I think it’s time to say “Good Bye” to Oprah. Not because this is her show’s final season. Not because she chooses to say Good bye to us, but because…before the season is over, I believe she will help us become a more depressed, unworthy, and hopeless feeling society.
I, like millions of others, was interested in seeing what she would bring to the table during her final season. I have not been much of an Oprah fan since the inception of her show. I thought she male-bashed when she got the opportunity. I also thought that most of the things she did for the community was commercial, meaning if the cameras wasn’t around or if she didn’t have a large audience, her contributions were limited- very limited. However, I occasionally watched the show when she had interesting people on it. Especially those larger than life people, who normally kept their lives secret, but decided to allow the public a glimpse of their world.
Yes, I am not totally against Oprah. I believe that everyone should be allowed to write a “happy” ending to their life’s story regardless of where they start. And Oprah has done just that, but at what cost?
Normally, if the show had something on that I didn’t agree with or if Oprah’s responses and opinions to the guest were twisted and deranged, I would just turn the show off. But I couldn’t do that on October 18th. Her guest was the Playwright/Actor/Movie Director- Tyler Perry. Now, when I first turned the show on, I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I was excited because Mr. Perry was on it and I enjoy hearing about and from people who started out with a rough life but worked their way to a better life. It is inspiring and encouraging to those who are still in the “struggle” of life. Yet, I was unprepared for what I was about to hear.
Tyler commenced to talk about his childhood and how he was molested. He gave graphic details that made me cringe. I could see the pain in his face as if he was re-living the torture again. And though it appeared Oprah was empathizing with him, her continual quest for more details regardless of how Tyler struggled, told me that in the back of Oprah’s mind she was cheering. Not because Tyler was “getting this stuff off of his chest”, but because with every graphic detail, her ratings were shooting through the roof. I was appalled.
First, I was appalled because a person like Tyler, who has encouraged many people to overcome, was now being used and manipulated to increase a hungry stars quest for a “real” finale to increase ratings. There was nothing, and I meaning sincerely nothing, encouraging or uplifting about this show. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is important that people know where they came from and that they share those things with other people, but where do we go from there? Now, that I have shared my life with the world and others could relate, what can I give them to help them make it over? When we leave the “Overcoming” piece off, we add pain along with the original pain. Like adding another tombstone to a grave, we continue to re-live that thing over and over again.
Secondly, I am appalled that Oprah feels the need to use people who look up to her. She uses them for her own selfish reasons. Tyler Perry has mentioned on several occasions that when he was “down and out”, he learned how to keep a journal from one of Oprah’s shows, which he used to create several of his plays. For that reason, he felt indebted to Oprah. Therefore, Oprah could ask him to do anything and he would. Thus, is the reason for the show. Tyler’s indebt-ness helped him agree with the request to bare all. I believe he was convinced to do the show because he was told it would “help” people. The result, a second show with over 200 men “baring all” with similar results- graphic detail and no encouragement, However, this time there was an added benefit- a loud discouraging message to the female population stating that “most” men are broken, hurt, and irreparable. So, don’t expect Mr. Right to come your way anytime soon. Not Good.
At a time like this, when our economy is in turmoil, when the jobless rate is sky-high, and when relationships and people are struggling beyond measure, do we really need another show that adds to our “demise?” Why can’t we do what we can to encourage, help, build up, and support one another? If people say that it is the truth and we need to hear it, we don’t need to pay Oprah for the truth when we can turn on the depressing daily news and get the truth from people who make far less than she does.
So, again, I say Oprah “We’ve had enough”. We don’t need your help to feel more depressed and discouraged while you escape to your many houses or exquisite getaways. We are left stuck mentally drained and struggling to survive our day to day lives. You have made enough money by degrading, putting down, and criticizing us “average” people. Sadly, we have funded you to do so. Well, today, we say ENOUGH. If none of your remaining shows are geared to get unemployed people jobs, if they are not geared towards keeping people from losing their foreclosed homes, if they are not geared towards building people up- you may go. We won’t miss you. We actually hope something helpful will fill your TV spot.
P.S. Just a note to Tyler Perry… Anyone that benefits from your “baring all” without helping you, is not a friend. So, look around you and make sure you are surrounded by true friends or you may look around you and see people benefitting from your demise. Those are no ”friends”.
Also, please re-focus on bringing movies with an encouraging message back to us, your fans. We enjoy them and that is where you soar.
Ray L. Owensby
Obahoo.com
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