Article Contributed on: 10/26/2006 11:22:27 AM
Almost there! We are rapidly coming up on another amazing season of American Idol. I anxiously await the rude comments provided by Simon, the ceaseless litany of "dawg" speak by Randy, and the seemingly drug-induced cheerleading of Paula. A singer myself, it is a joy to watch qualified contestants pull out some awesome performances battling for the grand prize. The part that always amazes me, in an appalling manner, is the endless hours of terrible singers to which we are subjected. It seems that at least half of the season is dedicated to those who were embarrassingly bad. In fact, we are treated to extended recap shows towards the end of the season and, recently, we even get to see them in the finale. What is going on here?
It seems that America has a particular love for watching the truly pathetic make fools of themselves on national television. This must be the case. Why else would they give us week after week of such content? It must tickle some dark side of our humanity that just loves to watch those less fortunate. Perhaps it allows us to elevate ourselves in comparison. It gives me an idea for my own reality show. It would be called "American Idiot." The show would present one loser after another bumbling through life and failing to meet even the most basic requirements of normal behavior. America could vote on the best idiot. The winner would receive cash prizes placed ,of course, in a managed trust with a custodian appointed by the producers. We wouldn't want the contestant to lose their prize coming in second place on next week's show. I digress. This is not my point and will server better in another blog.
So we all have an idea of how many people try out for American Idol. It is a simple fact of math that the judges could not possibly review all of them personally. There is simply not enough time. Not having tried out myself, I assume there are pre-screeners who pass through contestants that meet the basic qualifications. This is necessary for both time constraints and entertainment value. Who wants to watch average, semi-qualified folk be told they are good enough for the church choir but just don't cut it for stardom. That might actually be uncomfortable to watch. So the pre-screeners are there to save us. So how do these terrible singers get past them? Clearly, they select the really bad ones for our entertainment. The best part is that they choose people who are really bad but are also unaware of that fact. It just isn't fun to watch someone dissembling to make it on television. So we get hour after hour of lousy singers suffering from a variety of mental handicaps. This leads me to my main observation. How inappropriate is that label? They are not handicapped. They, in fact, have a very functional mind designed to protect them from reality. Facing the truth would not be the best survival mechanism for these organisms.
So what is this? Traditional psychology would use the term "defense mechanisms." At some level, we all have the ability to hide from the truth about ourselves. I believe this is a necessary function. I am a very big fan of Charles Darwin and think it is possible that eons of evolution may have weeded out those who could not hide from the truth in a social context. The wretched, aware of their condition, may have been depressed, lethargic, social outcasts, even suicidal. These are not useful traits for passing on your genes. In time, the human species developed this clever survival technique. Our American Idol contestants (the bad ones) are simply specimens with over-developed skills in this department.
So how about the rest of us? Maybe there are a few of us out there who can truly face ourselves. More often than not there will be at least some basic things we hide from.
Belief: "They are jealous of my intelligence" Truth: "He is an arrogant $%^#&."
Belief: "She is afraid of commitment" Truth: She is looking for an upgrade.
and so on...
Where am I going with this? What do you believe about yourself when you are the president of the United States? Do you consider yourself lucky to have landed in your job? Are you unqualified, weak, feckless, and just waiting for the weekend? Are you there only because of nepotism or some random act of politics? Do you go to work each day planning to screw up the nation? Maybe your only concern is the new interns on staff and whether or not they are hot. Maybe you set out each morning hoping there are no challenges to face. Sound right? I don't think so.
In conclusion, to be president you would probably have to believe in yourself. I believe the nation, maybe the world, will breathe a sigh of relief when our current president leaves office. Never before have I known a president to be so disliked. In the face of this, even the president must protect himself from the truth and keep a mental shell in place. He is, after all, human like the rest of us. So, call him a fool, disagree with every decision he makes, campaign against him, and vote him out of office. Try to remember, however, that he goes to work each day and tries to do what he thinks is best for the country. He tries to affect change for the better and win those battles he considers most important. Many people out there, frequently those without a sophisticated political knowledge, like to portray him in typical Michael Moore fashion: a tap-dancing, Satan loving snake with his own personal agenda based in greed and lust for power. Is this the case? Probably not. Consider carefully how the nation would feel about YOU as president before you wage a personal assault on a man you do not know personally.