[Vision2020] Colonial House

[Melynda Huskey]

I caught a little of *Colonial House* the other night, but was struck much 
more powerfully by the way the "Governor," the Baptist minister, handled his 
family responsibilities than by his wife and daughter.  When his son was 
seriously injured in the car wreck that killed his daughter's fiance, he 
abandoned his family after only five days so he could get back to the 
filming of the television program.   I also noticed that he really seemed to 
relish handing out the shaming letters and the staking out time--until he 
realized that his enthusiastic punishment of colonists was seriously 
interfering with the work of the colony.  What a dilemma!  Punish as much as 
I know they deserve, or have something to eat?

Of course, my religious forebearers, the early Quakers, were routinely 
whipped, branded, imprisoned, and even executed for their religious beliefs 
by Puritan governors who enjoyed their jobs as much as he's enjoying his, so 
I'm prejudiced.

And let's not forget to thank PBS for providing shame-free, high-brow 
reality tv for folks who wouldn't dream of watching "Extreme Makeover"!

Melynda Huskey