I write on the eve of history. I have been watching the television coverage as we inch closer to the Obama Presidency with a mixture of joyful tears and awe. This is really happening!
I have been recovering from a bad cold and been locked in the house with nothing to do but take cold medicine and watch TV. It has made my mind make strange connections.
There has been a lot of talk from the conservatives about the "Hollywood elites" and their "liberal conspiracy" and I think they might be right and it might be working!
It is natural for humans to become used to things they see around them. Before TV you only were familiar with those who lived in your town and what they looked and acted like. Then TV and movies came and create different realities and opened viewer’s eyes to different visions and views.
What am I talking about?? Well, take “24” - the TV show were Jack Bower saves the world every 4 years or so. Seems like a typical conservative show, rah, rah get the bad guys etc. However, they had not one but two African American presidents on the show. And they were well-loved, honorable presidents. The American eye is getting used to the idea of an African American president. Hey if it is good for Jack Bower, right?
And now in real America we are going to have an African American President! Could it have been in part to movies and television showing us that it would be OK? Daring to show a better world then we actually lived in at the time?
This season “24” has a woman president who seems like she will make a great president. Well, if it's good for Jack...maybe our next president (after a full 8 years of wonderful Obama presidency) will be a woman, just like on TV. (I am, of course, ignoring the rest of the content of “24” but I think you see what I am saying).
I think our “liberal” media really has helped open the minds of American's. Which only makes what we do in film, TV and theatre that much more important. With more voices writing, directing and performing from different back grounds, the more we become open to other ways of living other then what we see from our front porch.
More plays by women, more people see the women's point of view. More movies about gays and lesbians, the more people will understand and accept.
So go on out there American enjoy the new president. We can make this country a better place for all of us. Get out your box of tissues, sit back and enjoy the inauguration, be inspired, dare to reach for equality for all and go out there and celebrate.
And next time I expect we will have a woman president, or I will send Jack Bower out to get you.
-Gracie Allen
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