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12/26/2004: Thought for the Day:
Barbara Walters summarized the moral vision behind the special in her homily to Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ: "Although some of us believe in the Bible and some of us don't, as Americans, we have our own faith. We believe in risk and personal vision, especially when they are crowned by success. And in that way, this year, Mel Gibson made true believers of us all." Translation: Americans like money and success even more than God, though it's nice to have both, of course. In fact, having enough money can transform you into a kind of god, a sentiment voiced by Melania Knauss, Donald Trump's eerily feline fiancee, when she defined her betrothed as "an amazing man" who "should live forever." Trump, pondering the prospect of future procreation with Melania, waxed philosophical: "You know, children, if you have money, what's the big deal? I love the idea of more children. I've never been a father who says, let's go out to Central Park and have a catch. It's not my thing; it's just not my thing. But I've been a good father." I wasn't aware that bucketloads of cash excuse you from spending time with your children. But if Trump wants a lesson in the possible downside of this parenting strategy, he need look no further than Paris Hilton, Barbara Walters' second-most fascinating person of the year.
--Dana Stevens [slate.msn.com, on Walters's 10 Most Fascinating People of 2004]
Len on 12.26.04 @ 07:12 AM CST
