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Topsy-turvy reality goes adrift
(by Barbara Christian - March 31, 2011)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Topsy-turvy reality goes adrift
Sometimes you just have to say, "Huh?" We found ourselves muttering that word multiple times last week after hearing three pieces of "Huh" worthy news.
The question we pose here is, did anyone else's jaw drop? If not, then we know how Alice felt after landing at the bottom of that rabbit hole.
Just out of curiosity, we'll relate them to you and see if you give an indifferent shrug or "Huh?"
The first item came from one a local publication announcing its new blog to which anyone and everyone can submit news and photos. What a clever way of not paying staff.
What the announcement didn't say is that, if you do read the stuff submitted, you should know that it may be just hearsay and therefore heresy and that the photos that may amaze you may have been digitally altered.
Second on our Alice down the rabbit hole list begins by asking the question: Who else out there thinks the Your Home Town Chagrin Falls group should not stage its Wine by the Falls benefit 10 miles west of the falls?
Who thinks it's not a good idea for the organization which is dedicated to all things Chagrin Falls to hold said benefit at a private country club in Shaker Heights? OK, so maybe we are being too parochial, but remember the event is called Wine by the Falls, not Wine on the Heights.
Our third jaw dropper came at the close of the March 20 edition of possible presidential candidate Donald Trump's reality show, "Celebrity Apprentice." We wondered why the Donald fired supermodel Niki Taylor after praising her loyalty and honesty. His rationale says it all about the brave new world of business where -- judging from the country's recent near fatal economic meltdown -- there appears to be an astonishing lack of loyalty or honesty.
On "Celebrity Apprentice" and its non-celebrity "The Apprentice," the key is for contestants to make their team members look as bad as possible by saying nasty and horrible things about them. Squealing on the next person is condoned, expected, and the betrayals are painful to watch.
Niki the supermodel heard the Donald say, "You're fired," because she was honest and did the right thing by her team members after leading them to a loss then took responsibility for it.
But right and wrong, loyalty and responsible behavior are not qualities that matter in the Donald's world. After saying he admired her and that her loyalty to teammates was rarely seen on his show, he fired her anyway. "You're fantastic, it doesn't matter, you're fired." Huh?
So being a good, responsible person is grounds for firing, while the ruthless blame game is acceptable strategy for getting ahead.
Maybe it's just a matter of perception, and all these people, places and things just need to be re-branded, as ad people call it.
For instance, the tagline for that news blog could be, "Drink me then check the information yourself." Donald Trump gets the new name, "Mad Hatter." And Your Home Town Chagrin Falls becomes, "Your Home Town Wonderland."
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