Friday, March 29, 2024

WWF, politics, and examining two wings of the same bird

Posted

FROM MY FRONT PORCH

Sam Houston is the publisher of the Hood County News. He is also an actor, author, playwright, performer and entertainment producer/promoter.

Quite a few years ago, a man I worked with asked me to go with him and his children to see a World Wrestling Federation show at a local arena. His kids were big fans of “rassling.” His wife had a cold, and he wanted another adult to use her ticket and keep him company.

My first response was “thanks but no thanks.” Frankly, pro wrestling is not something I enjoy watching. It is an orchestrated melodrama. It is a farce and not a real sport but rather a scripted event pandering to people needing an emotional fix. I would rather have an ingrown toenail than sit and watch WWF!

I was adamant, but my friend continued to beg me. Since we were also fishing buddies and he mentioned something about buying the liquid refreshments if I would accompany him, I finally broke down and agreed to go.

The afternoon of the show I saw a spectacle more overwhelming than I thought possible. Each match would be introduced with an ever-increasing roar from the crowd. As the day went on the wrestling “stunts” became bigger and more exaggerated until the “main event” took stage and it felt like the roof was going to come off the arena.

The announcer made loud and obnoxious allegations against the wrestler who clearly was the orchestrated villain. The crowd booed, shouted insults and the shenanigans that had steadily increased in intensity all day, came to a crescendo with a wrestler rushing into the arena from the locker room, jumping the turnbuckle, and throwing the “villain” wrestler up and out of the ring.

The feverish pitch the announcer had generated had the crowd responding like a pack of rabid hounds, screaming, cheering, supporting  their “hero” and seeking retribution on their “enemy.” It was apparent to me the crowd needed and wanted someone to hate.

As I have watched national and state political events unfold over the past few years, it has made me think of the World Wrestling show I witnessed so many years ago. Today’s politics involve a lot of finger pointing, blaming and establishing who is “good” and what is evil. There is a lot of pandering to the crowd, telling them what they want to hear to get the response the messenger wants to impart.

Each successive politician who takes the stage must be even more exaggerated than the one before, to maintain attention, to go “viral,” and make the national TV spotlight. These efforts are directed at keeping emotions high so the donations roll in. It is also designed to promote individual political careers.

The truth is irrelevant, facts not material, and solving the problems that our society faces is immaterial. It happens from the left. It happens from the right. Each blame the other, then go about seeing how they can whip “their crowd” into hating their “enemy” and keep them in a heated frenzy so they will send another check. Solving the issues, addressing the problems, having a frank discussion of how to move forward to do what is best for the nation, simply has not been happening.

I wish the whole lot would stop telling me who to blame and start telling me what they are going to do to solve the problems we face. No wonder so many people are disillusioned with where our country is headed. We need statesmen who are concerned about the next generation, not politicians who only focus on their next election.

I think there are a whole lot of folks who are tired of the extremes from both sides and want all the circus grandstanding to stop. Life is not the World Wrestling Federation. Life is our economy, our environment, our security, our health, and our neighbors. Instead of demonizing each other, it is time to stop the circus and start finding solutions that help and support our nation and are in the best interests of our fellow citizens. Remember, the right wing and the left wing belong to the same bird!

Thought for the day: Political parties seem to reward their members not for their accomplishment in solving problems but rather in their success for raising money.

Until next time….

sam@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 260