Summertime is always the best of what might be.
American poet Charles Bowden (Born in Joliet)
There were two political conventions this summer. The Republicans nominated Trump — again. I didn’t watch it. I would have preferred to put needles in my eyes. As I’ve written before, despite his wealth, Donald Trump is currently the neediest public person I know: a walking, talking, haranguing, lying egomaniac. The Republican Party may very well self-destruct as a result of nominating him again.
There were two other good excuses to spend too much time in front of the TV this summer: the Olympics in Paris and the Democratic Convention in Chicago.
I don’t normally watch much sports on TV, although I started watching football when I decided to follow my grandson’s college team and wound up tuning in to Bears games. Maybe it’s because there never seems to be anything good at The Lake, mostly kids’ movies and adventures, which don’t interest me.
By the way, I hope those movies are enough to keep the theater open. If we lose the Lake Theatre along with the Book Table and Cozy Corner, downtown Oak Park is in real trouble. My daughter and husband go to the new Comedy Club frequently, so that’s a plus, but it’s not a place you can go when you’re just out for a walk or eating out.
Back to joy and the Paris Olympics. The opening ceremony knocked me out. I had tears in my eyes when Céline Dion sang Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne à L’amour.” It was just stunning to see a beautiful city I have visited many times and watch those young athletes from all over the world display their work ethic and incredible talents.
My only discomfort was finding out that many of the girls have breast reduction surgery so they can compete more effectively. It’s noticeable. I guess it’s the same as movie stars having breast augmentation so they can “compete more effectively,” but it seems dicey to me. I know women have worked hard to have control of their bodies, but to cut your body to win a race?
It was a shock to see a few basketball teams from other countries make the USA work for it, not to mention LeBron James and Steph Curry on the same team. Steph Curry is, of course, adorable.
Other than that, the swimming was boring — the splashing made it hard to see who was winning — the diving was scary, and the gymnastics were terrifying.
Then the Democrats came to Chicago for their convention. These people were really happy and they made me happy. It was a bit like the Academy Awards of Politics, with all the stars and many new faces. (Too many, however, for me to stay up late every night).
I didn’t “get” the choice of Snoop Dogg as our guide(?)/commentator(?). I guess, as a certified PBS-watching-codger-ette, I would have preferred the wonderfully wry approach of someone like Jeffrey Goldberg, host of PBS’s Washington Week. Clearly I am not spending enough to have NBC aim its ads at my generation. Still … Snoop?
I won’t miss Bill Clinton if they decide to skip him at the next convention. Hillary Clinton is now the more important Democrat, and Obama is now clearly the party’s elder statesman … well, along with Michelle Obama. It used to be that wives of politicians were considered accessories. No more. These women have superb qualifications, want to serve, and refuse to just pour tea and smile.
I did not watch the Republican Convention, but I read that Trump spoke for 90 minutes — an hour and a half! Since he’s a would-be dictator, with the support of Republicans, it’s useful to compare his speech to other dictators: Putin’s recent Q&A lasted for 4 hours, 47minutes; the late Fidel Castro once spoke for 4 hours, 29 minutes and Muammar Qaddafi for 1 hour, 30 minutes (same as Trump). Apparently dictators don’t have to worry about the audience walking out, a right I still hold dear.
Maybe the best part of the last few weeks was the rebirth of Joe Biden as a happy person. He stumbled through his debate with Trump and it was downhill from there, which was a terrible shock for him. He could not keep up. Now he has dusted off his ego, accepted that he must not seek another term, and has returned to guiding the nation — well — in his last months in office. He even looks better! Well-done, Mr. President.
And congrats for choosing Kamala Harris as your Vice President. I guess you knew she’d be our first female President long before we knew.
Thanks, friend.