Mr. Obama's neighborhood
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Dr. Robert Simmermon
Psychologist
I have been pondering the connection between President Obama and Mr. Rogers. I know, it sounds strange but here is how it goes.
I want to make it abundantly clear that I in no way see President Obama and Mr. Rogers as similar, with the exception that they are both good decent human beings.
Our President certainly has polish and presence and I am profoundly appreciative of his intelligence. But I want him to be a little more scuffed up for his own well being, and ours. To me, a good scuff mark is a solid predictor of longevity and endurance.
In August of 2001, Mr. Rogers, the same sweet guy who had been on PBS for 33 years, was hanging up his sneakers and cardigan sweater, 15 days before the world would forever change. The twin towers would collapse and so would the innocence of countless Americans. In a way, that pristine sweater was symbolic of the end of an era.
Mr. Rogers was a kind and gentle man, a little too gentle for me but a tremendous influence in children’s television programming. My problem with him was that he was too nice. He was so neat and nice that I found myself looking for flaws every time my daughters watched the program. I confessed that, “I wanted that sweater to have a hole in it.” I wanted him to have his hands a little dirty, his clothes a little messy. It is like waiting for the first dent in a new car. Once it happens (you) he can relax, settle in, and enjoy the ride.
That feeling of relief and hope is what I wish for our new president. I want a hole in his sweater to strengthen him. I want him to spill a glass of water on himself.
But we have to be careful what we ask for. The President, in his interview with Anderson Cooper last night, revealed four holes in his presidential garb, named Daschle, Richardson, Killenger and Geithner. And I realized, the President also seems to know the power of holes in his sweater.
I was talking about this with a colleague over breakfast this morning and he reminded me of a study conducted way back in 1966. It was called the College Bowl Experiment. Dr. Elliot Aronson and his colleagues examined conducted a research study titled “The effect of a pratfall on increasing interpersonal attractiveness.”
The study confirmed my theory of the hole in the sweater phenomenon but with a twist. The experiment demonstrated that the attractiveness of a person with superior talent is enhanced if he/ she commits a blunder. But the twist is that the same blunder decreases the attractiveness of a mediocre person.
Aronson’s reasoning was that someone who is perceived as a "superior" person may be viewed as a superhuman and therefore, distant. A blunder tends to humanize this person and subsequently increases his/her attractiveness.
So, I admire the new holes in your sweater Mr. President; the future of our Republic depends on them.
Editor’s Note: Dr Robert. Simmermon is a psychologist and a fellow of the American Psychological Association. He is a frequent contributor to news programs and has served as a consultant on several feature films and documentaries. He was awarded The Georgia Psychological Association Media award in 1985, 1992, and 2007 for bringing narrative psychology to the public forum.
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Filed under: First 100 Days • President Barack Obama |
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I know how President Obama can simulate the ecomomy, eliminate offshore drilling and perhaps clear our National debt.
Have Iraq pay us our trillions back in Oil. Let's face it, the world knows why we invaded Iraq so it won't be a surprise.
I have it all worked out, we begin moving our troops, moving American workers in to assist the Iraqi's with rebuilding their Oil Fields.
I have a few out of work cousins that would love to help.
Why is no one talking about this, you know it's going to happen sooner or later.
I would love for the Republicans to do the math on this one and let me know how long it would take for the dept to clear.
The smoking habit is a big enough hole for me. It must be difficult to have such a powerful intellect and yet be unable to "reason" yourself out of a nicotine addiction. I am going to e-mail him everyday and beg him to find a way to quit...(as a nurse I feel it my social responsibility) and because he definitely has won our hearts .....I'm not sure he is perceived so much as a "superior, perfect person" ......."What comes from the heart, goes to the heart"......His sincerity, civility, and ability to thrill a nation with his ambition for us is impressive.
I'm curious to know if kindness is an indication of peanut butter in the knees.? Does it take any strength of character to be civil and kind in a difficult situation? Or is the blustery, blow hard , arrogant , ranting guy really full of courage? You would love me , I have a couple of sweaters I call my "spiritual sweaters".............more holey than righteous. Let's create an influence for children that includes a combination of Mr, Rogers, Superman, Anderson Cooper and Batman. Sincerely , Dixie
The smoking habit is a big enough hole for me. It must be difficult to have such a powerful intellect and yet be unable to "reason" yourself out of a nicotine addiction. I am going to e-mail him everyday and beg him to find a way to quit...(as a nurse I feel it my social responsibility) and because he definitely has won our hearts .....I'm not sure he is perceived so much as a "superior, perfect person" ......."What comes from the heart, goes to the heart"......His sincerity, civility, and ability to thrill a nation with his ambition for us is impressive.
I'm curious to know if kindness is an indication of peanut butter in the knees.? Does it take any strength of character to be civil and kind in a difficult situation? Or is the blustery, blow hard , arrogant , ranting idiot in a
Dear President Obama,
Have you read the ECONOMY STIMULUS PROPOSAL I sent you via US mail on 1/28th which I entitled " ECONOMIC WATERWAY". This will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and reinstate a lot of the jobs that's been laid-off, re-open production lines that were shut-down. Millions will benefit from this proposal for years to come, if adopted.
I honestly think the proposal is what this country is looking for.
President Obama, if you have not read it, I can send you another copy
of the Proposal.
Can you put the spotlight on some of these nosey people, My God how are these people.
Vanessa – I wish what you said was true, I and I fully respect your position. Unfortunately, the small example of Hawaii will likely be an indicator of a national trend, and there is no way that cigarette taxes will cover the expense once the number covered doubles or triples as people cancel their other policies to get the free coverage.
I believe that people are afraid to admit when mistakes because of course is part of the psychological defense of the person. Unfortunately we already born with it.
Who never erred?
To err is no drama. It is a facet of the human condition.
Therefore, the crime is not the error. Insist on it and not change.
But it is clear that when a person learns to admit their mistakes, and make it a learning, they grow and learn the way of perfection. And the same way, we learn to forgive people too.
I have learned a lot from my mistakes, and I accepted it for myself. Lack a lot to learn, but I'm getting there!
Great blog! That sounds like an interesting study.
How about President Obama gives the State of the Union in a sweater? A sweater vest? Maybe. Cardigan? No.
I think that what was most revealing about this whole episode was to hear the President of the United States speak with frank openness about making a mistake. I dont' care about holes in the sweater as long as his integrity is whole.
Ok, so maybe Eddie Murphy's neighborhood instead. Though, the Aronson study is interesting.
I'm sure over the course of the next 4 or 8 years that Obama will have plenty of "holes in his sweater" but right now I kind of like the pristine above the fray look and feel. We should get a little bit of time to enjoy the shininess and newness of our President. It won't last long.
And to concerned mentioned above! You need to understand that most American's will not jump on the band wagon unless they have no choice! Most American's are proud and will not take help unless they need to. I recently lost my job after 15 years and I might not have a choice(if I don't find a job soon)than to get help from the taxpayers! I will wait until I have exhausted every avenue before I do this. And I feel that most Americans feel the same way I do!
I love how Anderson can sit down with the most powerful man on earth and show him as a true person. We need a human with feelings in the White House! 1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or having the nature of people That is the definition!!!! And remember human is in humane!!
Simmermon: dont you have a nice crossword puzzle to do?
Will the president be honoring the preschool teachers that work with the County Offices as far as pay raises anytime soon? We are such an important part of a child's development and so often overlooked. I feel the president really has a heart for us educators and will recognize all the hard work we put into empowering our children for the future.
Thank You for your response
I am waiting for someone to mention the fact that the childrens health bill passed today looks identical to what was tried and failed in Hawaii. Bush vetoed this legislation because it encourages people to stop paying for private health insurance to hop on to the taxpayer program. hawaii had to stop the program after a matter of months because of this very issue.
Please save me from this miserable life!