Theater at its Best?

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is on tour. A few years ago I had the privilege to see the magnificent performance. The grace, skill, detail, and commitment to perfection is amazing. Nothing like I have ever seen in my lifetime. Hands Down!

Theater appears to be extremely popular of late. Yesterday the Japanese man behind the Toyota brand was on Capitol Hill issuing a scripted justification – and making a hopefully sincere apology to the world for Toyota’s recent vehicle problems.

As Mr. Aiko Toyoda read his opening statement I could not help but have compassion for him as he sat in a room with mostly white men who were ready to cut his throat. Ready to ‘act’ in what I believe to be a mockery. Political Theater!

Today, The White House with its head of the dysfunctional household, President Obama, discussed health care on national television. All major news networks are covering the “summit”. As a matter of fact when the chat session was on, I walked in a Goodwill store to shop for a few clothing items. Saw a nice coat for my son. Doubt he will like it, not “urban” enough. I finally made it to the electronic department. Guess what? The Health Care Summit was on all televisions. I stood there watching for a total of 15 minutes while Hispanic men and women walked pass me un-phased by the theater. Good for them!

I later went back to my office in the Career Services Division of Goodwill. There were approximately 20 men/women in the spacious lounge area waiting to interview for 1 job. All were dressed to the T! All looked good. Fresh hair cuts. Fresh perms. Fresh suits.

I decided to abandon my work for another moment. I approached a prim and proper brotha. After we traded greetings (so nice that black men can be pleasant to each other, unlike black women), He asked me, "Brotha, what do you do here...I need a job? You look important." I told him what I did for a living at this stage in my life – and I definitely assured him that I am not “important”. He continued without appearing to be ‘desperate’ like so many of the unemployed, "I need health insurance. I have not taken my cholesterol medication in a week. I feel my blood pressure rising. I just want to work and be healthy."

Work and be healthy…

That’s it! But, for some sickly pathetic reason the United States government cannot deliver for this man. Cannot assist him! Yes, we have a responsibility to put forth effort to be employed and be healthy. I am aware of that “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality. I agree with it, actually. My only concern is that the elected officials ‘acting’ today on Capitol Hill do not have an on-going clue what the brotha is facing: Possible interview rejection, a blow to his ego, no job to tell his wife and kids about, and no way to get that pill that keeps him from having a stroke.

People are dying while a Republican rudely interrupts a Democrat. People are dying as a liberal nods off while a conservative speaks - during the Political Theater of today.

Written by Brian E. Payne. Inspired by the Spanish speaking man who stood in front of the Goodwill used tube televisions, and said:

Que perdida de tiempo