I've been a fan of Oprah Winfrey's since she arrived on the talk show scene in the mid 1980's, and my admiration of her has only grown in those years. I don't always agree with Oprah, but her influence and reach in this country is indisputable, particularly among women.
I always felt Oprah should have joined us in our fight against the war, and I admit being disappointed that she did not. I felt she could have made a huge difference among "voter Jane." Instead, Oprah turned her attention to Africa, recently opening a leadership school for African girls--nothing to sneeze at to be sure.
Last night, however, Oprah Winfrey finally joined the discussion (with the help of Frank Rich) about the war and how we got in to Iraq. If you had seen it, you would know that this is indeed a tipping point.
Join me below for details.
Oprah's guest last night was Frank Rich, author of the book "The Greatest Story Ever Sold," a detailed account of how America was sold a war based on a pack of lies. None of the information presented in her interview with Frank was a revelation to me, but watching the show unfold was, at least in my estimation, tantamount to the poor slobs in Plato's cave who finally turn around to see the opening.
The discussion itself was something we rarely see in this country: it was civil, based on facts, and no one got shouted down for disagreeing. They discussed the war, the lies, the media's culpability in spreading those lies, and why the media acted like lap dogs. Then they moved on to discuss the response to Hurricane Katrina, and all the while, you could see the women in the audience being transformed.
The audience, mostly women, stood up and made some excellent points, among them were
1. As Americans, we need to demand truth and accountability in the media.
2. We are a busy people, sometimes unable to research truth, so we believe the media (at our own peril).
3. The war is a lie, and as one woman so eloquently stated, "President Bush needs to stand up, admit his mistakes, and heal this country." She ended with a heartfelt "I. Want. An. Apology."
4. We support the troops and honor their service. We do this by being engaged in our democracy, including asking questions.
As an educated woman, I will tell you this: I have bought books I wouldn't have because Oprah chose them for her book club. I started a gratitude journal because I saw so many people on her show benefitting from them in the 1990's. In small ways, I have been moved and transformed by what Oprah has brought to the national discussion.
Now, did she come to the table a little late on this matter? Absolutely. However, her show last night was transformative and came at a time when her audience is most ready to hear it, accept it, and act on it. Oprah's fans look to her for direction, rightly or wrongly, and she has given them the information and the motivation to help tip this election.
We are at a tipping point in this country, and as people finally begin to wake up, turn around, and blinkingly leave the dark, familiar cave, we will finally have an informed and outraged electorate.
Thank you Oprah.