Citi Field, and then ignored the girlfriend’s restraining order against him. Singer Christina Aguilera affirmed she is dating again, purportedly for her 3-year-old son’s sake. Asked about her recent divorce, she nobly stated that she was unhappy in her marriage and she owes it to her son to be happy. And House of Representatives veteran Charles Rangel of New York was officially censured by his congressional colleagues as a result of his unethical behavior.
I watched Rangel’s speech yesterday after the decision was delivered by the House. He, along with K-Rod, Aguilera, and so many other public personalities nowadays fell just-this-short of actually taking responsibility for his actions. Rangel admitted he may have UNKNOWINGLY done some wrong BUT others have done more wrong than he without censure AND none of this should eclipse all the good he has done. The Watergate years introduced us as a trusting public to the concept of the non-denial denial, and the revelation of this kind of behavior has not only increased exponentially with time, but also has insidiously wormed its way into if not public acceptance, at least public expectation.
Husband mentioned his fond recall of an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show, an iconic sixties sitcom. Rob Petrie had committed a blunder and his boss, Alan Brady played by Carl Reiner, told him to stop making excuses; just say “I made a mistake, I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” Rob nodded and offered another excuse, and Alan Brady repeated, “Just say ‘I made a mistake, I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.'” After a few more exchanges, Rob finally got it, said the words his boss needed to hear, and Brady threw his arms up with a big grateful grin like “Hallelujeh!” Then they got back to work. Something tells me K-Rod won’t be saying those words at any of his court dates. We’ll probably hear about how he never learned anger management as a child, so he didn’t know it was wrong to send his girlfriend 56 harassing text messages to forgive him after he punched out her father.
Charlie Rangel’s more defiant than contrite speech made it sound like Congress was looking for a pound of flesh. He stated regretfully that his censure was the result of the political times we live in. He excused his colleagues by way of saying they obviously had to vote to please their constituents, amounting, I suppose, to his acknowledgement that the public is sick of dishonesty in those chosen to serve them. Far from admitting right off the bat “I made a mistake, I’m sorry, it won’t happen again,” Rangel instead chose to minimize the issues and tick off his colleagues by poor-mouthing that he couldn’t afford a lawyer. Still, he had the hubris to insist he would ultimately be exonerated. In response to Rangel’s whine that his censure is strictly political, all I can offer is you’re a politician, dear. Suck it up.
Daughter’s Fotos pose Innocent Things to Ponder
chocolate clothing
fake movie snow
puzzle cube
