Monday, December 14, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

Hell Hath No Fury



A couple of days ago, a friend sent me an article by Newsweek reporter Allison Samuels. The piece, on Newsweek's website, is titled, "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Swedish Ex-Model: Elin Nordegren Woods and the myth of the angry black woman."

It's a good article. Samuels basically notes that women, no matter what race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, etc., will become angry when they are betrayed by a loved one. It's not, in my words, a Black thing.

But one line in the piece really stood out to me. Samuels writes:
"…the golfer reportedly told a friend shortly after the incident that his wife had gone "ghetto" on him."

WHAT ?

What does that mean? Can somebody please tell me what that means ?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Salahis: "They Looked Like They Belonged"
















Last week, I wrote a blog and mentioned that I would never have gotten into the White House State Dinner because, "I'm not blond. I'm not thin. And I don't make the men of the Secret Service blush..."

In the blog, (Thoughts, Dec. 2, 2009), I wrote:
"Let's just face it: We live in a society where beauty is everything. An attractive person can get into places and do things "average" people can't. They have access to people "ordinary folks" don't. With a smile, flip of the hair or a beautiful red dress, they can go any where... even to the White House."

Well, a friend disagreed with my assumption and admonished me for this claim during a late night dinner.

But in Sunday's Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize winning fashion columnist Robin Givhan, seemed to agree with me. In her column titled, "Why They Got In: They Looked Like They Belonged," Givhan wrote that the Salahis were able to get into the White House State Dinner, pass security and Secret Service, because they "looked the part. They looked well-off."

Givhan reminded us that, "Women who look like Michaele Salahi get more than their share of lucky breaks. …The Bergdorf blonde…is the epitome of the trophy wife." Michaele Salahi, Givhan wrote, "conforms to the cultural standards of what a wealthy, privileged, important person is assumed to look like…tall, thin, white, blond, privilege."

Givhan noted:
"As much as people hate to admit that decisions about who belongs where, who is important and who should be believed without question are based on appearance, it happens all the time. …Appearance trumped caution, skepticism and safety…The Salahis weren't on the guest list. But instead of turning them away, the Secret Service waved them in. Would they have been so gullible if it had been a young Black man in a tuxedo or a short, squat, gray-haired woman in a modest black dress…"

Or what about a short, not-thin brown girl with locks? I think not.
So, I stand by my statement — I would have never gotten in.

To read Givhan's entire column, click here.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

tiger, tiger, tiger


For some reason, I'm fascinated with this Tiger thing.
I mean, everyday some new woman comes out claiming she too had an affair, fling, or whatever with Tiger. One media outlet noted that the number of mistresses is now up to ten: The Tiger Ten. Another outlet has nicknamed the famed golfer, "Lion Cheetah." (that's funny)

Most recently, California Congressman Joe Baca has withdrawn his proposal to honor Tiger with a Congressional Gold Medal — a Congressional Gold Medal, now that's big.

And the media keeps adding fuel to the fire.

In her latest article about the Tiger "situation," USA Today columnist Christine Brennan writes that, "What Tiger Woods has caused to happen to himself and his image over the past two weeks is the sports world's most remarkable fall from grace, ever. No athlete has ever held a perch so high in our culture — right up there with President and Mrs. Obama, and Oprah — and fallen so far so fast."

She goes on to write, "When he does come back to the golf course, he will return without the aura of invincibility that won him so many titles. How will competitors ever fear him again? They might pity him, or make fun of him under their breath, but fear?"

Wow. Really?
Michael Jordan cheated on his wife and for many he is still considered the world's greatest basketball player. And I don't even have enough room to name the countless entertainers, athletes, politicians and dare I say clergymen, who have "fallen from grace" and have gotten back up with wide support. (Didn't Bill Clinton get reelected?)

Donald Trump seems to think Tiger will weather this storm and come out even stronger. Trump told the entertainment show Extra that Woods "is going to be hotter than ever - mark my words."

What do you think?
Do you think Tiger's "transgressions" have ruined his career or do you agree with Trump that he will recover from this, "hotter than ever?"

I guess only time will tell.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Monogamy Overrated?


Okay, I should be learning new Jazzercise routines right now, but as you can see I'm blogging.

In an exclusive interview with E ! Online, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner says that he is surprised that people are so surprised to hear about Tiger Woods' infidelity.

In the story Hefner says that "marriage is just a convenience" and that "the notion that monogamy lasts forever is a wish !"

Wow.

Am I living in some kind of fairyland? I know that I can be idealistic at times, but what's wrong with expecting faithfulness?

Call me naive, but I don't want to be in a marriage where I am "not surprised" if my husband cheats.

What are your thoughts?

What Would You Do?


So, The Huffington Post, quoting from TMZ, has said a fourth woman would be coming forward to admit her affair to golfer Tiger Woods. According to The Huffington Post, using reports from Radaronline.com, the 26-year-old woman is claiming that she had a two-year affair with Tiger.

Wow. Tiger's been "busy." ggrrrrrr

According to People.com, Tiger and his wife, Elin Nordegren, are in intense marriage counseling right now. The magazine Web site has reported that the pair are renegotiating Nordegren's pre-nup from $20 million for 10 years to $55 million if she stays with him just two more years - just two.

My question, would you stay?
Two years isn't a long time and $55 million is a nice lifestyle.

OOOOH, WEEEEEE



That's what I said when I saw TheRoot.com's list of 100 emerging and established African American leaders who are making extraordinary contributions.

More than half (nearly 60) of the list are men. I don't know the marital status of all the men. I do know a few are married. If I eliminate those, there are about 20 that I wouldn't mind meeting for coffee.

They are smart, creative, ambitious, accomplished - and in my age range (late '30, early '40s).
These are good guys. Well, on the surface (or as they say, on paper) - they seem like good guys.

Check out TheRoot.com's list here: http://www.theroot.com/views/root-100.

Thoughts?

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Thoughts?



What are your thoughts on Tiger Woods and his "situation"?

Do you think Serena Williams' punishment was too harsh?

What about the White House Party Crashers?

Well, I tell you one thing. I would have never been able to crash a party at the White House. I'm not blond. I'm not thin. And I don't make the men of the Secret Service blush...

Let's just face it: We live in a society where beauty is everything. An attractive person can get into places and do things, "average" people can't. They have access to people "ordinary folks" don't. With a smile, flip of the hair or a beautiful red dress, they can go any where... even to the White House.

I'm still wondering... who found out they were party crashers (and then told the media)?