Empty Vessels

Imagine for a second this scenario. You are up for a new job and the following exchange takes place with you starting the conversation.  

"I am perfect for this position.”

"Well, have you done this type of work before"?

"No."

"Well, this job requires dealing with individuals with strong personalities and opinions. Are you comfortable working in such an environment"?

"Maybe."

"The decisions made in this job will shape the lives of millions of people for years to come. I will list a few of issues and ask your opinion on them."

"I’d rather not."

"Excuse me"?

"I’d rather not say." "This job requires you take a position, how do you feel about these issues"? [she runs through a quick list]

"I cannot say that I feel strongly either way."

"Are you ever going to give me a straight answer to a question"?

"I may."

If this exchange happened in a normal interview process you would probably be swiftly escorted out of the building sporting a boot print on your behind; however, this pretty much summarizes the Supreme Court selection process. It is truly a condemnation of our political system that in a job in which you will be rendering opinions daily, the #1 qualification for the job appears to be the ability not to express an opinion or have a “paper trail.”

Tomorrow the new Supreme Court Justice is supposed to be selected. I expect to be completely underwhelmed by whomever the pick may be and for them to pale in comparison to the legacy left by retiring Justice Stevens.

The Truth is Back

Quite possibly the most relevant show on television in regards to social commentary has returned. The Boondocks kicked off its third and final (say it ain’t so) season this past Sunday night. It examined, documentary style, the 2008 election that led to the ascension of the first African American President of the United States. In true Boondocks fashion, no party involved escaped unscathed from its biting criticism:

• From the people who didn’t know why the hell they were voting for Obama: “He represents hope or change or something. Well, he’s black.”

• To the rappers whom had no idea who he was: Here’s looking at you, DMX!  This spawned the night's best line with “Otis has found success like many Negro-Americans entertainers today… by being a professional baffoon.”

• To the entertainers using Barack’s fame to boost their own profiles: Hello, Will.i.am! You still “d*ck-riding Obama”?

• To Obama himself for saying all of the right things to get elected and subsequently breaking the campaign promises that people cared about the most: Iraq – still there, Afghanistan – still there, Gitmo – still open, Bush’s illegal surveillance programs – still going on.

• To Black people acting like they had won the “O.J. Prize” . . . again.

• McCain, Palin, and the rest of the republicans didn’t escape scrutiny either.

Uncle Ruckus, as he does in any episode he is featured in, absolutely stole the show. His complete lack of tact usually allows him to make the most relevant points. The show may offend some and many people are put off by the rampant use of the “N-word”, which ironically is done to demonstrate how offensive and prevalent the word is in our society. However, if you are brave enough to endure those minor quibbles, you will be rewarded with the type of compelling observations of life that may not grace our television screens again for a very long time.

The Boondocks can be seen on The Cartoon Network on Sunday nights at 11:30.


http://www.boondockstv.com
http://www.adultswim.com/shows/theboondocks