On Oprah

Maybe you’ve heard the “big news” that Oprah’s final season will be next year.  I heard because I watch almost every day.  This is probably a good thing (next year being her last season) because I’ve been having a harder time watching Oprah lately (and lots of shows actually, like What Not To Wear and Biggest Loser).  I like the Oprah shows where she is bringing an issue to light (like transgenderism) or where she is mobilizing her audience to read a good book, think about their place in the world, or actually do something (like educating girls in South Africa).  Though I know that none of this work is innocent per se, I think in some ways, she does some good. I don’t like most of the shows she has with celebrities and I hate the shows about her “favorite things”.  Things, things, things, is that what you want to teach your girls in South Africa, Oprah?  Consumerism?

Last week though I really noticed a contradiction that bugged me and made me want to stop watching.  One episode was on the lady that had her face ripped off by a monkey.  There’s no way to say that that doesn’t sound funny, but I’m really not trying to make it sound funny.  It was sickening to hear about how the whole thing happened and Oprah got the chance to be the first to show this lady’s non-face on TV.  It was sad and bizarre, but overall, Oprah treated the woman with dignity and emphasized the fact that she (Oprah) could feel her spirit.  The moral of the story is, you don’t need a face to be beautiful.  Looks don’t matter.  Well, that’s nice, but THEN a few days later Oprah had a whole show on how essential it is to have shoes that make you look thinner.  She pulled people off the street and transformed them via their footwear.  It was crazy to see how truly happy people (all women) can feel when they have more socially acceptable footwear.  By crazy, I mean sad.  And what’s even more sad is that I really do understand.  But honestly, Oprah, don’t you see the problem?  We are beautiful without a face, but not without expensive heels?  What?