In Pilgrims We Trust
America is a country of contradictions. None more so than the seemingly contradictory attitudes of its people. This week Philadelphia based Comcast Cable network announced it was investigating a pornography interruption in its Super Bowl feed. The lawful citizens of Arizona tuned in to watch the fourth quarter of Super Bowl on February 1st when, SHOCK HORROR, they were subjected to a 30 second clip of pay-per-view porn channel. So grave was this hardcore blimp, that Comcast are now recruiting the FBI to investigate. From the same people who would rather John McCain lead the free world into four more years of anarchy and would quite happily subject themselves to excessive - pornographic - coca cola/pepsi advertising during Super Bowl interludes, comes the oh-so holier-than-thou cry of "Stop our kids from catching a view of that semi naked man for 30 seconds". Sure it's a bit lewd, but demand of an FBI investigation? Really?
On the subject of scandals, this week it was also revealed that Alex Rodriguez, superstar baseball legend of the Yankees has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers in 2001/2002. So big was this that President Obama himself has made his statement about his disappointment in American baseball, calling it "depressing news". What's also depressing is that half of Texas' neo-cons are probably still doing performance enhanced drugs right now, aka. pot, aka. George W. Bush in his College days. Did Bush ever apologize for smoking pot the way this Rodriguez guy (or a certain Michael Phelps guy for that matter) has had to do? Did pot even enhance the former President's performance in ANYTHING?
What all this boils down to is America's clinginess to its founding fathers' pilgrim fantasy. The idea, brought by Protestant Europeans, who swore not to indulge in sex, drugs, rock and roll or any other activities the bible did not promote, has transcended into this modern day fad of persecuting anyone who steps slightly outside of their hyper-conservative moral values. Not that ALL values taught by the church are bad, indeed the church is an essential institution in America which gives people hope and the will to keep going despite all odds. It's also a public hang-out and a place to socialize and feel connected (unlike Europe's reliance on pubs and cafes). But when its steak in society extends this far into the lives of ordinary people and culture, it becomes disdainful.
On the subject of scandals, this week it was also revealed that Alex Rodriguez, superstar baseball legend of the Yankees has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers in 2001/2002. So big was this that President Obama himself has made his statement about his disappointment in American baseball, calling it "depressing news". What's also depressing is that half of Texas' neo-cons are probably still doing performance enhanced drugs right now, aka. pot, aka. George W. Bush in his College days. Did Bush ever apologize for smoking pot the way this Rodriguez guy (or a certain Michael Phelps guy for that matter) has had to do? Did pot even enhance the former President's performance in ANYTHING?
What all this boils down to is America's clinginess to its founding fathers' pilgrim fantasy. The idea, brought by Protestant Europeans, who swore not to indulge in sex, drugs, rock and roll or any other activities the bible did not promote, has transcended into this modern day fad of persecuting anyone who steps slightly outside of their hyper-conservative moral values. Not that ALL values taught by the church are bad, indeed the church is an essential institution in America which gives people hope and the will to keep going despite all odds. It's also a public hang-out and a place to socialize and feel connected (unlike Europe's reliance on pubs and cafes). But when its steak in society extends this far into the lives of ordinary people and culture, it becomes disdainful.
posted by Lost in Americana at 1:34 am
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