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Each week our Boomer-In-Charge, Hershel Chicowitz, has something to say about life, society, or what's going on... from the perspective of a baby boomer. This is what's on his mind the week of February 8:
Remember the lyrics to that great song from the sixties by the Mamas and the Papas:
Words of love
so soft and tender;
won't win a girl's heart any more.
If you love her, then you must take her
somewhere where she's never been before.
Worn out phrases, and longing gazes won't get you where you want to go.
Now... if you are expecting some advice on how to deal with women this week before Valentine's day.... you've come to the wrong place, pal. I haven't the foggiest notion.
Personally, I have always relied on my favorite poem by one of my favorite poets, the late Ogden Nash. It's called "On Getting Acquainted." Let's see if I can remember it here...
Candy is dandy;
but liquor is quicker.
But then again, I am still single.. so what does that tell you?
No, this is not an essay about affairs of the heart. But a couple weeks ago, during the president's Statue of the Union address, I saw Bill Clinton acknowledge The Hillary. I watched him look up at her in the balcony, flutter his eyelids, and say with great pride, "I honor you... I love you." He "honors" her by having.... ah, never mind.
After I stopped gagging, I thought of the song by the Mamas and the Papas. But I can't relate it to the relationship between the president and his wife; I'm not even going to try to go there. Instead I am going to try to relate it to us.
Last January after sketchy details of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky became public, the president went to his old, toe-sucking pal, Dick Morris, and asked him to conduct a poll. After he heard the results, the president decided once again to do what he does best: he went on television and lied to us. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
And so it went... for eight months. Then, after he was forced to lie to the grand jury in August, he again went on television to admit to "an inappropriate sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky." But he was angry; he blamed Kenneth Starr for his problems, a lifelong pattern for this first boomer president. So what else would you expect?
But the polls said he should be more contrite. So when he was asked about apologizing, he lied again. (Old habits die hard.) He said he had already apologized to the American people. The polls told him that people wanted to see him seek spiritual advice. So he had Jesse Jackson and a couple other ministers move into the White House for a few days. (Wonder who got to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom, or if Al Gore already had it booked up in preparation for 2000?) But after a couple days, the polls said that was no longer important, so away they went. Americans have a short attention span, and of course, the Lincoln bedroom has more imporant functions to serve. Thus marked the end of the spiritual revival.
But last fall when it looked as though the House might actually impeach the president, he again went on television, and this time he did apologize to the American people. Ever the master of the polls, Pavlov's dogs could not have been more faithful.
But the president's artificial contrition stopped when the polls said he should confess to lying. And why was he so unwilling to do this? Fear of self-incrimination? Hardly. Imagine Ken Starr (the most hated man in America) taking Bill Clinton (who author Toni Morrison called "the first black president") into a courtroom full of D.C. jurors. Worried about a conviction? Of lying about a sexual relationship? Be serious.
No, he could not admit to having lied because he had said specifically for 12 months that he had not lied. Admitting that he lied at this stage would pull the rug out from under those Democrats who still support him, and give unnecessary ammunition to the Republicans. So admitting that he has lied is simply out of the question. Besides, it might force the press to look into several dozen other of his lies... and he surely does not want to open up that bag of manure.
So that's not a possibility. But let's see what else he might have said to facilitate the healing. Let me see if I can get down to his level. You catch your son with his hand in the cookie jar, when he was specifically told to stay out of the kitchen. In fact, he has knocked the cookie jar down and broken it. So, what do you want him to say?
"I'm sorry, mommy. I didn't mean to break the cookie jar."
And... and...? What else should little Billie say?
"I'll pay for it... I'll buy a new cookie jar."
Well, maybe that's asking for too much. But then again, after Steven Speilberg wins another slew of Academy Awards, maybe not.
But there's one other thing. What else do you want little Billie to say after he has broken the cookie jar? What else is very important?
How 'bout, "I promise I'll never do it again." Remember that?
And just why is it that we have not asked little Billie Clinton to say those words? Why do you suppose Billie Clinton would never say that to us?
Huh? Why not?
If you want to write more, we're open to offerings from other boomers. If you have something to say of interest to boomers, write it as well as you can in 700-900 words, and send it to us. We can't guarantee we'll publish it, but we'll surely consider it.
For more of Hershel's essays, check the BBHQ Archives or the Boomer Essays.
Hershel will have something else to say on February 15; mark your calendar to come back to BBHQ every Monday.
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
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The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
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