Mr Obama’s take on how ‘American men treat American women badly’ begs the question: how did he arrive at this opinion? One can only assume that his experience of male and female relationships has been typified by arrogant machoism. Where, exactly, has Mr Obama been spending his time to become drawn into this locker-room impression of American male attitudes that represent American men as almost Neanderthal?
Psychological articles teach us that apologies can be difficult for some people who have difficulty admitting wrong doing. Others, equally guilty, find absolution in the simple act of saying they are sorry, whether they deserve it or not, rendering the exercise pointless.
Of course, the dramatic and overt public apologies to which Mr Obama subscribes do spark debate; affording a modicum of extra popularity (he thinks) and costs, let’s see now – erm – oh – nothing! Yes, folks, the ‘public apology crusade’ budget is zero; allowing Obama to appear benevolent; self deprecating and generous, without spending a single cent of tax payers’ money. He seems intent on practicing his skills in the art of apology on everyone he feels America has offended and some America hase not offended: no political opportunity is missed whenever Obama decides to reel in some credit from carefully selected audiences.
His apology to American women, many of whom are baby boomers, comes on the heels of apologies to China (yes, China – for the rape and pillage of Nanking, apparently, on behalf of Japanese Emperor Akihito: it was considered the neighborly thing to do…!); to two Muslim ladies for a seating plan from which they were excluded for security reasons; to Japan for giving it a good thrashing in World War II; to Chinese president Hu Jintao for being chummy with the Dalai Lama; and last but not least, let us not forget Sergeant James Crowley, the Cambridge, Massachusetts police officer at the center of controversy over his arrest of noted Harvard African-American scholar and friend of Obama, Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Although it is becoming accustomed to Obama’s propensity to say sorry at every opportunity, the rest of the World and especially lady baby boomers raise eyebrows in surprise at the news that American women are treated badly. Until now, American women were credited for being independent, politically informed and sufficiently respected to hold their own in the international community without Obama’s kind patronage. Thanks Mr.President, for dismantling the dignity of American male / female relationships in a single swipe!
At home, Mr.Obama’s over anxious and mealy mouthed apology program has angered and offended an army of indignant American baby boomers, outraged at what they see as the demeaning of their national status on the World stage, seeing his policies as discrediting the country in terms of foreign diplomacy. Many of them would prefer to see an attempt at resolving America’s economic and security issues, rather than this futile and empty campaign to promote its president as Mr Nice Guy. Psychological articles observe that a personality that is over apologetic might be suffering from lack in confidence (although probably not in this case) and as we all know, the value of apology becomes shallow through over use.
Frequently referred to in the international press as a ‘snake in the grass’
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/obamacare-snake-grass-rears-its-ugly-head, http://www2.mcdowellnews.com/content/2008/nov/18/letter-editor-youll-learn-obama-snake-grass/news-opinion/) and determined to charm America’s female population, Mr. Obama’s impromptu apologies about the way American women are treated are seen by him as steps in the right direction: American women may easily conclude that in the Obama household frequent apology, justified or otherwise, is the prescribed antidote to feminine disapproval…
American baby boomers view these hollow political gestures with interest – waiting, indeed hoping, for fleeting moments of useful statesmanship to appear amidst Obama’s Oscar-winning performances that draw applause from gullible fans and supporters at home and abroad. Mr. Obama is nothing short of accomplished when it comes to inspiring popularity and also extreme offence in the same sentence and continues to play to the crowd whenever he speaks publicly; like a true thespian- but possibly less sincerity?
Boomer Yearbook is a Social Network and Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!
Tags: baby boomer generation, baby boomers, elderly probems, Psychological Articles