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Question of the Day | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Hey, Superwoman ... What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?

Superwoman
© iStock
Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Candice Bergen Talks About Why the Risk of Failing Is the Fun Part

What’s the point of taking the fun out of it? Why eliminate that frisson of fear? That furball of anxiety? The joy of counterphobia? Facing the fear seems to me to be the point. And hopefully overcoming it or at least realizing that there’s no shame in failing — just in not trying.
Joan Juliet Buck

Joan Juliet Buck | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Joan Juliet Buck's To-Do List (If She Were Superhuman)

Micro: Finish my book proposal, finish my new play and star in it myself.

Macro: Institute universal health care for the USA; talk the Big Three into alternative fuel research and smaller cars; organize a fair, calibrated federal taxation system that does away with local state and city taxes; set up local organic farms around every big city; start a barter system for everything; turn the budgets for medical lobbying in DC into a fund  for scientific research in the fields where we need it the most and nothing has been done in the last six years; get musicians, actors and painters teaching music, theater and art in every public school; outlaw firearms; and send Mr. Bush on a prolonged visit to both the Arctic and Antarctica, to see firsthand if Global Warming exists or not.

Marlo Thomas

Marlo Thomas | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Marlo Thomas's Dream: 'I Wish I Could Swish Gracefully Down the Hill Alongside the Donahues'

Ski. Phil and his sons are all-natural athletes, and when they ski, they take to the slopes skiing backwards. I, on the other hand, twisted my knee during a lesson — I’m hopeless. And it’s sooooo cold! Boy, how I wish I could swish gracefully down the hill alongside the Donahues. But until that day, you’ll find me inside the lodge. I’ll be the one sipping hot chocolate by the fireplace.

Judith Martin

Judith Martin | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Does Judith Martin Have Stage Fright?

Sing out loud. I do sing regularly with the Washington National Opera, but only the Star-Spangled Banner in a whisper-level voice, along with the rest of the audience, on the opening night of each season.
Liz Smith

Liz Smith | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Liz Smith's Laundry List

If I could not fail I would attempt to fix the world’s evolution crisis … put out the fire of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism … destroy all nuclear weapons and their formulas in such a manner that they could never be revived or duplicated … separate church and state once and for all and take religion out of politics … endow all big city subway and bus systems with free passes for everyone’s lifetime …invent the noncombustible safe energy engine … make postage free … cure all incurable diseases … flap my wings and fly! Is that enough, for a start?

Click here on this text to read my New York Post column.

Joan Ganz Cooney

Joan Ganz Cooney | 12/21/2008 11:00 pm

Joan Ganz Cooney's Hope for Humanity

I certainly would attempt to stop war and tribal killing and the ghastly treatment of and violence against women in much of the world. And I would also take on school reform and prison reform.

59 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Belinda Joy
Oh Maurine, Bless her heart! I will include you and your daughter in my prayer circle.
By Belinda Joy on 12/22/2008 1:28 pm
Pretending-to-be-Parker-Posey being Jackie
I would turn raindrops, snowflakes and sunbeams into $1,000 bills and roses that dematerialize except in the hands of the deserving poor and generous rich. And I’d have clowns in funny planes skywrite in rainbow colors that played music across the night skies…the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi…and declare every Friday art, music, poetry and feast day…there would be plenty of wonderful things and laughter for all. “Make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled, as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive; It is in the pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in the dying that we are born to eternal life. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo m.a.r.
Tee Zee
That is so beautiful!
By Tee Zee on 12/26/2008 3:39 pm
barbara young
Paint a thousand masterpieces, start a comic strip, manufacture my own greeting cards, go on stage and “wow” people with my nutty sense of humor, and go all over the world. In reality money is always an issue along with the time and energy to do it. None of these things are impossible, they just take the time and money I donnot possess. I haven’t met any wealthy caregivers, so, I would say my odds are pretty slim.
By barbara young on 12/22/2008 5:04 pm
Allene Swienckowski
Personally, I’d right all of the wrongs that have been perpetuated against the American public for the last eight years. There’d been no more homeless Americans, not that his phenomennon became vogue with this administration, there would be children going to bed hungry and alone at night, every American would have a job that paid a living wage, all would have health-care coverage, and wars would no longer ravish our young and send them home in either boxes or maimed. That is what I would do if I were superwoman.
By Allene Swienckowski on 12/22/2008 7:02 pm
Bella Mia
I would open an equestrian therapy camp for wounded soldiers and their families. I would incorporate dancing and art as part of the healing process. I would finish my book on Toddler Accident Prevention before I turn 50 in April 2010.
By Bella Mia on 12/22/2008 8:12 pm
James the Game
Make everyone care about one another. That would wipe out 99.9% of all problems. The Beatles said it: “All you need is love.” Or was it the Bible: “The Greatest is Love.”
By James the Game on 12/22/2008 8:36 pm
Lizzie R.
I would like to go back into the medical profession and work on finding cures for all the orphan diseases that have been neglected.
By Lizzie R. on 12/22/2008 11:39 pm
Brenda Hall
Maurine H.: Maybe you can help your daughter suppress her cancer by reading the latest book written by former television star, Suzanne Somers. Just do an internet search for her name and you are sure to find the name of this book.
By Brenda Hall on 12/24/2008 10:57 am
Maurine H
Thank you Brenda. I watched Suzanne Somers’ interview with Larry King a few days ago and immediately went out and bought her book! I’m starting to read it today and will probably underline passages and then give it to my daughter. I really appreciate the suggestion!!!
By Maurine H on 12/26/2008 7:03 pm
Dona Howlett
Maurine, I’m so sorry to hear that bad news. I have a nephew who has an incurable cancer. As I was talking to him yesterday I suddenly realized it would probably be the last Christmas we would have together. Cancer is such an insidious disease……… I send my love and good energies to both of you.
By Dona Howlett on 12/26/2008 4:34 pm
Maurine H
Thanks to those of you who have written about my daughter. She is a beautiful young woman, a mother of three children, and she has a brave spirit. The knowledge that you are thinking positively on her behalf is very powerful and means so much to us both. Maurine
By Maurine H on 12/26/2008 7:06 pm