Inspiring Bullshit: The X-Factor

September 16, 2011

It is interesting how many different reactions the Emmanuel/X-Factor

video has sparked. There are stories layered on top of each other,

or inside each other. And there are stories that are mutually

exclusive, like Venn diagrams showing two circles that cannot

intersect.

The story seems to bring out a lot of pain in some of us. And a lot

of cynicism in some of us (including me). No surprise - just look at

that video. There is deeply crafted manipulation side by side with

amazing grace; side by side with evidence of how mindlessly savage

humans can be toward each other; side by side with evidence of how

mindfully loving humans can be toward each other. All stuck together

in however many short minutes.

My own thoughts while watching: 1) This is a slick setup. Of course

they vetted the boy before putting him on stage. 2) But even so the

reactions of the judges are probably not faked. 3) This boy has

amazing presence for someone 17 years old - I didn't have that at

17. 4) What a handsome kid. 5) He handles that mike really well for

someone with half a hand - hey, why not? He must have been handling

objects really well that way since he was a kid. 6) These brothers

are lucky to have each other. 7) Nice voice even if the song is far

from my favorite. 8) Hmm, seems to like Lennon for his

sweetness; whereas I always liked him for his acidity and the way it

cut McCartney's excess of sugar. 9) Look at the love between

the two adopted boys & everyone else in the family, especially the

mother. 10) How lucky can you be to have a mother like that?

And 11), 12), 13) ... on and on and on.

No, it did not move me to tears. Others things move me much

more than this, which is saying nothing in particular. It did

however make me think that if this kid is amazing, then we

are all pretty amazing.

- Randy

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