Quiet Down Quindlen

I can never read more than two paragraphs of Anna Quindlen. She is one of the high ranking Spin Sisters: those women in the media who try to come across as being "just an average American woman struggling through life just like you." Yeah, like me because I have a six figure salary (enough to cover what insurance doesn't), a nanny, numerous books published with more contracts in the wings, and an extreme liberal stance on politics. Right. That's me and that is most definitely every woman I know.

She thinks that she represents the majority of women in American in calling Bush a liar, demanding abortion be legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and thinking that John Kerry is the answer to our prayers. Now I am sure that Ms. Quindlen is a person of integrity. That is, I don't doubt that she honestly thinks that more women than not agree with her politics.

The human experience is not unique. We all experience sadness, joy, hope, depression, loss, gain, etc. at some point in our lives. I do think experiences can be relative. While I haven't lost a daughter, it doesn't keep me from sympathizing with a mother who has, as have I, distressed over the death of someone whom I dearly loved. I have never experienced an adulterating husband, but I have been betrayed by those who had committed to loving me. These are the things that unite us in our human frailty.

When Ms. Bryant writes about her children and her dreams for them; when she writes about the death of her mother and how she coped(copes); when she tells of being inspired to writing as a young girl while reading books like Betsy-Tacy, then we relate. Then she removes her Spin Sister's sorority pin and is a human being to me.

However, when the pin is on her lapel, I can't get through three lines without disgust. So Dick Cheney told a certain Senator (who had been publically inferring a lack of Mr. Cheney's integrity) to go do a certain impossible-to-do- something to himself. It is incredulous that she finds it lacking civility and professionalism. Surely it is easier to forgive a Vice President swearing than a married President having an affair with an impressionable young intern? What? The affair was private and not the business of the public? Well, so was the exchange between Mr. Cheney and the Senator. What? Pubically done, you say? Well, so was Mr. Clinton and Monica. There doesn't exisit privacy in the Oval Office (unless you count hiding beneath the desk-that might afford some measure of secrecy, er, privacy).

Personally, I wish that Dick Cheney hadn't said what he did. I also wish that Bill Clinton had remained faithful to his wife and daughter. I also wish that Ms. Quindlen would save her pontificating pointing fingers for herself. It's most effective that way and it makes her writing far more palatable.