 Oprah and one of my heroes who truly doesn't give A F, Eckhart Tolle |  When Rob and I went as Eckhart and Oprah for Halloween 2008 |
I'm kinda up in arms that people are up in arms about the prospect of Oprah running for president.
Never mind the fact that she never actually said she was planning to run.
And I get the argument that the president should be a person who's worked in government or politics.
Yeah that'd be sweet.
And 2008 called. It wants its ethical decision-making back.
THE FACTS ARE:
1) OPRAH COULD WIN
2) SHE'S ALREADY MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
On the last SNL, Michael Che joked about Oprah running for prez and pleaded that we go back to some old white, dude who's boring.
Come on, Che! I know you were kidding but NOBODY WANTS ANOTHER OLD WHITE DUDE, boring or not. We need someone who's gonna change the way we think.
So let's suppose we get Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris as our candidate. Great.
Could either of them win? I really hope so.
Why She'd Win:
THE ONLY REASON THE RUSSIANS WERE ABLE TO GET TRUMP ELECTED IS THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNEW HIM FROM TV.
I HATE TO SAY IT BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW KAMALA HARRIS OR ELIZABETH WARREN. AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOW REGISTERED TO VOTE.
AND EVEN IF THEY GET TO KNOW KAMALA OR ELIZABETH WILL THEY EVER KNOW THEM AS WELL AS THEY KNOW OPRAH?
What the haters hate:
I get that some people don't like Oprah cuz she used to have a talk show where she gave away cars and promoted Dr. Phil and made people fly on a plane piloted by John Travolta (I mean, would you ever...?).
But that was when she was beholden to a network. Her mission's changed.
I've heard a few people say "Well, Oprah's actually not nice in real life."
Ok, perhaps, but why does she need to be nice when she's building schools for underprivileged girls in Africa?
Fuck nice. She doesn't have time for nice. It doesn't mean you're a bitch if you don't smile at every producer because you're in your head preparing for your interview with Michelle Obama or The Dalai Lama. (I had to. Forgive me, I can't pass up a sensical rhyme.)
Who's nice all the time anyway?
And why does it matter? As Oprah said when voters complained about not liking Hillary, "Why do you need to like her? She's not coming to your house for dinner."
I like that Oprah doesn't give A F if she's perceived as nice. Cuz she knows it's not about that.
What I love:
You gotta listen to Super Soul Sessions (the podcast based on the show Super Soul Sunday)* and you will see what I see:
OPRAH'S PRETTY MUCH THE OPPOSITE OF TRUMP.
She's a woman who came from nothing, created a big career in an industry that was mostly white and mostly male, and now is trying to elevate us to a higher level. Most of the people she interviews are teaching principles like:
Compassion for yourself and others.
Curiosity. A desire to effin learn about things we don't already know.
Acceptance for what is, and doing what you can to serve others.
Fair treatment of all human beings.
Focusing on love and building community as opposed to fear and "winning."
Living life in the moment.
Believing that everyone deserves love.
Are these principles too "out there" for the American presidency?
Perhaps they seem idealistic, or irrelevant to someone who needs to sign off on policy.
How She Could Make It Work:
I BELIEVE THESE PRINCIPLES ARE A GOOD BASIS FOR CHOOSING WHO TO LISTEN TO.
Isn't that all we need? Someone who makes thoughtful, heartfelt decisions who surrounds herself with inspiring, brilliant people?
Imagine: We could have Oprah moving us with her speeches and taking policy advice from Michelle Obama and The Dalai Lama. AND Kamala!!!
Seriously. Oprah's not a joke unless we make her one.
*BTW I have no stake in getting people to listen to Super Soul anything. I just know I'm a happier, more peaceful person when I hear an inspiring interview. I want that for all of us.
Never mind the fact that she never actually said she was planning to run.
And I get the argument that the president should be a person who's worked in government or politics.
Yeah that'd be sweet.
And 2008 called. It wants its ethical decision-making back.
THE FACTS ARE:
1) OPRAH COULD WIN
2) SHE'S ALREADY MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
On the last SNL, Michael Che joked about Oprah running for prez and pleaded that we go back to some old white, dude who's boring.
Come on, Che! I know you were kidding but NOBODY WANTS ANOTHER OLD WHITE DUDE, boring or not. We need someone who's gonna change the way we think.
So let's suppose we get Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris as our candidate. Great.
Could either of them win? I really hope so.
Why She'd Win:
THE ONLY REASON THE RUSSIANS WERE ABLE TO GET TRUMP ELECTED IS THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNEW HIM FROM TV.
I HATE TO SAY IT BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW KAMALA HARRIS OR ELIZABETH WARREN. AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOW REGISTERED TO VOTE.
AND EVEN IF THEY GET TO KNOW KAMALA OR ELIZABETH WILL THEY EVER KNOW THEM AS WELL AS THEY KNOW OPRAH?
What the haters hate:
I get that some people don't like Oprah cuz she used to have a talk show where she gave away cars and promoted Dr. Phil and made people fly on a plane piloted by John Travolta (I mean, would you ever...?).
But that was when she was beholden to a network. Her mission's changed.
I've heard a few people say "Well, Oprah's actually not nice in real life."
Ok, perhaps, but why does she need to be nice when she's building schools for underprivileged girls in Africa?
Fuck nice. She doesn't have time for nice. It doesn't mean you're a bitch if you don't smile at every producer because you're in your head preparing for your interview with Michelle Obama or The Dalai Lama. (I had to. Forgive me, I can't pass up a sensical rhyme.)
Who's nice all the time anyway?
And why does it matter? As Oprah said when voters complained about not liking Hillary, "Why do you need to like her? She's not coming to your house for dinner."
I like that Oprah doesn't give A F if she's perceived as nice. Cuz she knows it's not about that.
What I love:
You gotta listen to Super Soul Sessions (the podcast based on the show Super Soul Sunday)* and you will see what I see:
OPRAH'S PRETTY MUCH THE OPPOSITE OF TRUMP.
She's a woman who came from nothing, created a big career in an industry that was mostly white and mostly male, and now is trying to elevate us to a higher level. Most of the people she interviews are teaching principles like:
Compassion for yourself and others.
Curiosity. A desire to effin learn about things we don't already know.
Acceptance for what is, and doing what you can to serve others.
Fair treatment of all human beings.
Focusing on love and building community as opposed to fear and "winning."
Living life in the moment.
Believing that everyone deserves love.
Are these principles too "out there" for the American presidency?
Perhaps they seem idealistic, or irrelevant to someone who needs to sign off on policy.
How She Could Make It Work:
I BELIEVE THESE PRINCIPLES ARE A GOOD BASIS FOR CHOOSING WHO TO LISTEN TO.
Isn't that all we need? Someone who makes thoughtful, heartfelt decisions who surrounds herself with inspiring, brilliant people?
Imagine: We could have Oprah moving us with her speeches and taking policy advice from Michelle Obama and The Dalai Lama. AND Kamala!!!
Seriously. Oprah's not a joke unless we make her one.
*BTW I have no stake in getting people to listen to Super Soul anything. I just know I'm a happier, more peaceful person when I hear an inspiring interview. I want that for all of us.
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