For the longest, I’ve been touting the “new age” mantra: “we’re all interconnected.” Finally, the mantra is no longer considered new-age-speak. Anyone reading this note has just proven that. And now, it has been doubly affirmed by a favourite columnist, Roger Cohen. Yes, the title of his op-ed piece is about Obama. But if one reads on, the lesson is applicable in all realms of living in the 21st century, not just politics. It is simply that because most current political leaders came of age during the 20th century cold war, they refuse to relinquish that thinking. And it is their clinging to that old paradigm that has politics lagging behind all of the other socio-economic dynamics involving the 21st century’s interconnectivity.

This is not to say that interconnectivity still doesn’t have its problems. Even within the 21st paradigm interconnectivity, there is a certain amount of xenophobic connectivity. Often, people  only “connect” with people like themselves. Ala, many people only sing to members of their particular choir. But every once-in-a-while, someone comes in from another choir, singing a completely different tune and it either sounds sweet or bitter; gets you nodding your head in agreement to the beat or shaking your head in furious disagreement to the beat. But <b>at least the beat is different</b>. Halleluja! And the 21st century interconnectivity paradigm provides more opportuntities for that to happen.

Sing on, y’all! Sing on!

In order to access a software application needed for research, I had to go on-line. For now, my homepage is MSN.com.  So when I went on-line yesterday to perform research, to what did my wondering eyes appear? A photo of an attractive, young woman and a caption regarding the article of a former, high-price call girl. Then yesterday evening, in the midst of conversation, it was said that Ms. Dupre probably “hit the home run.” Her face, physique and story are just the type that would work in a Playboy centerfold. It was surmised that she will probably make a million dollars or more off of this experience.

Not that I have anything against Ms. Dupre or anything for Mr. Spitzer, but I hope she gets no more. I hope her celebrity status ends as quickly as possible. (And yes, I realize that this post could be construed as adding to that status.) Every moment Ms. Dupre is treated as a celebrity is a moment glorifying the objectification of women. Some may disagree.

Those disagreeing might argue that high-price escorts are not objectified because of their fees and the “quality” that accompanies those fee schedules. Some may argue that the arrangement is consensual, an agreement made between 2 consenting adults. Others may argue that women who marry men for money are doing the same thing so this construct just doesn’t include the marriage part. And finally there are those who would make the obvious moral argument. But refusing to jump on anyone’s moral bandwagon because I’ve got my own dilemmas, I’ll just address the first 3 arguments.

High-price escorts are toys. They are live, beautiful, dolls for men with big bucks to play with. They’re like Hummers, first-class international airplane tickets, and vacations in Monaco, or wherever the rich go to party. Yes, they are toys, objects, not even objets d’artes. Quality? It’s not about the quality of the brain, but the quality of the play. And even so, when he’s finished playing, he goes away. When he’s bored, he discards one for another. When he’s depraved, he injures (or worse). And he’s not held accountable for anything he does and he knows it…because it’s illegal.  And also because, as some would argue, it’s consensual.

OK. It’s consensual, in the mind of a man who thinks he can pay for whatever he wants. In the mind of a young woman who thinks men should pay to be with her. And in America, money, beauty and youth is prized above all else; it will make you famous; it’s the New American Dream. He’s got the money, she’s young and beautiful, there’s nothing wrong with that picture in America. But wait…a few hundred years ago, when a man gave money for a woman in this country, it was called slavery. Oh, I hear the argument loud and clear, this is different. Perhaps so, in America…perhaps.

Yes, it is different from a young Cambodian girl, wanting to help feed her poor family, who is promised a good job and ends up losing her virginity to a stranger for almost nothing in return, certainly not enough to send back home. (To that nice businessman from ???) I also think it’s different from the young eastern-European woman who is desperate to escape the poverty of her politically and war-torn country. She exchanges messages with a man who sounds so nice and loving, and sends for her to come be his wife in his house with a bathtub, a soft bed, and all the food she could ever want. And she enters the country; they are wed; and eventually she finds herself in a fate worse than the one she left.

Yes, it’s consensual because they all wanted to get away from or to something.  In poverty-stricken countries, scratching for a way to earn a living, how one earns that “living” is often concealed until it’s too late and your passport is locked away in a drawer you have no access to. In wealthy countries, like America, it’s not really concealed because it’s a way in to the New American Dream. So perhaps they’re running away from the possibility of not being rich.

And to the last of the 3 arguments, women who marry men for money are doing the same thing, yes. But there’s this little caveat; it’s legal. Still, property laws in the states are equalizing the field, so gold-diggers at least have to bring something to the table.  So that’s all the airplay I’ll give that argument.

Oh, there’s one more argument I nearly forgot: It’s the “oldest profession in the world.” Not quite, it has a rival: war.

And I’ll just end with this: These young women are called “high-price” escorts for a reason. The price that is eventually paid is higher than anyone anticipates.

m.e.

I know I’m behind in my blogging, but there have been visits by loved ones, a memo assignment, the passing of a loved one, a law school newsletter, a wedding, meetings with career counselors, a memo assignment…oh I mentioned that already. So sorry. And I’ll try to pick up the blogging pace.

In the interim, I suppose I’m still inhaling the sweet smell of a potential, giant, political success because it’s what I fell into writing about today. To get it on the table–not like I’ve hidden my thoughts before–I want Obama to be the next American President.  But my reasoning isn’t just because he’s a black man.  However, that’s as good a place to start as any.

In America, most ethnic communities are cohesive and thriving. I’m not so sure the black community belongs in that group, though.  But let me define thriving.  In my opinion, to thrive as an ethnic community means that your group’s political power, consumer power and respected presence in the national and international communities are increasing.  Notice, I did not say “star power.” Fame and fortune is one thing; influence is another.

Some might argue that Obama’s powerful bid for the presidency negates my point. That is a valid argument I will ponder, even though my gut tells me it’s erroneous… So as a black American, I want to see a black man in the White House. That’s a special turn of phrase if there ever was one… Anyway, I personally want to see a black man as President of the United States of America because young black men and younger black children need a powerful example of black male leadership. They’ve not had one for decades, and it shows. We’ve got a powerful example of black female leadership. Her name is Oprah. Famous? No question. Influential? See Obama rising.  So that’s my intimately personal reason for wanting a black man in the White House.

An equally and probably more important reason I want Obama to win the presidency is that I think he is the best candidate for the job.  That job, over at least the next 8 years, entails healing America and healing our relationships, both domestic and international. Bush and crew have acted like a blight upon the American international face. Nations, non-U.S. peoples and probably beings from outerspace  have lost a large amount of respect for our country. I can hear them now, “Beam me up, the biggest, most powerful country on Earth has lost it’s mind. They’ve started Armegeddon and if I’m found out, there may be an interstellar war beginning soon.”

No, I’m not seeing any little green or purple men in my head or backyard for that matter, but taking a step back from the globe, one could only imagine…

Back on Earth, I think Obama, because of his heritage, because of his poise, his thoughtfulness and his calm demeanor can do a lot to repair the damage Bush, Inc. has done. Now there is no doubt it will take more than 8 years to undo what the failed MBA has managed to accomplish. But Obama can give it a good start in the right direction. Yes, he will have to be on Air Force One damn near everyday to put things right again between America and the rest of the world, as well as between Americans and each other. But I think he can do it; he can get us going in the right direction, get us to start thinking about bridge-building instead of country-bombing.

Some will argue that  Hillary can do that, too. I’m not so sure and will take the high road to discuss my point–the low road also being available. I don’t think Obama would keep silent in the wake of a Rwanda or Bosnia. He’s already raised his voice regarding Darfur and I’m sure he’ll do the same about Kenya, if he hasn’t already.  And notice I said Rwanda and Bosnia. So the point I’m speaking on is not just about the egregious wrongness of silence when confronting genocide of brown people but the monumental importance of supporting the respect and protection of the human rights of all people.

Yes, Hillary has experience, but we’ve had a Clinton in the White House and things have changed since then, as they should have. Americans realize that we’re not sitting on this planet by ourselves, other nations are watching, other peoples are watching and will act on their perspectives. Our international face is critical not only to our domestic safety but to our domestic economy and Americans who think otherwise are sadly mistaken. See Sony v. Zenith. See Toyota v. Buick. See China rising. 

America is a wondrous country…often… She’s a tad hyper, a tad arrogant, a little tacky and a little scuffed up. She needs the polish of a calm repose and genuine humility, and I see that in Obama, not Hillary.

So this blog was going to be about something else…but it’s in the air and I digressed…

peace
m.e.