Wednesday, May 12, 2010

HERESY: OPRAH IS NOT MY FRIEND

I have consistently and persistently been neither friend nor fan of Oprah. I know this is a heretical statement in the minds of many women, in particular. My language is appropriate because many women, and fewer men, believe that Oprah is a goddess. She's so "in touch" with her feelings. Oprah is "so honest" and "generous." Just think of all the money and gifts she gives away. I'm watching her show as I write. I haven't viewed for a long time. Today's discussion is an old one for Oprah. The topic is weight, and Oprah has had yet another "epiphany" about weight. I can't count how many epiphanies Oprah has had about her weight since she's been a celebrity. As to the giving, what's the big deal? Do you know how much money Oprah has? She ranks among the wealthiest people in the entire world. The schools she builds; she cars and gifts she gives are simply drops of pennies in her huge bucket of money. Oprah often speaks irresponsibly. When she suggests that something is "wrong" with people who are poor or suffering; her "power of positive thinking" has devastating effects on the people who actually believe that stuff. In truth, Oprah's money could do a lot more than it does. The culture suffers from Oprah saturation. She chooses the books we read; Oprah sanctions our choices for President of the United States. She's the woman in the know. But what does Oprah know, and how does she know it? Credentials.......my dear. Credentials. Oprah makes people millionaires: Oz, Dr. Phil are two great examples. And, of course, there is best friend Gayle, who, by the way, is not a lesbian. Neither is Oprah. Oprah didn't begin this way. She began honestly. Her shows were honest; they increasingly became more sensational, and now she's turned to actually believing she is who so many of us think she is. Oprah has become an industry; she's a picture on the cover of the magazine that bears her name. I know I'm in a minority, but I'm so glad that God told Oprah to retire from her television program. That direct communication from God releases many American women from Oprah's psychoanalysis and Oprah's guilt-tripping. Perhaps women will learn that Oprah will not lead them from bondage. As I sit and watch Oprah weep because she has "gained the weight again," I realize that it must be tough to be Oprah. We expect perfection from our gods, and from time to time, Oprah fails. She's brilliant enough, however, to make her failings not simply failings, but shining examples for us all. Her conclusion today is that her "thin" self deserves the love and praise and accolades, and that speaking of her "fat" is her shaming self. With all her money and fame and connections, Oprah is a very, very sad woman who has capitalized on the sadness and insecurities of others who are just like her. I've had enough. Another women has been "moved" to tears because she "hates herself" because "I'm fat." What a world! Is there anything Oprah doesn't know? Is there any area in which Oprah has no expertise? She's a hoax, a sham, and the joke's on you. I say farewell and good riddance to Oprah.

3 comments:

  1. My hairdresser feels the exact same way! She is a native Chicagoan, and loathes all things Oprah. I love that Oprah is generous, and I believe her motivation is genuine...but I wouldn't want to be Oprah--even with all the bazillions.

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  2. I'm with you. I'll never forget her cutting off Mitch Ablom when he expressed dismay that people kept talking about the money he was making from his books, not the content. Oprah has silenced so many criticisms of how money works in this country by being a rich black woman from the working class. She never examines how come she's so damn rich and what that means for people who are poor, and that in a democracy we shouldn't have to depend on her whims for where the money she will never ever be able to spend out should go.

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  3. I often wonder why it is that we need these icons, as with Oprah. We pay multi-millions to people - singers, entertainers, athletes - why? It's not something I understand. These are merely people with talents and skills who have somehow reached the limelight. There are others with similar talents and skills still struggling. What if we spread the limelight a little wider and reduced the amount we pay for the few who have made it? Mightn't there be more opportunity for others?
    Well, I digress from the original topic - Oprah. I must admit, I've seen maybe five of Oprah's shows all the way through in all the years she's been on tv. It could have been that I wasn't home to watch or I had other things to do during that time. Anyway, I don't feel I've missed much except being part of day to day the conversations about this or that show. I really wasn't clear about all the hype.
    What I do appreciate about her is that she has stepped out and offered discussion on topics that need to be discussed - topics like abuse and rape and poverty. She's given some people pause, and that's an important first step.
    Overall, though, I remain ambivalent and wish her well on her next path.

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