Just a quick grin here.
Rocky Barker, a veteran Idaho Statesman writer and friend of mine, plays with this news:
… The Idaho
Department of Commerce is planning on picking a Seattle
family for an all-expense-paid trip to Idaho
for fishing, rafting, hiking, horseback riding and the like — in exchange for
(the family) starring in an online reality show the state will produce.
Rocky suggests that the Department of Commerce should show everyone a slice of the real Idaho — by inviting out-of-state couples to drive around rural Idaho, for a show called something like Survivor Idaho Style:
Each pair will be driving a pink Prius with an assortment of
bumper stickers that read:“Potatoes Suck.” “Brigham Young should have
stayed in Illinois.” “Cattle Free by 2023.” “Reelect Obama.” “Ban assault
weapons.” “California, America’s Paradise.”
“Socialism Rules!” and “Save wolves, shoot a rancher.”The first one to make it back to Boise alive wins.
Those of you who don’t know the Idaho basics that Rocky is also playing with, please note: The state’s license plates have carried the slogan “Famous Potatoes” to celebrate farmers, the state has a lot of Mormons, a lot of political conservatives, a lot of ranchers who disagree with environmentalists over wolves and cattle, etc.
Rocky is not trying to insult potatoes, of course. Between the grins, he is making a point:
Tourism promotions, “reality” TV — and even enjoy-nature documentaries — are never as real as real life.
Confession time: That also applies to a great deal of journalism.
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