Have you ever heard something your whole life, but never thought about what it really meant until someone pointed it out to you? When my son and I were watching Jon Stewart last night on the Daily Show, he showed a clip with dozens of nitwit media types at the Mall asking people, "Did you ever think you'd see this day in your lifetime?" And it struck me; what a racist, sexist, backward, close-minded thing to ask. They were assuming that the unspoken answer was, "No, I never believed that people could rise above old bad beliefs, racism, and prejudice. We never learn, we never advance, so I never thought this day would come."
The media totally missed the boat here, because the American people WERE ready for this day. And if this can happen in our lifetimes, what other wonderful things can happen, if we are open to the possibilities?
A second beef that I have is with some journalists and self-appointed Fashion Police who criticized the First Lady's awesome dress. I read, "no sparkles in the daytime", "her gloves and shoes don't match", and on and on. My daughter, an etiquette fiend (both she and her brother went to Cotillion) pointed out that they were all wrong. "The First Lady," she says, "is ranked first socially in our society. Therefore whatever she does is correct in matters of manners and fashion, because her social rank is the highest. She is literally, THE First Lady. Therefore, if she wears sparkles in the daytime, the sparkles are Correct. Also the gloves and shoes not matching - also correct". It is clear to both of us that journalists and many bloggers have never been to Cotillion. The same rule applies to President Obama's white tie. I read many people say that the white tie was incorrect. Sorry, people, he is the President, he doesn't have to follow your old Fashion Rules. Same etiquette rules apply - he ranks first, what he wears is thus correct. Besides, he said he was bringing change.
Change, as Sheryl says, will do you good.
