The Power of Pretty
Attractiveness opens doors
No, I don’t mean that figuratively, literally attractiveness opens doors. When an attractive woman approaches an entrance, doorways are cleared, elevators are held and chivalry is reborn. People will go out of their way to hold/open the door for an attractive person. However, the marginally attractive are left to fend for themselves in the world of manual doorways. One might say that such an advantage is negligible in the grand scheme of things, and the stereotypes attached to the attractive more than make up for this parity in personal encounters. To those I say, do not underestimate the Power of the Pretty.
The Pretty Prize of Presidency
Chicago, Illinois, September 26th 1960 – The war of words that is the Presidential Electoral Debates are first televised. On one side was the man who was credited with positively changing the position of Vice President (according to Wikipedia), Richard Nixon. Let’s just say that Nixon was a man whose Pretty Power quotient could best be described by his middle name, Milhous. His rival was the enigmatic Senator from Boston, John F. Kennedy – a young and dashing man, notoriously appealing to the opposite sex. So powerful was his physical appeal that he frequently garnered the attention of iconic women such as the first Playboy Playmate, Ms. Marilyn Monroe (click for sultry proof).
The debates came at a crucial time in the election, providing a forum to sway the still undecided voters to either candidate’s side. Nixon had been recovering from an illness and looked groggy and unimpressive. The stubble and imperfections of his face were clearly visible on the television screen and it showed in the polls. John F. Kennedy, the more handsome and suave candidate, was viewed as the winner of the debates and subsequently became our country’s 35th president.
Public perception, largely influenced by the Power of Pretty, had helped determine the most powerful position in the free world – a fact that would not be lost on Richard Nixon. In the Presidential race of 1968, a new Nixon would emerge, one who was “tanned, rested, and ready” (according to Wikipedia), a far cry from the Milhous of the 1960 race. With a little help from the Power of Pretty, Richard Nixon became our 36th president.
Ask not what you can do to become Pretty, ask what Pretty can do to become you.
This marriage of Pretty, Power and Politics is alive and well today. From the much-publicized botox of Senator Kerry, to the recent worry free face of Australian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. It seems that in our society Pretty, however misguided, is a kind of window to a person’s inner character and strength. It just may be that automatic doors are the closest we as a society will come to equality of all people. So next time you see an attractive person walking your way, ignore, leave close the door and take the first step toward an America where all men and women are treated equally.
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