Connecting Condi to Edith Bunker

Connecting Condi and Edith Bunker

Just like Cher or Charo, she only needs one name.

Condi

Bursting unto the stage of global foreign policy, black stiletto heels: tight, black leather power outfit. Dominatrix style. She cuts quite a dashing figure, if you read a lot of comic books.

And the picture in that leather outfit finally answers the question: "Oh THAT'S what he sees in her."

That picture of the Mistress of Foreign Policy will of course be flashed about the world. Just another reason for those sitting in the town squares of the world to believe that the lame brains we American's put in power have nothing to offer beyond "talking points" that can be summed up on a Power Point presentation.

As that picture, with all it's cheap sex and bully power gets flashed around the world; I was wondering what the reaction would be when the New York Post was tossed up on the front porch of 704 Hauser Street in Queens New York.

I can see, no---I can see and hear--America's first, best TV bigot Archie Bunker opening up his paper, eyes widening as he sees Condi in the Catwoman outfit, "Aw geez Edith, would ya look at this!"

Edith would shuffle over, look down at the paper Archie was holding, as he stood in back of his chair, and she would say something like: "Ohhh my. . . . ."

And in the pure unadulterated genius of these two master actors, Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton.; everything that needed to be said about just how bizarrely wrong on so many levels, was the fact that Condi even had this job. That's all you need when actors are that good. A word or two and the expression on their faces. No analysis, punditry, or fair and balanced "news." Just Archie and Edith commenting on Condi.

And as the morning got going in Queens, it would of course be Edith who provided perhaps the best picture of why the Condi story was just so wrong.

Those of a certain age, who remember "All In the Family" and the ripples that it made all across American culture in the 1970's when it first came on; will remember this. And maybe there are those who could pick it up in the reruns should you be fortunate enough to watch these two master artists do their work. I can't point to a specific episode, maybe someone who reads this can and leave a description in this blogs comments. But there lies in that wonderful Edith Bunker the big clue to understanding why Condi is so wrong, wrong even beyond laughter and derision.

That clue could be found, whenever there was a moment, when Edith would have to put her foot down, and just say "No"

Edith Bunker could say "no"---better, more forceful, with a trunk full of meaning and true virtue. So much deeper, more profound than Condi ever could. See, here's the thing.

Archie, like the rest of us, wasn't always the most moral guy. Didn't always make the best decisions. Had some pretty screwy ideas about what made the world work. And Edith would put up with about 98% of it. She'd nod her head, ask a question that would draw an audience laugh as we who were watching would share the smug feeling of how much smarter than Archie we were. But Edith, Edith would just go along.

Until it got important. And when it got important---there was ALWAYS a moral, always a truth involved. Edith knew that all Archie's dumb blatherings in his own living room, didn't exactly pave the way for social justice. But they were just him talking. And in the 1970's as the inherent sexism of the 1960's was just starting to surface---there WERE no rich and powerful women executives like Martha Stewart to take the scapegoating blame for the Ken Lay's and Bernie Ebbers of the world. And there certainly was no Condi. A predecessor in war crimes, Henry Kissinger. But no Condi.

There was just Edith.

And when Edith said "No." She meant "No"

No talking points, no spin, no Karen Hughes, a devil even more dangerous because she dresses as a soccer Mom in a mini van. Just Edith saying no.

And when Edith said, “no”. . . . .we listened.

When Condi says "no". . . we just watch.



4:46:12 PM comment [1]




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© Copyright 2005 Roger Wright.
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About the Author

Roger writes the blog CHURCH FOOD CHICAGO found at http://blogs.salon.com/0004257/