Controversy

I don’t look like a controversial blogger.

I have pretty flowers adorning my mast head.

I have nice quotes trying to inspire my visitors.

I have pretty book covers on my side bar.

I talk about mother/daughter book group and libraries and recipes and my favorite things.

Even though I love politics, I will NEVER talk about my political opinion here. Not the venue, not the forum.

This is a place about nice, happy, thoughts. (Unless you are a Texas football fan, then I will take you down!)

But, my blogging career didn’t start out so hot.

My 1st post, which I thought was a tongue-in-cheek, mocking, even funny, portrayal of Gwyneth Paltrow’s blog, GOOP, crashed and burned into a name calling, she said-she said, fiesta! I was stunned and embarrassed and totally unprepared for the debate I created.

My next post on the group blog was about something very safe – laundry.

So, when I critiqued The Help, even though I was negative, I was rather vague on my reasons why I didn’t like it, because I don’t like confrontation. I had issues with it, but didn’t want to get into a debate about the book. Nor did I want to fault the author. I’m sure she is a lovely woman.

As a result of my mini-rant, the last thing I expected was to get an email from a New York Times reporter asking me if I would be “willing to talk” to her about my dissenting review.

Yes, The New York “Freakin” Times!

Holy Book Bloggers Batman!

What the heck am I going to say to a NYT reporter? Without sounding like a bumbling, idiot, SAHM, who hasn’t worked outside the home in 9 years (until recently), and has a brain that has shriveled up to the size of a pea?

But, I agreed.

And she called.

And we talked. About 15-20 min.

I’m not sure what I said. I was a nervous wreck. I tried to be NICE about why I didn’t like it – that I felt white folks, like myself, would have a hard time portraying what it would be like to be a black maid in the pre-civil rights 1960s; that I am glad the author gave a “voice” to these women – but what do African-American women think of this portrayal? Is it accurate? I wanted to plead, “Please don’t make me sound like a raving lunatic! I’m a really nice person! I don’t need my pretty, low on the totem pole, only gets 20 hits a day, blog to be destroyed by one quote!”

Anyway…I’m sure I said something “controversial” and whenever this piece is published (and, no, I don’t know when it goes to print) I think I will seek safety in the witness protection program!