Letters to the Editor
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Brilliant
Absolutely brilliant. What an incisive dissection of the fat, fatuous society that was once the envy of the world. Thank you Peter. My God that was a pleasure to read. And let no person suppose that this vacuousness is limited to the feeble-minded or the uneducated or the immature. Au contraire. All around me there are people with degrees surfing this tide of anti-intellectualism and superstitious claptrap. How is it possible to come out the other side of 16 years of schooling and still have no inkling of how to recognise bullshit when you hear it? We are in deep trouble.
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ThomasHobbes...
I rest my case. I rest yours as well.
Skepticism can be healthy. Cynicism only creates things like Baltimore.
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Great article.
I wish to God the American left would come out against Oprah. She is selling the same right wing shit that the Republicans are, only more insidiously and more effectively.
The indentification of Bush with Oprah is spot on. Note that Bush and Cheney are desperately trying to apply the principles of "The Secret" to the Iraq war. They think that all we need to do to win the war is think positively and reject negative thoughts. Hence the effort to shout down critics of the war by calling them 'traitors.' Hence also the lack of planning, taxes, a draft, even a rationale for the war--all of these would involve 'negative' thoughts.
The Iraq war is being fought practically by General Oprah and no wonder it is a such a disaster.
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Enough with the Oprah-bashing
From a previous Salon article by Peter Birkenhead, who, in addition to being "a writer living in Los Angeles," is a bit-part television actor:
My old dogmas about doing only the noble work of theater became obsolete as soon as I discovered the nobility to be had in punching a studio clock and getting paid for an honest day's work. But I'm not sure how much longer I'll be doing that. Being an actor requires a belief in limitless possibilities, and these days I actually prefer limits. When you suspect a star-making, life-changing gig is around every corner it becomes difficult to believe in anything else.
Are we a little bitter? Perhaps just a wee bit hypocritical, too?
On page 1 of your Oprah article, you quote Joe Vitale, then say, "That's from Dr. Joe Vitale, former Amway executive and contributor to "The Secret," on Oprah.com." Actually, it's from "The Secret" movie. Did you even watch it?
I watched "The Secret" with an open mind. I had mixed feelings. I think a lot of it is baloney, and some of it is true. No, I don't think the "law of attraction" is going to save us from Nazis or poverty or racism. I don't think it can control our reality, but I do think it can influence our reality. To some degree, we do get to choose, consciously or unconsciously. Oprah knows this and has used it to her advantage.
You write that we should be very worried about Oprah opening a school, even that possibly "in a perfect world she wouldn't be allowed to open a school for anyone."
WHY is it so damn threatening that a rich black woman has opened a school for poor black girls?!?
I am so sick of the constant attacks on Oprah and every other powerful woman in this country. Why aren't people bashing Donald Trump every other week?
I have the feeling that the people who trash Oprah either haven't watched her very much -- or are extremely threatened by what she does promote: self-knowledge, self-love, love of others, health, healing, generosity, spirituality, diversity ....
Is she materialistic? Yep, she sure is. But I figure, with the circumstances she grew up in and the success she's achieved, she damn well deserves it.
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Most of us here on Salon ARE ALREADY rich
I'm sick of people who really do have everything and really can do whatever they want - and I include myself in this - crying poor and aligning themselves with the downtrodden, hungry and oppressed of the world. It's just an excuse not to get off your comfortable arse and do something for them, let alone yourself.
Imagine this: you're sitting there at your computer, not dying today, not hungry today, no. In fact, you probably have all of your material needs met, and in fact, your biggest problem is more likely to be emotional/mental, one of direction and desire or lack of it, than anything material actually standing in your way.
If that's the case (and I sincerely apologise to those reading this for whom this is not true) then The Secret poses a good question: WHY aren't you happy when you have the opportunity to do whatever you want? WHY aren't you making the most of yourself and your life?
The Oprah message is to live the best life you can. It's amazing how many people resist this and cling to their excuses.
Finally, all the above notwithstanding, there's no question that whether or not you hit the big time is partially a question of luck. Just like being Jewish in 1939 Germany was a question of bad luck, Donald Trump being born to a rich developer dad was good luck.
I'm sitting here though with my meals assured, a roof over my head that doesn't leak, a good education behind me and an accent and appearance that doesn't make me any enemies. Whatever I do with all that good fortune is up to me.
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Oprah's Secret
Why does this author and so many others have a bug up their butt about the idea that positive thinking and visualization can help people better their lives. I haven't read the book or seen the DVD, but from what I've learned of it, I could have written that book. I'm sure no one, and certainly not Oprah, is saying sit around and do nothing but visualize where you want to be and it will happen just like that. That's uber stupid. The fact is a lot of people are held back by negative thinking and believe that no matter what they do, they can't go past a certain point. I think that's partly what accounts for the high dropout rate among minority high schoolers and others who feel beaten down by society and life. Positive thinking, visualization AND hard work will help them to surpass their expectations. I lived it! I know! And so does Oprah.