We are A.N.S.
Funny thing about Anna Nicole Smith's initials. They also spell the acronym for the autonomic nervous system-- that's the one that controls our stress response and keeps our physiology balanced. The ANS is what goes off kilter when we get upset, when we get angry or aroused. The way the mainstream media went 24-7 on us with Anna Nicole stuff makes me think that she represents some truths about our culture. Maybe it's the fact that we see a bit of ourselves that we really don't like in her-- her brazen, uninhibited efforts to be famous, to get rich.

I said, in Friday's newsletter, that she reminded me more of Elvis Presley than Marilyn Monroe, because she died a similar death. I don't think Elvis tried to kill himself. I think he just used too much of too many substances and I think the same will be found true of ANS. She overdosed on the bigness of her life. Maybe because there was no substance to dilute it. We can see the men in her life appear to be parasites, using her, manipulating her. THere will be untold numbers of docudramas about her, her child, and I'm sure that at least one will evoke ROSEBUD... some elusive part of her childhood that she was never ever able to reach.

We love our our sex gods and goddesses and we also love that in their beauty and celebrity, they are vulnerable, they are also to be pitied, to be held in contempt. Perhaps there's something we can learn from ANS about the world of politics too. What she gave us was more than beauty, it was a way for us to feel good about the way we are, because of our perceptions of her flaws. Perhaps that is the saving grace of Dubya too. He gives his supporters their self esteem by being so powerful and yet so flawed.