Hairgate?

 

!!HAIRGATE!! 

I held back publishing this piece because of fear of backlash. Unfortunately, there has been more evidence of hypocrisy seen by our lawmakers not doing what they have asked us (I see you, Diane Feinstein). So for this month, I bravely post this opinion piece that I think strikes at the heart of our outrage. (9/29/20)   

Nancy, Nancy, Antoinette. Do you really want to wear that name?

I realize my take on this incident may not be popular, but this courageous commentary is mine. If it weren't for the hoard of Jeni's brand of ice cream, which Nancy had in her fridge during the early months of lockdown (at $13.00 a pint), we could probably overlook the hair salon incident. As funny and petty as the uproar might appear, at first, I believe the reaction goes far deeper. 

I just had to write about it and touch on some of her other stunts as well, to try and get to the bottom of what has Americans riled up over a simple cut 'n blow dry, for goodness sake! 

We all need personal care. I for one, miss hugs. A simple manicure, pedicure, barber cut, or hair cut are the things that help feed our souls during times of crisis. Instead of eating our meager groceries every night, a dinner out with friends or family can do the trick as well. An easing, if you will, to temper angst when times get tough. We hate, loathe, and despise the idea of being told to stay in our homes for months on end, but do it begrudgingly if it serves a purpose for the greater good. These draconian efforts pale when faced with the possibility of death, the loss of a monthly paycheck, cutbacks in workable hours, and the loss of a job or business altogether. 

We sacrifice ourselves, our way of life, and booming economy asking WHY!

When the answers come, they're either non-answers or answers we choose to accept. Some answers make no sense what-so-ever, and others suffice, but only for a while. We fall for the Okie-doke and continue to do what we can to save ourselves and our sanity. Wearing a mask is the least we can do, right? 

Then Nancy steps out to get her hair did, and all hell breaks loose! 

I suppose saying, 'We love you, you look gorgeous darling,' would be the expected comment. But no. Listen, this isn't about shampooing while not wearing a mask, ok? It's about a 'blowout' of gigantic proportions that affect us at a visceral level. It's a gut punch with the realization that this woman, with her arrogance and demands that she expects us to follow, does what she wants while we are left to deal with the sacrifices, as mentioned above, to heal this nation. Protests and riots proliferate for various reasons, but I focus on the fact that while America falls apart, she eats the proverbial cake. 

The nerve!

As the most powerful lawmaker in the world, she seemingly breaks her own laws. As a lawmaker, she seemingly does not uphold the tenets of her job as Speaker of the House and leader of the Democratic party. She ostensibly thumbs her nose at the responsibility of leading by example. Weren't we supposed to wear masks or else be 'tracked' by drones, or something? Temper tantrums abound with tearing up congressional speech documents, in front of God and everybody notwithstanding, and all the rest of it. But because she seems to think that no laws apply to her because of her importance, she can behave however she wants. This kind of elitist arrogance has gotten on the last nerve of most Americans. 

Instead of efforts to bring us together, we get astounding hypocrisy!

There seemingly are no laws that govern our lawmakers, or presidents for that matter. No accountability for wrong-doings, no comeuppance to atone for; justice is slow to move when it should be swift (sort of like eating ice cream on a hot summer day - swiftly done in an instant). Crap rolls downhill, so is it any wonder that this behavior has seeped into our cities, towns, suburbs, and backwaters as anarchy? This lawlessness and disregard for imposed dictates are mimicked by those of us who watch. It lays fodder for discontent to grow; the match is struck, and the fires are lit. 

The world is watching! More importantly, Americans are watching, and it's not a good look.

We look to our leaders to lead. All of our leaders are held to a higher standard, and if they thumb their noses in telling us to 'do as I say, not as I do,' then what other lawmakers or CEO's are willfully following suit? Rumors are rife, and now we wonder. Sacrifice is not for one group of have's and another for the have not's. As Americans, we consider that we're all in this together, but therein lies the rub, literally. 

To have our noses rubbed in a video depicting lawmakers doing something opposite of what we are told to do; grinds to the bone! 

Please help me understand why she can't see this? I think she does. I think she knows exactly what she's doing and what's more, doesn't care. When she goes on to state that this was a 'set up,' only points to the fact that my assessment might be correct. While Americans nearly starved because of food shortages during the early months of lockdown, she gleefully displayed the multi-dollar ice cream she had at her disposal. 

Give me a break!

Well, she gets her just desserts this time, looking fabulous, I might add. But, it shouldn't go down as smoothly as ice cream, and it certainly shouldn't taste as sweet.  

  

 Photo courtesy of Guilherme Petri

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