An honest day’s work

image courtesy of photobucket.com

In my last post Our fascination with stupidity and chaos, I mentioned that I had quickly grown weary of what I call train wreck television. While shows like Toddlers & Tiaras, The Jersey Shore, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Hoarders, Say Yes to the Dress, My Strange Obsession, the now cancelled John & Kate plus Eight and others all have seemingly different subject matter, for me, the underlying message for all of these shows is the same: The people on these shows–whether it be because of choice, circumstances or both–are less than you are, and are therefore open game for your disapproval and mockery. Why push ourselves and strive to be better when we can just turn on the television and breathe a sign of relief that we’re not as bad as these idiots on TV?

Last year I began to see promos for a show on the History Channel that appeared to be another along this same vein, which is why I made a conscious decision not to watch it. Partly because, as I’ve said, I sick and tired of these shows and partly because the participants were some of my neighbors to the east–South Louisiana. Having worked around and befriended many transplanted Cajuns here in Houston, I didn’t want to watch a bunch of Hollywood types make a mockery of the lives and livelihoods of folks whom I know to be good people. People who talk very different from most of us, whose lives are simple not because they are simple minded, but because they choose to live their lives simply.

But then I accidentally watched a full episode of Swamp People, and despite my earlier reservations, I am now a big fan. I’m not sure if the show’s creators intended to or not, but after watching these men (and one sharp shooting woman named Elizabeth), there’s no denying the obvious. These are hard living, hard working, brave people making a dangerous living and providing for their families just as their ancestors have done for decades before them. Swamp People reminds us of how we used to be, of what we need to return to. No, I don’t mean moving to the sticks and killing alligators for a living. I mean doing an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay and not being afraid to get our hands dirty.

I’m looking forward to the next alligator season and one of the few reality shows I truly enjoy.

Laisser le bon temps rouler!