And my story isn’t unusual in America. Some of our most famous athletes, like LeBron James, and artists, like the singer Janelle Monae, came from struggling families like mine, as do many business leaders -- like Howard Schultz. He’s the head of a company called Starbucks, which many of you may have heard of. When Mr. Schultz was a boy his father lost his job, leaving their family destitute. But Mr. Schultz worked hard. He got a scholarship to a university, and eventually built the largest coffeehouse company in the world.Isn't it funny how the pain and misery causers, the one percent, like LeBron James and Starbucks Howard Schultz, millionaresandbillionares, not paying their fair-share, are also, at the same time, an inspiration, what America represents for the first lady. I want to tell her to stop shifting scripts, at home, and abroad. Is that too much to ask?
Being called out on your shit is the worst. It can be humiliating, frustrating, and hurtful. When it happens, the natural reaction is often to be dismissive, defensive, or to complain that the other party just "doesn't get it/you/jokes". I say, go with that feeling. Because if lots of people are telling you that you're dead wrong, you definitely don't want to stop and examine why that is...
And then there’s this other guy I know who was raised by a single mother who sometimes struggled to afford food for their family. But like me, this guy got scholarships and loans to attend universities. He became a lawyer and a professor, and then he was a state senator and then a national senator. And then, he became President of the United States. This guy I’m talking about is my husband, Barack Obama. (Applause.)
If you want to issue an effective non-apology, it's not that hard. Actually, it's the easiest and fastest thing to do in a difficult situation. Like Robert Frost said*, fuck a road less traveled — let's take the easy way out!
Since authentic apologies are direct, specific, and truthful, your non-apology should be obscure, unclear, and completely miss the point.
1. Quick tip: if "sorry" is immediately followed by the word "if", "you", or "you're", then you are most likely not apologizing.
But warned that not everything is perfect. "Now of course, living up to these ideals isn’t always easy. And there have been times in our history where we have fallen short. Many decades ago, there were actually laws in America that allowed discrimination against black people like me, who are a minority in the United States. But over time, ordinary citizens decided that those laws were unfair. So they held peaceful protests and marches. They called on government officials to change those laws, and they voted to elect new officials who shared their views," she said.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Cut-up and Paste-up: The First Lady's Praise Non-Praise of America
In another installment, where I take/cut different texts and put it back/paste together, in an attempt to... irritate and confuse you, says the George Costansa, Oppositarian, tyrannous (small t) Magnus in me (small m). I took the fist lady's statements in China, a Jezebel Post called Sorry not Sorry: How to Non-Apologize and ...
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31 comments:
Hmmm, another Gadsden Flags Save 15-35% ad and not an ad for flowing long red dresses. I was wrong about Google matching ads to content. Apologies. That must have been coincidence.
Well, I do no like her. And that is odd of me. That is out of character and I ask myself why. The reason is apparent in the first cut/paste, "families that struggled like mine." That lie hurts me. Her family was advantaged compared to most American families. Her family was stable. Her experience was advantaged and she has this weird psychological requirement to cast herself as victim when she has actually benefitted from assistance and had innate advantages. She had the best of those worlds, but insists otherwise and that malevolent education is her ugliness. That is what my soul responds to negatively.
Too bad.
Secondly she has made it very clear, lo these dreadful years, that she is not my first lady. She is for somebody else. Not me. She made that exceedingly clear at each instance of speaking and acting. I'm glad that she is for somebody. I am heartened that she is first lady for so many. I really am glad for that, so I'm not going to piss on her, but she is not for me.
Thirdly, she continually makes the same scowl-face that I criticize my deaf associates for making so much. It is a natural form of expression by the stories they tell, the frustration they're relating. But unfortunately the scowl expression is made so frequently, incorporated so thoroughly in interaction that it characterizes the face.
Fourthly, unreasonably unduly expensive. Treats the position like an episode of Jeffersons. Truly exemplifies Rome in its moribundity tolerating ostentatious and ridiculous waste. Her observable behavior has set back race relations and Democrat prospects decades. It has got all don't cry for me, Argentina up in here and I do not see that easily reversed.
It's a woman's world at Drudge right now.
I guess I'm asking the first lady to praise the country w/o reservations.
Couching her praise... You don't go to foreign soil and go on the one hand but in the other hand like you are sitting at a French bistro trying to explain that while you may have been born an American, that was not by choice. It was completely out of your hands.
You are the first lady in China for petes sake.
They put my people thru hell, but, God bless'm, they are coming around.
I mean was she preaching hard work to the Chinese?
Far be it for me to say the first lady is out touch, but, my goodness. The Chinese in America, and probably over there too, are the pinnacle of a hard working people.
I don't believe should would give that same speech over in Japan, for example.
I said my peace. I'm out. be back later. don't you all talk at once now ;)
Did the First Lady of the United States really say, "Being called out on your shit is the worst?"
But I suppose it shows just how filled with hate I am to notice. I'm sure Schmendrik will be along shortly to say just that and of course to praise her graciousness.
I meant to say i dont believe she would have given that same speech in Japan. Running out i messed up.
Obama is today's Amos and Andy, essentially a weird comedy.
Her husband was "guy I know who was raised by a single mother who sometimes struggled to afford food for their family. But like me, this guy got scholarships and loans to attend universities"?
No, he was raised by his grandmother, the bank VP, in the lap of luxury and privilege and traded on his race (or lack of it) to get into places.
"the fist lady" was probably a typo, but many a true word, as they say.
She's a bigger liar than he is.
"During the late 1920's and early 30's, the most popular radio program in the United States was "Amos 'n' Andy"; many historians contend that it was the most popular show ever broadcast. This comic serial -- in which the white actors Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll portrayed two black men -- not only dominated this country's listening habits for 15 minutes, five days a week, but also significantly influenced its daily routines."
I learned something today.
I thought Michelle Robinson grew up as a "princess of the organization?"
I bet Michele and her brother, a big-time college basketballl coach, are each multi-millionaires. So you'd think she would embrace and endorse the idea that this is a great country. Unless, of course she wants revenge for all past deeds going back hundreds of years. And I suspect she does. Barack does too.
Her father worked full time and was a Democratic ward heeler in Chi-town. I doubt they ever received public assistance.
@ AJ Lynch Unless, of course she wants revenge for all past deeds going back hundreds of years. And I suspect she does. Barack does too.
Barack's father was a Kenyan African. Until he married Michelle he had about as much relationship with the American black history as my adopted Ethiopian son. (And my son also married a black American who has a real history as an African- American.)
But note that the blood of over 300,000 Union soldiers who never went home to their wives, never married their sweethearts, never planted their gardens isn't enough for Michelle and her ilk.
It's seems obvious to me that she hates being First Lady. Is she adored abroad?
She won't be missed in this country. .
But note that the blood of over 300,000 Union soldiers who never went home to their wives, never married their sweethearts, never planted their gardens isn't enough for Michelle and her ilk.
"With malice towards none and charity for all" is still a Republican virtue.
Meantime, anybody see where Rumsfeld said a trained ape could have handled the War on Terror better than Choom?
She did also say this:
"These stories are the stories of so many Americans, and of America itself. Because in America, we believe that no matter where you live or how much money your parents have, or what race or religion or ethnicity you are, if you work hard and believe in yourself, then you should have a chance to succeed. We also believe that everyone is equal, and that we all have the right to say what we think and worship as we choose, even when others don’t like what we say or don’t always agree with what we believe."
Sounds like praise to me.
she's a democrat and nigger, we splooge stooges hate her, but the rest of the country doesn't understand!!!! they are too stupid.
and chip I never heard anyone write so much and say so little-may I recommend condensing-it will be your friend!!!!!
You're out of line, Titus.
I want to tell her to stop shifting scripts, at home, and abroad. Is that too much to ask?
No.
She apparently wanted the Chinese to see a distinction between America and Black America. There's still time on the clock for the Obama's. Are they planning something else? For example, would they like to see Black America recognized or acknowledged by the UN?
Titus, you are out of line with your 11:23 PM comment.
And the Chinese First Lady said "Why honey, we used to fold little girls feet over so they couldn't walk worth a damn. So hey! We're all on the same page here!"
And the Indian First Lady said ...
And the Saudi Princess said ...
And the German National Socialist said ...
Oh vomit.
From where I sit, Chip Ahoy's comment at March 25, 2014 at 6:01 PM was precise and on target. It reflects what I think about this First Lady. Not malice, just resignation at the folly and foolishness.
So Titus your comment on Chips' words informs me that you aren't as smart as you think you are.
Your use of a pejorative without appropriate context reinforces what I think. "Out of line" is the least of it...what it says about you is telling.
Another thing about both Barack Obama and Michelle (ne: Robinson) Obama is their tendency to "borrow experience" from others' prior reality as if their own from an era they never lived in, nor experienced to any significant degree. In short, they make things up. Why on earth would either need to do that?
Peon*! How dare you point out the obvious fictions of the ruling party's heroic narrative! Do not question the delusions of your betters. Now, get back to work. Heroic narratives don't pay for themselves.
* a/k/a raaacist, splooge stooge, haaaater, peasant, taxpayer
Titus, may I suggest writing about things you know about.
"Here's something else Paul Ryan said, he said 'When it comes to getting an education too many of our young people just can't be bothered. They are sitting on couches for hours playing video games, watching TV. Instead of dreaming of becoming a teacher or a lawyer or a business leader, they are fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper.'
Oh wait, that wasn't him. That was Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama said that.
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