The 'Oprahization' of America

Only the most famous, most elite, most influential people can be recognized by a single name and their personalities run the gamut: Elvis, Gandhi, Prince, Einstein, Elmo and Madonna, to name a few. Their names contain three or fewer syllables, yet evoke a multitude of powerful references to the mere mortal. But it is Oprah -- the woman who, in 2004, gave each of her 276 hand-picked audience members a new Pontiac G-6 sedan -- who truly stands alone among the famous first namers. \nWhen the almighty Oprah Winfrey speaks, her audience -- 14 million daily in the United States -- listens. Any book she chooses for her book club instantly becomes a best seller. (Who else could get millions of Americans rushing to Borders to buy a boxed set of William Faulkner's classics?) And when Oprah shuns all forms of white bread, white pasta and white rice, she has America's grocery stores scrambling to restock their selection of whole grain \nproducts. \nJust call it the power of Oprah.\nBut like most celebrities in the limelight, Winfrey has a growing group of detractors scrutinizing her every move. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is alarming but true. Oprah, a woman who has raised more than $3 million for Katrina victims, who has helped capture four convicted child predators, who has overcome a childhood of sexual abuse to become the first black female billionaire, is increasingly accused of arrogance, materialism and manipulation.\nGranted, no one is perfect and even I, a self-proclaimed Opraholic, cannot deny Ms. Winfrey's flaws. It does seem a little arrogant of the talk show queen to put a picture of herself -- "Photoshopped" to perfection, might I add -- on every cover of O Magazine. Then there was the whole James Frey scandal that caused Oprah to lose considerable credibility. And who could forget the crazed guest celebrity who jumped up and down on chairs declaring his new- found love? \nIt's hard not to view Oprah's power as a little over the top. It's called the Oprah Empire and it seems to have garnered some growing resentment. She has a syndicated talk show, after-show, book club, lifestyle magazine, channel on \nSatellite Radio and her own cable network. With all these outlets for influence, or maniuplation as some say, Oprah arguably has more power than President Bush. Heck, there is even a Web-based campaign designated to seeing Oprah Winfrey as president in the next election. The platform? President Winfrey will have Americans reading and exercising in no time.\nMembers of the NOprah Club disdain the media mogul for preaching from the tele-pulpit. They accuse her of having more impact on people's lives than the clergy. But these Oprah haters are missing the big picture. Oprah's gospel isn't one about manipulating people or gaining audiences. Like any good pastor, it is about making us more aware of our spirituality. Oprahism is about generosity, action and self-improvement. It's about making the world a better place. \nEven if Oprah does have some sort of mind-controlling device we are unaware of, anyone who gets people to donate even $1 to Katrina victims, to read even one page of Elie Wiesel's "Night" or to just realize the degree of poverty and illness in South Africa is a good thing. And for those sour grape Oprah detractors, why not focus your negative energy into helping a charitable cause instead? Just think: Oprah might even feature you on her Angel network one day.