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| Mother African Union Church |
| ..A beacon of light to all, building the Kingdom of God as a loving family. |
Pastor Livingston's Blog (updated 7/21/08)
Before going into this, there a few things I need to say. First of all, I admit I watch entirely
too much television. Having confessed that particular vice, I thank God that mine is not
among some of the more seedy addictive behaviors. I may not be what I ought to be, but I
thank God that I’m not what I used to be. Second, as a writer, sometimes upon analysis of the
world, there is a burning desire to write down your observations, even if you think there may
be absolutely no one who cares. This may be one of those times. The point here is not so
much to raise the question of how television has affected our electing a President, but how
we might be taught or told what to think by the powers and principalities of television. Jesus
said, the truth shall set you free (John 8:32).
First, Martin Sheen. He played a very highly principled Democrat President on the
television show, The West Wing. He was extremely intelligent and the people around him
grew in their admiration the more time they spent with him. Even his enemies grew to
believe in his principled nature and idealistic approach to the world. Martin Sheen’s
character, Josiah Bartlett, was even so bent on working with people on the other side of the
isle, and breaking down Washington grid-lock, that he hired one particularly intelligent and
persuasive Republican lawyer to work in his White House. President Bartlett was
extremely intelligent, which allowed him to rise above most in order to mentally capture the
ideals of The Constitution and sometimes even The Bible. His Achilles Heel was he had
multiple sclerosis and failed to disclose his health condition. Sen. Barack Obama has been
likened to JFK, but I think Sen. Obama is more like President Bartlett. Sen. Obama is
intelligent, principled, and he has an Achilles Heel. His Achilles Heel has only come out in
measured instances (i.e. the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy.) What is that Achilles heel?
He is African American, which leads me to the next person to whom we owe a debt of
gratitude for this election.
Dennis Haysbert. He once played President David Palmer on the hit television show 24,
about twenty four hours in the life of a top CIA agent closely connected with the nation’s top
office. I only watched this show on one of those vacation-like days when I was looking for
some mindless relaxing activity. I was drawn into one of those all day 24 marathons. The
show had a lot of high level response by the President to terrorism, both individual and state
terrorism.
As I said, I’m not a fan of the show, but I know that when "President Palmer" left office, he
was succeeded by another black man. Now what are the odds of that happening, two black
men being elected President, back-to-back? Though highly unlikely, still it has sufficiently
introduced the thought of a black man in the office of the President.
Geena Davis. She played the President in the short-lived television series Commander-in-
Chief. Like the other characters she was extremely intelligent, wise, and very calm under
pressure. Geena Davis’ character certainly made it feasible that a woman could handle the
most powerful office in the land, if not the world. But Davis’ portrayal of The President
was not merely that of a woman playing The President, but a tough woman playing the role
of The President. Davis art imitating life was not so much to bring to the fore a woman
making wise world changing and stabilizing decisions, but her ability to be a fighter. This
Commander-in-Chief was in a constant fight for her political life with a Washington political
nemesis, played by Donald Sutherland.
Jimmy Smits. He was elected to be the successor to President Bartlett on The West Wing.
The show was canceled once he became President, but not before it made another
contribution to our current political landscape. The one question that still needs to be
answered in the “life imitates art” of presidential politics is this: Can a minority handle
being the President of all the people (including whites), without his ethnicity getting in the
way? Usher in Jimmy Smits. The Latino Smits was highly principled, intelligent and wise,
just like the other cinematic Presidents. His contribution was to dispense of most, if not all
of his ethnicity, in order to serve the nation.
Yes, life does imitate art. It certainly is a possibility even as we now select a President.
But, if that is true in this regard, and we are being told about the possibilities, in how many
other ways are we marching to the drummer of “life imitates art.”
Before going into this, there a few things I need to say. First of all, I admit I watch entirely
too much television. Having confessed that particular vice, I thank God that mine is not
among some of the more seedy addictive behaviors. I may not be what I ought to be, but I
thank God that I’m not what I used to be. Second, as a writer, sometimes upon analysis of the
world, there is a burning desire to write down your observations, even if you think there may
be absolutely no one who cares. This may be one of those times. The point here is not so
much to raise the question of how television has affected our electing a President, but how
we might be taught or told what to think by the powers and principalities of television. Jesus
said, the truth shall set you free (John 8:32).
First, Martin Sheen. He played a very highly principled Democrat President on the
television show, The West Wing. He was extremely intelligent and the people around him
grew in their admiration the more time they spent with him. Even his enemies grew to
believe in his principled nature and idealistic approach to the world. Martin Sheen’s
character, Josiah Bartlett, was even so bent on working with people on the other side of the
isle, and breaking down Washington grid-lock, that he hired one particularly intelligent and
persuasive Republican lawyer to work in his White House. President Bartlett was
extremely intelligent, which allowed him to rise above most in order to mentally capture the
ideals of The Constitution and sometimes even The Bible. His Achilles Heel was he had
multiple sclerosis and failed to disclose his health condition. Sen. Barack Obama has been
likened to JFK, but I think Sen. Obama is more like President Bartlett. Sen. Obama is
intelligent, principled, and he has an Achilles Heel. His Achilles Heel has only come out in
measured instances (i.e. the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy.) What is that Achilles heel?
He is African American, which leads me to the next person to whom we owe a debt of
gratitude for this election.
Dennis Haysbert. He once played President David Palmer on the hit television show 24,
about twenty four hours in the life of a top CIA agent closely connected with the nation’s top
office. I only watched this show on one of those vacation-like days when I was looking for
some mindless relaxing activity. I was drawn into one of those all day 24 marathons. The
show had a lot of high level response by the President to terrorism, both individual and state
terrorism.
As I said, I’m not a fan of the show, but I know that when "President Palmer" left office, he
was succeeded by another black man. Now what are the odds of that happening, two black
men being elected President, back-to-back? Though highly unlikely, still it has sufficiently
introduced the thought of a black man in the office of the President.
Geena Davis. She played the President in the short-lived television series Commander-in-
Chief. Like the other characters she was extremely intelligent, wise, and very calm under
pressure. Geena Davis’ character certainly made it feasible that a woman could handle the
most powerful office in the land, if not the world. But Davis’ portrayal of The President
was not merely that of a woman playing The President, but a tough woman playing the role
of The President. Davis art imitating life was not so much to bring to the fore a woman
making wise world changing and stabilizing decisions, but her ability to be a fighter. This
Commander-in-Chief was in a constant fight for her political life with a Washington political
nemesis, played by Donald Sutherland.
Jimmy Smits. He was elected to be the successor to President Bartlett on The West Wing.
The show was canceled once he became President, but not before it made another
contribution to our current political landscape. The one question that still needs to be
answered in the “life imitates art” of presidential politics is this: Can a minority handle
being the President of all the people (including whites), without his ethnicity getting in the
way? Usher in Jimmy Smits. The Latino Smits was highly principled, intelligent and wise,
just like the other cinematic Presidents. His contribution was to dispense of most, if not all
of his ethnicity, in order to serve the nation.
Yes, life does imitate art. It certainly is a possibility even as we now select a President.
But, if that is true in this regard, and we are being told about the possibilities, in how many
other ways are we marching to the drummer of “life imitates art.”
For this Presidential Campaign we can thank Martin Sheen,
Dennis Haysbert, Geena Davis, and Jimmy Smits. It is often said
that “art imitates life,” but after more than half-a-century of
television we need ask ourselves have we reached the point where
“life imitates art?” These four people have served our nation well
as modern day small screen presidents.
Dennis Haysbert, Geena Davis, and Jimmy Smits. It is often said
that “art imitates life,” but after more than half-a-century of
television we need ask ourselves have we reached the point where
“life imitates art?” These four people have served our nation well
as modern day small screen presidents.
The President, played by Haysbert, always made good sound
judgments and decisions—the more intense the situations, the
more wisdom he displayed in his decisions. Dennis Haysbert
is black. The art imitating life point about this presidential role
is obvious. If Haysbert’s "President Palmer" can make such
wise rulings as a TV president, then maybe, just maybe, a black
man, particularly one who is extremely intelligent and wise,
can do the job just as well as any white man. Such a black man
in the office of The President could certainly handle the job, at
least as well as a not very intelligent white president.
judgments and decisions—the more intense the situations, the
more wisdom he displayed in his decisions. Dennis Haysbert
is black. The art imitating life point about this presidential role
is obvious. If Haysbert’s "President Palmer" can make such
wise rulings as a TV president, then maybe, just maybe, a black
man, particularly one who is extremely intelligent and wise,
can do the job just as well as any white man. Such a black man
in the office of The President could certainly handle the job, at
least as well as a not very intelligent white president.
There probably was never a question about Sen. Hillary Clinton’s
ability to handle the job of president in terms of her intelligence and
wisdom as a woman. However the question for some may have
been, “but can she be tough?” After Davis artful portrayal of a
tough woman President there is no doubt in life’s mind that a
woman can also handle being tough. In fact, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s
fight against Sen. Obama may have been a rerun of Davis’
toughness as president. Yes, we’ve seen this show before: It was
starring Geena Davis.
ability to handle the job of president in terms of her intelligence and
wisdom as a woman. However the question for some may have
been, “but can she be tough?” After Davis artful portrayal of a
tough woman President there is no doubt in life’s mind that a
woman can also handle being tough. In fact, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s
fight against Sen. Obama may have been a rerun of Davis’
toughness as president. Yes, we’ve seen this show before: It was
starring Geena Davis.
The question kept coming up whether he was going to be a
president only for Latinos or for everyone. Perhaps that’s the
only way a majority of the electorate will select a minority—
with the certainty that such a candidate will not be concerned
only about the liberation of his own people, but the governance
of all the people, especially the majority, who happen to be
white.. Never mind that the 43 white men who served in the
role of President have not represented all the people,
particularly ethnic or any groups other than their own. Jimmy
Smits showed the nation that someone other than a white man,
if he or she worked real hard at it, really can serve all the
people, which incidentally if it really happens will be the first
time all the people will be served.
president only for Latinos or for everyone. Perhaps that’s the
only way a majority of the electorate will select a minority—
with the certainty that such a candidate will not be concerned
only about the liberation of his own people, but the governance
of all the people, especially the majority, who happen to be
white.. Never mind that the 43 white men who served in the
role of President have not represented all the people,
particularly ethnic or any groups other than their own. Jimmy
Smits showed the nation that someone other than a white man,
if he or she worked real hard at it, really can serve all the
people, which incidentally if it really happens will be the first
time all the people will be served.
Related article: Haysbert: '24' role may have helped Obama
"The Presidential Candidates"