It's been a while since I've been on here yakking about Clay. Not because I lost interest, quite the contrary! It's just that sometimes, right as we start having fun, life has other plans for us.
Anyway, I have been keeping up with Clay, and checking this blog occasionally for comments, and I read one in particular back in April. It was posted on the very first blog I wrote on this site, a year ago this month. It was called "Debunking the Myth of the Claymates."
I stewed over it for a little while, then promptly forgot about it. But for some reason, it came back to me the other day; out of the blue, for no good reason.
So, I am compelled to address it. Here it is, posted as a comment under that very first blog.
Anonymous said...
Its a shame that it has come to this. Why do you have to defend yourselves? You are accomplished, multi-faceted, multi-cultural, diverse women. Its makes no difference whether your hair is blonde, blue, brown, grey, black, red, purple, green or whether you're 18 or 80. Society's double standards have caused the blog author to spend valuable time setting up a place for all of you to waste energy justifying why you are a fan of Clays'. Life is too short Ladies. You don't owe anyone anything, especially, the media, people you don't even know. Instead focus on this bond that is so clearly shown in your comments. Don't let the media accomplish its mission to divide and conquer. Stay true to yourselves and united to and with the one thing that brought all of you together in the first place: Clay. Nothing else matters. Why is personal and should only be shared if you choose to do so. I have yet to see him live and I do hope that will change very soon. In the meantime, I will say, more than anything that I look forward to and welcome the opportunity to meet the exceptional women that make up the Claynation. God Bless you all. Have a Heavenly Day.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 7:50:00 PM
Oh honey. Oh sweetie. Oh darlin...au contraire!
It's not a shame; not at all. That blog was not written a year ago to provide a place for Claymates to defend themselves. That blog was about empowerment, denying media labels and reversing pop culture stereotyping. It was about encouraging fans to speak out, and to show the world that Clay's fans are just what you said - "accomplished, multi-faceted, multi-cultural, diverse women." It was about proving that the media was dead wrong.
I consider that to be healthy and liberating, not a "waste of energy." It's a way to use my voice. Saying nothing implies approval, or at least tolerance. It says I have no problem with the media's characterization of me. But I do. I have a big problem with it.
Does it affect my ability to have fun in this fandom? Oh heck no!
You say that the reasons "we" like Clay are personal - not for me they aren't. But I surely respect your own need for privacy in the matter, and others who may feel the same. I am not embarrassed, or ashamed, or hesistant for anyone to know that I admire and respect Clay Aiken as a person, as an artist, as a humanitarian. He's smart, funny and talented. What's not to enjoy?
You say we should share only if we choose to do so. Well, I choose to do so. That's why I created this blog. That's why I wrote that first entry....that's why I'm using my voice.
Allowing others to define how I enjoy Clay, or any other artist for that matter, is what I consider to be a waste of energy.
There are other things too; but that's another blog.
touchstone (n) a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
Technorati tags: clay+aiken, claymates, media
©touchstone 2007
1 comment:
You hit the nail on the head. I enjoy Clay and everyone around me knows it. I never feel guilty about my fandom. There is not another voice out there that touches me like his does. Add in his entertainment skills and humor and I feel very lucky to have become a fan of his. I'm a professional with a degree, make lots of money and have a great family who also enjoys Clay. I really would have missed out had I not watched AI2 and heard that voice. Thanks for the blog.
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