There was so much folderol over this blog, I was almost afraid to read it. Having done so, all I can say is: I like it and I get it.

A long time ago I worked with an elderly African-American woman who loved classic movies. Her favorites were flicks like Palm Beach Story and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I remember feeling embarrassed by the fact that at that time in Hollywood--even until 20 years ago or so--African-Americans were not only under-represented in film, they were often cast in a disparaging way. Here was a woman who was raised watching movies full of people who didn't look anything like her and I often wondered how that must have felt.

I don't think equality has been anywhere near reached, but we're getting closer, I think, and I enjoy seeing commercials, movies and television with casts that look more the way America really looks.

Ms. Kaplan, I appreciate what you have to say and it makes me happy to know we are finally addressing these historic imbalances. Heaven knows it's been a long time coming. We white people have tried so hard to keep control over everything. If there are white people starting to feel afraid of losing their identity, imagine what it has been like for people of color for over two centuries in this country.

I think we SHOULD talk about this and celebrate a new era. An era of inclusion. An era where everyone is represented.

I’m beginning to understand why people become bloggers instead of reporters. A blogger can spit out random crap without researching anything.

Let’s talk about Camelot. It was a story, basically, about the reign of the fictional King of Britain, called Arthur. Hollywood made a musical out of it, and it was purported to be the favorite of President John F. Kennedy. He also liked the soundtrack and played it often. The White House press corps coined the administration of JFK, “Camelot” because of the Camelot Reprise song at the unhappy ending of the movie when “King Arthur” sings:

“Don't let it be forgot

That once there was a spot

For one brief shining moment that was known

As Camelot.”

Now, to equate President-Elect Obama’s turn in the White House with JFK’s “Camelot”, is creepy in the extreme. And it shows Ms. Traister’s utter lack of understanding of her subject matter. It was the refrain above that reminded people of the Kennedy administration: it was a brief and shining moment for this country, that like King Arthur's story, had a sad ending.

The lyrics of the song “Camelot” in the beginning of the movie, when “King Arthur” was happily starting on his journey as monarch, and in love with Guenevere go like this:

“In short, there's simply not

A more congenial spot

For happily-ever-aftering than here

In Camelot.”

These are certainly more hopeful lyrics, but as the tale ends with the death of the king, I don’t even want to THINK of President-Elect Obama’s administration in this context. I want the safety of being in the arms of a pragmatic, long-lived President who administers for the maximum time allotted to him, surrounded by people who do NOT betray him (as in the story) then hands the reins, at the end of his term, to another apt leader, then retires to write his best-selling memoir.

As for the wonderful Michelle Obama, R. Traister spends almost the entire blog talking about how we shouldn’t be focusing on Mrs. Obama’s clothes and career choices, while talking entirely about her clothes and career choices. I am a feminist who believes women should do with their life as they choose and in this case I believe Michelle has decided to be in charge of the care of her family--which is no small task. I respect that and we should leave it there.

Bravo. I literally stood up and applauded when I read your post.

H. Havrilesky strikes me as a person who writes so she can see her name in print. None of us give a tinker's hoot whether you roll your eyes or not. Roll away, babe. We boomers are the reason you're writing this inane blog rather than some 25 year-old white guy, dictated to and typed by his "secretary". You will never "get it" unless you have lived it. Get it?

And by the way, Felix Unger.

Signed,

A Boomer

Some of these posts are so hostile; it frightens me almost as much as Halloween Palin. Why is it we humans must see things in black and white? "They" are bad for not supporting Obama, so therefore they are terrible, ignorant people. "We" are good because we support Obama, so therefore we are brilliant, wise and worldly people. Get off it. We are all on this earth together and we don't all think alike and that's (believe it or not) a good thing. My guess is that if you met any of these people that Rebecca Traister writes about, in a different setting, like at the park or at a ball game and sat down and had a chat with them, you would like them, think they were nice people, maybe even find you have a lot in common with some of them. We need to stop this "Us vs. Them" mentality. And if you've really been listening to the brilliant Senator Obama, that's exactly what he's been talking about all this time. “There are no red states or blue states; there is only the United States”. So, get over yourselves and start reaching out. We all have the same serious problems and we need to put our heads together, whether we disagree or not, and start to try to fix them. Enough of these nasty, sniping comments at people you don’t even know. Now go out and vote. And spread a little love, while you're at it.