BUBBLE LESSONS

"Yeah, there’s a bubble but life’s pretty comfortable inside the bubble"


... so says George Bush to Fox News’s Brett Baier, describing how he tells people what life is like as president.

This must be a comforting metaphor for the President. Indeed, life inside the bubble sure is swell, where one is protected against the consequences of the narrow minded ideological zealotry that has reeked havoc during this fledgling century.

The bubble is also a great shield against logic, reason, and things some of us refer to as "facts". Such facts include the reality that Bush might very well become the most unpopular two term president in US history. Thankfully these type of facts can just bounce off the bubble and enable him to believe everything is just fine thank you very much.

OK, before I get too ranty, here are some of my favorite non- warmongering bubble boys who perhaps President Bush could learn a thing or two from;

MIKE MUNROE FROM THE TV SERIES NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Referred to as the "bubble man" by the residents of Cicely Alaska, this lawyer suffered from what he believed was multi chemical sensitivity. His chronic fear of toxins and environmental pollutants inspired him to move to the pristine Alaskan wilderness where he could live inside of an air sealed, über hygienic home. With the help of Maggie O'Connell he overcame his germ phobia and ventured outside, eventually joining Greenpeace in Russia to protest toxic waste dumping. Mike realized he could do more by venturing out into the world and facing his fears head on.


JIMMY LIVINGSTON FROM THE MOVIE "BUBBLE BOY"; Jimmy is a young man who was born without an immune system and has lived his life within a plastic bubble. When he finds out that the woman he loves is about to be married at Niagara Falls, he builds a portable bubble suit and ventures into the outside world in order to win her affections. Here you have a classic "carpe diem" theme about overcoming obstacles and taking risks despite the possibility of your bubble being burst.


MOVIE "THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE" - Even this classic 1976 made for TV movie has something to teach us. In this film the main character is born with an improperly functioning immune system and as a result he lives most of his life in a sealed off room. In the end he takes off his space suit and ventures off into the crisp outdoors on horseback. We never know in the end if it kills him, the point being that he would rather live well even if it means shortening his life.


MR BUBBLE - BELOVED BUBBLE BATH MASCOT: Promoting good hygiene and fun times for a few generations of kids, Mr. Bubble is an icon. What does he have to teach us, not much really, but I felt compelled to include him. Perhaps Bush can soak in some hot suds during his post-presidency and engage in a symbolic cleansing. I wonder how long would it take to scrub away years of really bad karma? I bet his skin would be really raw afterwards.

There you have it, a few life lessons from some bubble boys. Of course when it comes to bubbles it is always important to remember;