[lbo-talk] also posted without comment

[Jerry Monaco]

On 5/8/08, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
>
> <http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/318585/
> a_change_is_gonna_come>
>
> 'A Change is Gonna Come'
> posted by KATRINA VANDEN HEUVEL on 05/06/2008 @ 9:55pm
>
> American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado had just finished singing Sam
> Cooke's 1964 classic "A Change is Gonna Come" when Obama strode onto
> the stage in Raleigh, North Carolina.
>
> Syesha wept, as she reminded Randy, Paula and Simon of the civil
> rights movement which fueled Cooke's song, life and power.

It is appropriate that this piece opens with "An American Idol" finalist,
because the whole thing is an exercise in idolatry.  How did KVH become so
star-struck?  It's creepy.  As if she would faint when Leonardo DiCaprio
walks into the room and believe that such is the recommended position of an
independent minded person.

When I ask how KVH became so star-struck it is a serious question.  I am
really curious about the social phenomena of "charisma" and idol worship.
So if anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them.

Maybe liberals should reintroduce Dionysian cult rituals to inoculate them
from this kind of idolatry.

Jerry