how was your weekend?
I spent much of my time scrolling through social media, exposing myself to increasingly horrific images of the Israel-Hamas war and persistent despicable abuses from extremists on both sides.
Being a high-profile news journalist at such a time is like living in the world’s dirtiest sewer – a deeply unpleasant experience, though not in the same level of unpleasantness endured by innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians in the past. Two weeks.
The vile, toxic tribalism that the latest escalation in this conflict has given rise to seems worse than ever, but society has been headed down this path for years.
From the bitterly polarizing Trump presidency (rivaled only by Brexit in Britain for its partisan brutality) and the deadly COVID pandemic to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and the devastating global survival crisis, we have become a group angry, Snitching, self-righteous, screaming, disbelieving guttersnipes have fueled our anger with countless public-facing soapboxes that didn’t exist 20 years ago and hawking division and fake news for clicks and cash. increases catastrophically.
The result is that we’re all left looking for moments of united respite, little rays of simple, uplifting happiness that can make us all feel good about life.
Enter Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
The romance between the world’s biggest pop star and one of the NFL’s greatest tight ends ever has been as phenomenal as their careers.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hold hands leaving Chiefs vs. Chargers game, head out in ‘Getaway’ golf cart
They’ve only been dating for a few weeks, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it now feels like the whole world is watching them.
And what seems to be the unique thing about this celebrity relationship is that no one has a problem with it.
Unlike Kim and Kanye, whose mutually repulsive, attention-seeking narcissism penetrated our souls like a cheese grater passing through a tough piece of Gouda, Taylor and Travis are extremely likable both individually and as a couple. are eligible.
Yesterday a video clip went viral on X (formerly Twitter) in which he held his car door open for her after her Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers.
It was no big deal; In fact, feminism’s man-hating “End the Patriarchy!” Before it changed, this was the same thing that most men did for their women. We saw a trash fest at the Barbie Whinethon.
Thus, it was surprisingly touching to see someone display basic good manners toward his date.
Just like during the game, it was enjoyable to see Taylor first cheering, then gasping in shock and holding his worried face in his hands as Travis made a catch and fell to the ground.
It’s not hard to see why they’ve fallen in love with each other.
They are from similar middle-class American backgrounds.
Kelce is an Ohio boy, the son of a steel sales representative father and bank executive mother.
Taylor is a Pennsylvania girl, the daughter of a stockbroker father and marketing executive mother.
And both of them have enjoyed spectacular, record-breaking success in their respective professions, earning them immense fame and fortune in the process.
They are also great role models, both are polite, well spoken, good natured, hard working, clean living, extremely charitable people who love their family and their country.
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Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift celebrate Chiefs win with mansion party after romantic exit
And unlike many big stars, it’s not just for show.
I have met Taylor several times and she is truly a delightful young woman – warm, down to earth and mature beyond her 33 years.
He has achieved the almost miraculous feat of building one of the biggest brands in the history of pop music while maintaining his dignity, pride and sense of self-worth in the process.
Unlike Kim Kardashian, Taylor would never make a sex tape, or post a topless photo of herself flipping the bird.
Maybe that’s why, unlike Ms. Kardashian, she has a world-class talent for songwriting and singing.
Just like Travis has a world class double Super Bowl winning talent for football.
That’s why they deserve their great success.
And they are giving a strong impression of enjoying every moment of living their love affair, as the world watches in fascination.
This is certainly having a beneficial effect on Travis’ ability to play football.
Taylor has attended four Kansas City Chiefs games since the beginning of their romance, and he has won every one of them.
More pertinently, Kelce averaged only 46.5 yards per game when Taylor did not participate in games since his arrival, and 99.0 ypg when he did.
This shows that when Taylor is in the stadium he plays twice as well, and that’s before we even get to the massively increased TV ratings and sales of Kelce’s shirt, which have skyrocketed since his addition.
As Chiefs coach Andy Reid quipped last night: “Kelce is getting better with time. “Taylor can live wherever she wants.”
But it’s not just Kelce’s game that is benefiting from this union.
We all do it.
In a world so ravaged by death, destruction, xenophobia and incivility, there is something charmingly innocent and escapist about it, isn’t there?
I don’t know how long this will last.
I don’t even really know how real their love for each other is.
They probably don’t even do that.
And it goes without saying that it is not “important” in the way that war, poverty, health, and politics are important.