![]() ![]() I recently discovered a 2003 academic book, Cold War Orientalism: Asia in the Middlebrow Imagination, 1945-1961, by Christina Klein, a Boston College English professor. Back then, if you were going somewhere on a vacation, there was likely a 900-page Michener novel covering the entire history of the place from the Ice Age to the Space Age by tracking a few family trees over the centuries. And Michener was prodigiously educational. “Middlebrow” is a term of critical abuse for artists who combine information, entertainment, and uplift, but, in truth, those are all good things. ![]() Hawaii was the novel in which Michener introduced his trademark style that made him the middlebrow publishing sensation of his generation. institutions in non-Arab Muslim countries in Asia or Africa: a professional “ Muslimist.” As Obama told his biographer David Maraniss, the “obvious path for me given my background” was to get a graduate degree in international relations and wind up “working in the State Department, in the Foreign Service, or working for an international foundation.” Previously, Obama had been guided by his family and friends (none of whom were black) toward a reasonable career working for U.S. But who exactly is this curious individual, and why did we make him president? I”ve long argued that the most interesting thing about Obama is what we can learn from his career as a “blank screen” upon which Americans project all those myths, longings, and inchoate fantasies about race.Īfter eight years of trying to make sense of Obama’s life story, I”ve stumbled upon a way to put his famous origin story in historical context, to make it not quite so random.Ī particularly screwy aspect of the first black president is that he didn”t seem to his friends to be black until in 1985 he suddenly turned his back on the first 24 years of his life and asserted a black identity to replace his previous “international” and “multicultural” identities. No doubt the results of the midterm election are being interpreted as a referendum on Obama. Look 'em over sweetie pie and give me an offer.I”m writing this a day before the midterm elections and you”re reading it at least a day after, so I”ll focus upon a continuing feature of the political landscape: Barack Obama. These beautiful grass skirts were made by myself, Stew Pot, the Professor, and as few other seebees in half the time it takes your native workers to make 'em.What Philedelia Girl? That mean no saxy?Ī shlubby, mediocre entrepreneur friend to all and a man with a lust for the ladies.Are you crummy captain? You make trouble for me?.How do you like this guy? Billis, I'll have you court marshaled for this!Ī shrewd souvenir dealer who is also trying to find her daughter a rich husband.You're looking pretty fit yourself - to Bloody Mary.I'm even crummier than that, I'm a Lieutenant!.Lieutenant Joseph Cable, U.S.M.C Ī young, formal and good-looking officer who falls in love with Liat Close to my heart she came, only to fly away.You must never return something you stole! Then they will know you stole it!.I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair, I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair, I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair and send him on his way!Ī wealthy, cultured and dignified French plantation owner with grit and glamour who falls in love with Nellie.Do you think about politics much? And if you do what do you think about them?.You know what they call me? Knucklehead Nellie. You think I'm crazy too? Well they all do down at the fleet hospital."Some enchanted evening." -from the musicalĪn optimistic and simple Navy nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas who falls in love with Emile "When all that you love is taken away, there is no place." - Emile de Becque It's got to drummed in your dear little ear "You no saxy like Lieutenant."-Bloody Mary Whatever it is, embrace it and remember it because it might just be these little things that make life worthwhile. It could be as insignificant as a ladybug or as priceless as a golden sun,falling below the horizon. It might be as little as a sparkle in the pavement or it might be something as large as winning 172 million dollars. But isnt it already special, every day holds something new. The way some people think is that you need something different in your life to make it special.South Pacific is a 1949 musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. ![]()
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