What accounts for the astounding popularity of Dr.Phil McGraw? Why have so many TV viewers and book buyers embraced this tough warrior of a psychologist who tells them to suck it up and deal with their own problems rather than complaining and blaming everyone else? Obviously, Oprah Winfrey has a lot to do with it. She made him famous with regular appearances on her show, and is co-producing the new "Dr.Phil" show that's likely to be the hottest new daytime offering this fall. But we decided to put Dr. Phil on the cover not just because he's a phenomenon. We think his success may reflect an interesting shift in the American spirit of time. Could it be that we're finally getting tired of the culture of victimology?
This is a tricky subject, because there are very sad real victims among us. Men still abuse women in alarming numbers. Racism and discrimination persist in subtle and not-so-subtle forms. But these days, almost anyone can find a therapist or lawyer to assure them that their professional relationship or health problems aren't their fault. As Marc Peyser tells us in his terrific profile of Dr. Phil, the TV suits were initially afraid audiences would be offended by his stern advice to "get real!" In fact, viewers thirsted for the tough talk. Privately, we all know we have to take responsibility for decisions we control. It may not be revolutionary advice (and may leave out important factors like unconscious impulses). But it's still an important message with clear echoing as, a year later, we contemplate the personal lessons of September 11.
Back at the ranch (livestock farm)-the one in Crawford, Texas-President Bush continued to issue mixed signals on Iraq. He finally promised to consult allies and Congress before going to war, and signaled an attack isn't coming right now ("I'm a patient man"). But so far there has been little consensus-building, even as the administration talks of "regime change" and positions troops in the gulf. Bush's team also ridiculed the press for giving so much coverage to the Iraq issue. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld called it a "frenzy," and Press Secretary Ari Fleischer dismissed it as "self-inflicted silliness." But as Michael Hirsh notes in our lead story, much of the debate has been inside the Republican Party, where important voices of experience argue Bush needs to prepare domestic and world opinion and think through the global consequences before moving forward. With so much at stake, the media shouldn't pay attention? Now who's being silly?
1. Faced with diversified issues of injustice, Dr. Phil McGraw advised that people should __.
［A］ strongly voice their condemnation of those responsible
［B］ directly probe the root of their victimization
［C］ carefully examine their own problems
［D］ sincerely express their sympathy for the victims
2. One possible response, when the program "Dr. Phil" was first presented on TV, that people were afraid of was _____.
［A］ suspicion
［B］ satisfaction
［C］ indifference
［D］ indignation
3. The word "tough"(Line 7, Paragraph 2) most probably means_____.
［A］ piercing to the truth
［B］ using vulgar language
［C］ mean and hostile
［D］ difficult to understand
4. The author advises the public to _____.
［A］ leave out factors such as unconscious impulses
［B］ draw lessons of their own from September 11
［C］ respond decisively to September 11 tragedy
［D］ accept decisions beyond our control
5. With a series of questions at the end of the text, the author _____.
［A］ feels uncertain of what his own opinion is
［B］ differentiates two conflicting views
［C］ criticizes the Bush Administration
［D］ argues for the US policy on Iraq