So here we sit, my husband and me, talking about this site as I work on it, and what I might blog about today. I offer a few of today’s headline topics: Texas adopts history curriculum changes, Bret Michaels aims to make the Celebrity Apprentice finale. SB offers “website progress” as a potential subject. Bret Michaels it is!
First, let me be clear. I can no longer say that I detest “reality tv,” since two of my favorite shows are (in theory) of the category. I can’t help it; I love Celebrity Apprentice. (Note this moment, where I post something on my own, paid-for-outta-my-pocket, blog, which I would not likely post to FB or etc.) But now that I have that out of the way, I will tell you why Bret Michaels is on my mind.
You may know that Bret has had some health issues recently. First, he had some kind of nasty accident involving a falling boom. Next, an emergency appendectomy. Then, a couple of weeks ago, he was hospitalized suddenly with what turned out to be a brain bleed. And yesterday, news that he had been treated by emergency doctors again, this time suffering what is commonly referred to as a “warning stroke.” During the examination, doctors found what they believe to be one underlying cause of this latest trouble: a hole in Michaels’s heart.
Today’s headline, though, reports that Bret intends to at least attempt to make the live finale of Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday. I happily report this to SB, and he replies with an insinuation involving timing and publicity (actually, I think he used the word “showmanship”). Well, maybe. Here’s what I said, though, and maybe you will see why Bret Michaels is today’s topic.
Throughout the past few weeks, as I watched the various celebrities undertake tasks and attempt to interact successfully with their peers on the show, one thing has stood out about BM: he seems sincere. I know, I know. You can’t tell by looking what someone is thinking. But I have to say, it looks genuine. In fact, in several instances, Bret put his own and his team’s success in peril by not stifling his own instincts, even just a little. For example, in the episode where the teams were tasked with creating two live, thirty-second radio ads for a plumbing and air conditioning company, the company’s executives were pretty specific about their desire for the ads to contain no edgy humor. No plumbers’ cracks cracks, no toilet gags. Period. But Bret, who was the project leader for his team, just had to have the crack joke. Even Sharon Osborne thought better of it, reminding Michaels of the VP’s warnings, but there was no use. Bret Michaels just cannot seem to be other than what he is.
It’s tough to be an artist. Hell, it’s tough to be an individual in this climate. People today seem to come in two types: “I’m right and you’re going to hell,” or “I’m scared to say a word.” My point is, where is the real discussion? Where is the discourse that results from each person being herself, saying what she thinks, but also listening to what others have to say, and actually considering their ideas? Sincerity demands an honest representation of one’s own beliefs and ideas, but also implies a certain humility, a reluctance to command others to adopt the same beliefs and ideas. This quality seems to be missing from most of the serious discussions going on in our country today.
I doubt that Bret Michaels is faking his illnesses, or even playing them up for the sake of publicity. I may be wrong. I just wish each person could be who she is, without condemning everyone else to hell for not being who she is. Sincerity rocks.
