Monday, June 28, 2010
Open Letter to Future Leader of the Free World, Sarah Palin
Words Jesse Scaccia
Monday, June 28th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Dear Sarah,
I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. Okay, so this probably isn’t how most of your interactions with the media start, but you keep asking us to stick to the facts, so that’s what I’m doing.
In 2010 America, looks matter, and we're lying to ourselves to say they don't.
It matters that you’re hot (in a sophisticated, dominant, glow-of-Jesus-shining-through-your-tan-taut skin kind of way) because men are idiots. We will tolerate just about anything from a beautiful woman. And if we believe in that woman’s intelligence and message as well? We’re foot soldiers in the wake of her perfection. Like Helen of Troy, you have a sexiness that could launch a thousand ships. The men of America–liberal or conservative–might not be ready to follow you, but their lust (sadly, I know) will keep you buoyed on the national stage, buying you time to develop and evolve in the public eye.
And the connection you have with women… And with Christians… And with your son having served abroad, with the military and military families… Forget about it. You have innate, real, soulful connections with huge swaths of this country, and possibly all of it.
You already know this, Sarah, but let me confirm it: You’re a leader. You might think I’m being sarcastic, given that I’m a member of what you call the “lamestream” liberal media, but I believe you have the potential to be a leader of historic proportions.
It’s because I believe in you that I’m writing to give you a piece of friendly advice: If you want to reach your leadership potential please, Sarah, stop playing to the extreme conservative base. To ascend to your destiny you need to see all of us as your followers.
Let’s look at some of the things you said last night here in Norfolk at the Freedom Fest at The Ted and see how you can do better at including everyone.
You said, “If the media did its job, our world would be a better place.” I wouldn’t put it quite this way, but it’s great that you recognize the power and potential of the media. But rather than chastise us and turn us away, why not work to bring reform to the media industry? Why not support journalism schools, promote and sponsor scholarships for promising journalism students, and maybe even work to see that newspapers receive the government subsidies they might need to do their best work in this awful economy for our business?
When talking about both our foreign wars and your war with the media, you said, “Don’t retreat. Reload.”
She glowed like an angel last night.
I wonder, is such tough talk the Christian way? Doesn’t this encourage fighting rather than positive discourse? Doesn’t the Bible say, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”?
Wouldn’t a more loving attitude win you more supporters, not to mention converts?
Language matters, Sarah. Words can either build bridges to common grounds, or they can create even deeper and more treacherous valleys than before. Too often last night you chose the latter.
In talking about the gulf oil spill, you said, “I’m gonna still keep chanting Drill, baby, drill.”
We all understand the logic behind off-shore drilling. Being energy independent from foreign nations is a goal every American shares. But you chose to phrase this in a way that you, being an intelligent person, know pushes a lot of people away. Why not phrase this argument in a way we all can get behind, at least to some degree? Why not meet the environmental side in the middle, and say let’s just drill until alternative energies meet our current consumption?
Another focus of your speech last night was chiding President Obama for recognizing that all countries believe they are exceptional. I love America too, and think we’re wonderful, but can’t all countries be exceptional at once? Right now one in six Americans are first generation. Isn’t there a way to talk about how great America is without putting the rest of the world–and our new fellow citizens, who still love their birth and ancestral countries–beneath us?
I believe in you, Sarah Palin. Please, show that you believe in me–and everyone else not like you–too.
Your looks and charisma will keep you around for a while. Use that time to evolve, something Americans just love. Change your language. Include us all. Lead us all. Love us all.
And if things don’t work out with Todd, well, we can talk about that too.
""
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ABOUT THE WRITER
Jesse is the editor in chief of AltDaily, and he's going to take this bio seriously, but not so seriously that he's going to continue in the third person. I've been involved with a bunch of local projects and civic groups in various roles, including: Hampton Roads, The Canvas; Art | Everywhere, Street Performance in Norfolk; Survive Norfolk; Hampton Roads Pride/Out in the Park; Bike Norfolk; re:Vision Norfolk, and such.
I originally came to Norfolk as a Perry Morgan fellow in ODU's creative writing program. Before that I bummed around quite a bit, writing stacks of books that never got published, hitchhiking, couchsurfing, riding the Greyhound up down and back across this country. Some of my favorite jobs and volunteer gigs have included working on organic farms in Ireland; being first mate on an old sail boat in Holland; working at a long-term home for young men in South Africa; being a journalist and high school teacher in New York and California; washing dishes in Yosemite National Park; teaching English in DC and swimming in Florida; and interning at ESPN in Bristol, which was much less cool that you'd want it to be. My career highlights have been having three of my op-eds run in the New York Times, and being the executive producer of a six-part docu-drama on BET. Because school is cool I have three master's degrees (ODU for MFA, NYU for magazine journalism, University of Connecticut for secondary English education). I live in Norfolk because I believe in its potential. Email your ideas or nicely couched criticism to jesse@altdaily.com.
Other posts by Jesse Scaccia.
Other posts by Jesse Scaccia.
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I tend to agree with the assessment here of her potential leadership qualities based almost solely around demographics and charisma. That said, I think her focus on the fringe conservative base is not indicative of ignorance to her potential broad scope of influence but more so of her proclivities toward being borderline crazy. Based on the things I’ve heard her say, she doesn’t WANT to be accepted more broadly; she doesn’t WANT to make things better; she doesn’t WANT to love her enemies, etc. I don’t even think she intends on seeking political office in the future. Seems her move into public speaking was more about opportunistic money-making and solidifying the feet of the already hard-hearted in a misguided desire to perpetuate political divisiveness (after all, a lot of those in strong support of her are very, very wealthy. Gift horse, epitomized). It strains my deepest sinews of hope to have to align myself with her, even in title (Christian). Despite my own personal failures in that regard, she doesn’t seem to exemplify the philosophy, spirit, and focus of Christ. Though, that may seem unfairly judgmental.
Kudos for sitting through FreedomFest. I don’t know that I could have.
Government-subsidized newspapers? Come on, Jesse, you know better than that!
Also, I know you are quoting Palin when you say “‘lamestream’ liberal media,” but: 1. “lamestream” is a play on “mainstream,” which you are, by definition, not; and 2. you and many of your readers may be “liberal,” but you should strive not to be in your reporting. You are simply — and proudly — “alternative media.” No other adjectives needed.
Otherwise, an enjoyable and honest piece, as usual.
Do you think that it will cause a conflict of interest if the media is sponsored by the federal government in forms of scholarships and grants to budding journalism students. Will this smooth over the tensions between the media and government? I agree with you Jesse on the fact that as a politician Sarah Palin has a lot to learn about the use of language in her speeches. She needs to find a new speech writer. Like you said instead of saying “Drill Baby Drill” she could have used better language to get her point across to the public. She has a lot to learn before she will ever succeed in the political world.
NPR is government subsidized.
“Democracies – including Japan, Britain, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Denmark and Switzerland —heavily subsidize public media.”
http://newsroom.lmu.edu/newsroompressreleases/mediaforum.htm
Yes, I am being lazy and not looking it up, but I recently read that some of the earliest newspaper in the United States were in fact subsidized.
Does anyone know what I’m talking about or am I making stuff up again?
I agree. Such slanderous and erroneous misuse of language really makes her sound more like a Nazi than a diplomat. The only thing I could think was how much she sounds like a future dictator with humanistic potentiality still. She sounds misunderstood in her politics.
Wow. This article is why we lend so little credibility to anything found on the Internet. Try a little more sarcasm, a few more snide comments next time. She’s just a person. Can you simply and openly disagree, or must you conceal and belittle?
Robert,
I would love to know who the “we” you refer to is.
I actually wasn’t being sarcastic. I do sincerely recognize her leadership potential, and I do think she’s more likely to reach it with a less divisive message.
Jesse, tsk tsk, and I thought you preferred substance over style, or in this case, GILF-ness. :D
Jesse Scaccia said “I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you.”
I guess that the term “lamestream” liberal media fits very well in this
case. This is not a christian attitude by my standards.
Jesse Scaccia said “Why not support journalism schools, promote and
sponsor scholarships for promising journalism students, and maybe even
work to see that newspapers receive the government subsidies” The
“lamestream” liberal media should know she in not in congress or the
president, yet. Of course subsidies is the solution for all problems.
“Don’t retreat. Reload,” sounds like being prepared to protect the
Afganistans and persue the enemy.
Obama is full speed ahaed on “green” energy so she doesn’t have to
mention it. Obama is against any and all drilling so she has to
emphasize it.
By the way, did you send this to her or is this a bunch of raving.
Not going to go point-by-point with you, but two things:
- When you wear red heels, a skirt above the knee, a tight skirt (etc.), you are positioning yourself as a sex symbol. She opens–and invites–this kind of talk. It is what it is, and I love and respect her for it.
- Yes, I did send it to her people (as best as I could find their contact info.)
When the lights come up on the fucking freakfest faire
and you realize that you are left gulping for air-
the environment so toxic, the rhetoric so thick
you could set the night on fire with a single candlestick-
you wonder how it came to pass- your seat in this vile place?
You feel the look of energized contempt mirrored on each face.
“Don’t retreat- reload!” she said and you heard the many roar,
but what you missed at each quick quip: community hitting the floor.
No video, no media, no wonder it can go on:
for the light of day- the free press- is to them the devil’s spawn.
The fire-and-brimstone, dervish-provoking hype this woman wields
leaves the middle majority marginalized- too stunned to find their shields.
She speaks so plain and sometimes just wrong, she must be one of us!
And all these men, they say it too, so gosh darnit just don’t fuss.
But- did she really just say THAT out loud- is that really okay?
Oh, who cares- here’s one of my favorite songs: God Bless the U.S.A.