Thoughts On The NY Times Op Ed

It’s not exactly a secret that with you know who in the White House, this country is in chaos.

Yesterday, there was an op-ed printed in the NY Times. The writer, whose identity is unknown to the public, claims to be part of the resistance.

In the article, the writer makes the following statement:

To be clear, ours is not the popular “resistance” of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous.

But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.

While I admire this person for being bold enough to speak the truth, I have to wonder if the NY Times was the best paper to publish this piece. The Times and their editorial staff are among the list of media and journalistic outlets whom you know who has labelled as “the enemy of the people”.  It’s like the writer and the newspaper is preaching to the choir and not to those who silently disagree with you know who, but still openly support him.

My other concern is that there are enough voters in this country who honestly believe that most of the mainstream press is indeed lying and will likely not believe what the writer is saying.

Only time will tell if this op-ed is the one to bring you know who down or if it takes more than this article. Either way, if it opens a few eyes and a few minds that is all I ask for.

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Will & Grace Character Review: Jack McFarland

*Warning: This post contains spoilers about the characters from the television series Will & Grace. Read at your own risk if you have not watched either the previous series or the new series.

There is something to be said about a well written, human character. They leap off the page and speak to us as if they were right in front us, as flesh and blood human beings, instead of fictional creations.

In this series of weekly blog posts, I will examine character using the characters from Will & Grace to explore how writers can create fully dimensional, human characters that audiences and readers can relate to.

In any comedy duo there are two important archetypes: the straight man and the comic. On Will and Grace,  Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) is the comic to Will Truman’s (Eric McCormack) straight man. If Will is trying to disprove the stereotype of the gay man, Jack is the iconic gay man. He is a drama queen, chases men like a dog chases a toy, loves show tunes and rarely has a serious relationship. While Jack tries to be a performer, his career in show business never quite gets to the level that he wishes it to be. As a result, he has had a series of jobs and is constantly relying on Will, Grace (Debra Messing ) and Karen (Megan Mullally) for financial assistance.

But even with all of that, Jack supports his friends and appreciates them. He is also the kind of character that helps to foster important conversations around the treatment and image of those in the LGBTQ community. Jack maybe based on a stereotype, but the character goes way beyond the stereotype.

To sum it up: Sometimes a character or a narrative, especially one based on a stereotype is not a bad thing. Especially when the character or the narrative can foster a conversation and create change that is long overdue. Jack resonates with audiences not just because he is a funny character, but because he has human qualities that many of us relate to. As writers, when we want to enact change to create a better world, we don’t get on our soapbox. We create characters and narrative that speak to and resonate with audiences or readers. That is the way to create effective change for the better.

Throwback Thursday- Say Yes to the Dress (2007-Present)

From an early age, many women dream about their wedding day and their wedding dress.

TLC has capitalized on ideal for the last 11 years. Say Yes to the Dress premiered on TLC back in 2007 and has been a staple of the network ever since.

The focus of every episode is a handful of women who are shopping for their wedding gown. Initially filmed in Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City, the show had a number of spin offs over the years. As the brides who are highlighted in the episode try on wedding gowns, there is usually some sort of drama or an emotional scar from the past that comes into play.

I have mixed feelings about this show. On one hand, it’s just another mindless reality show that amps up the drama and the tension for ratings. It’s the kind of show you watch on a Friday night when you just want to zone out after a long, hard week. But, on the other hand, my feminist self says that the show continues to sell the myth that a woman’s happiness and success in life are solely based on her marital status or lack thereof.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.