Maya Angelou once noted, “We are more alike than we are unalike.” Her words are a ray of hope in these troubled times. So over coffee this morning, I challenged myself to find similarities with leaders from across the political aisle.
When I kept my focus on writing-related connections, I discovered two examples fairly quickly, despite an incomplete dose of caffeine.
1) President Bush’s press conference notes look a lot like my own draft outlines — absolutely unintelligible to anyone but me.
2) Secretary Rumsfeld’s verbal gymnastics bear striking similarities to the mental twists and turns I take while forming chapters from my notes:
“As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know, but there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.” Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing
Yes, I know my reach across the aisle was a stretch. Regardless, I’m going to keep my emphasis on the positive today, looking for examples that support Maya Angelou’s encouraging words. First, I’ll pour myself another mug of coffee. I’m hoping that’ll help.
Heee!
You know, I can’t even watch Bushie talk. Because he’s got that air of reasonableness(or perhaps, puppy dog sincerity) about him when you get the visuals, and it makes me lean towards forgetting what all those fine words actually mean.
It’s those alikes that got him where he is, sadly. Oh, if only he were more alike in other ways.*sigh*
I have a hard time watching, too. His peevishness and halting delivery drive me crazy, but oh…the hardest part is seeing how he mangles the facts.
Hee hee!!
I know the President and I have at least one similarity…The Daily Show. He’s on it every night, and I watch it every night.
LOL! You and I have that in common, too. 🙂
I just spit my coffee OUT when reading the Rumsfeld excerpt. Hysterical.
And for all your “reaching” efforts…You’re a better person than I!
I laughed aloud. It’s so useful in its vacuousness, isn’t it? Applicable to a host of situations.
I absolutely refuse to believe that I have one thing in common with any of those a-holes on that side of the aisle other than the fact that we all breath oxygen.
Fair enough! I really had to stretch, as you can see. It was a good mental exercise, if for no other reason than it allowed me a moment’s laughter about what otherwise is really grim stuff.
I think you’re right that we do have much in common with everyone around us – the ego, the social misfit moments (i.e. we’ve all massaged the wrong person at the wrong time….), the times we have to bullsh** to cover ourselves or someone else. I just wish that others weren’t getting literally hurt by what they’re doing – but I appreciate your posting. It’s refreshing.
Good perspectives!!! LOL. You’re right, though …I grieve much more than I laugh about all of this.
If only I drank it…I’s sit there witcha and sip a cup. Mmm. Love the way it smells.
That’d be TONS of fun!
You’d love my morning brew, if only because it’s French Vanilla and Hazelnut mixed, and mmmmm, it smells delicious!
More great links, fab!