Explaining a gay position to kids can be tough, but she did a yeoman’s job of it
This entire episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey seemed to be about gays, Joe Guidice’s perceived bigotry, and coming out. It started with everybody talking about, and getting ready for the wedding of a Manzo brother, Jamie, to his partner, Rich, which we’ll get to see in next week’s episode.
So he’s not always politically correct in the gay department
Because Joe Guidice has made some seemingly bigoted gay comments in season’s past, Tre feels it’s necessary to point out that they’ve been around gays for years and, therefore, they love “the gays”. (that line made me laugh, people. Teresa has a certain style of talking and mispronouncing, but I wonder, aside from Tre is there anyone else who calls them “the gays?) Anyway, Tre tells us that she has to remind him to be careful about saying certain things because people don’t really know him and they misinterpret everything.
But here’s what I see as the biggest issue of the season, so we’re going to deviate a bit in this post from the gay issue and talk about it. We can hit the gay issue when we see the wedding next week.
There seems to be a bomb that’s about to go off and it’s going to be taking center-stage here. Let me explain.
Caroline blames Teresa for this rift.
It is mentioned by Jacqueline that a rift has been caused by Teresa between Dina and her sister Caroline. This is not news to us, except that more details of the rift were brought to light. It seems Teresa told Dina (don’t you just love this gossip) that Caroline had said she was going to try to take Dina down, business opportunity-wise and the pair of them had a series of fights. Jacqueline is sharing with us that as a result, Dina has stayed away from many family events, including this family wedding.
I first have to wonder what family member would want to take another family member down?
What I found interesting about the entire episode is that Caroline seems ready for a fight with Teresa. Here’s Teresa being sociable with everybody and getting along, going with the flow and being all around nice girl, and Caroline already has a stick up her ass and is looking for the right opportunity to pounce on Tre.
Not just this one, but now Caroline rumored to have planned to take Dina down.
Now I agree, there have been plenty of times in past seasons when Tre was a little out-of-line and we’ve been quite judgmental of her, but does it seem to you that the other housewives have been doing their level-best to bring her down this season? We see Melissa always putting her down in her sweet-Melissa way, and Caroline always ready at the pounce. The only one it seems who isn’t trying to bring Tre down is Kathy Wakile, who seems to want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and clearly loves her cousin.
Tre on Celebrity Apprentice didn’t pull any NeNe-like, dramafied moments.
I don’t know if it’s because we were able to watch Tre on Celebrity Apprentice this season that we were able to see another side to her than they are painting here. On CA, she was quite a team player, got along with everybody and seemed to be a willing worker-bee in every endeavor.
But here’s the thing…we don’t like ticking time-bombs. It’s not nice for someone to be standing on high-alert just waiting for your next screw-up, is it? Tre is human and sometimes she finds things funny that others don’t, but if Caroline is sitting there just waiting to go off, who’s going to be the one causing drama? Yet, did you hear Caroline say this?:
“I hold Tre responsible”
“I hold Teresa responsible for a lot of relationships in my life that are hurting. Of course I fight with my sisters and brothers. I fight with my parents. The difference is, she puts the wood on my family’s fire. I put the lid on hers.”
This rift between Caroline Manzo and her sister Dina is quite intense and there seems to be a lot of suffering going on as a result. For so long we watched these sisters share so many wonderful occasions together, share a family business together, and share lovely relationships between the children.
It’s unfortunate that one should find themselves in such a situation, but worse to try to blame someone else. Teresa is not responsible for any kind of discontent here. Of course Dina would be pissed at any sibling who said they weren’t going to support her in her goals, but it seems reasonable that had Caroline not said such a thing to Teresa, that Dina and Caroline wouldn’t be where they are today and the whole misunderstanding between them wouldn’t have come to this point.
Do you agree?
Your friend,
I totally agree, outsiders arent supposed to have this kind of power to cause a rift between sisters. I suspect they were already on rocky terms and Teresa just added a little lighter fluid to the embers. I also believe you can always mend broken relationships if and only if you are more concerned about fixinfg it and less concerned about being right. Compromise, forgive, move on, let negative slights, comments, or whatever go. Let it go. THEN KEEP IT MOVIN.. caroline is too stubborn and wants to be right instead of reconciled. Teresa as well. She is also caught up in blame placing and grudge holding. These two have to fix their dysfunctional selves from within before they can forgive. If they dont reflect on what part they play in their rifts with their siblings, history will just continue to be on repeat like a record player.
You’ve heard the expression “killing the messenger”. That’s what I think is at play here.
The message Dina heard…”your sister wants to bring you down”. The problem as I see it is Caroline’s wish to put blame on Teresa for conveying to Dina what she said, rather than acknowledging that she caused a critical failure by wishing ill upon her sister. Placing blame on Tre is denying the root of the problem…that being her sentiments against her sister. Who could blame Dina for remaining a loyal friend to Teresa under the circumstances?
Annnnnd, Teresa blame places and doesn’t take any responsibility for her rift with her brother either. Maybe Teresa and Caroline’s issues with their siblings are one in the same. No?
I think what we’re witnessing is that Tre is not particularly quick on her feet. The net result is that she says things she might not mean and it is often misinterpreted. Is she responsible for the rift between she and her brother? I don’t think she would see that because she is a narcissist, number 1, and that renders her incapable of seeing she’s doing anything wrong. Caroline is not a narcissist, so it seems she’s just not willing to take any responsibility for the actions which led to the breakdown in her relationship with Dina. In conclusion, I think they’re different situations completely. It’s always so much better to know all of the details before we draw conclusions because prior to Jacqueline telling us what went on we were only able to surmise things. Now we have a much clearer understanding of the situation.
Go to http://www.dinamanzo.com/press/thetruth Dina says on her website titled The Truth, that Teresa has Nothing to due with her & Caroline! The blog is dated 10/24/11. Enough said about that Dina herself basically says it’s bullshit!
To me Joe Gudice is who he is! He doesn’t change or ACT for the camera’s. I find that better than all the set up scenes Melissa & Joe do! With the here read this text I sent to my sister bullshit! Sorry I have had ENOUGH of this season of lets get Teresa.
Caroline the Bulldog, needs to get a life! She always has someone she needs to get. The only thing I have agreed with her on was in this weeks blog that she didn’t feel Joe meant any malice towards Greg.
Thank you for sharing Dina’s link. I always find it interesting when someone blames an outside person for the demise of a relationship and my point was that there had to be some truth about what Caroline said to Tre that prompted the “divorce”…in other words, Caroline is not an innocent victim.
I’m glad I’m not the only one seeing that these people are doing all they can to harm Tre. I think it’s time to say goodbye to the boring Manzos. Thank you for your comment.
I have been waiting for you to comment on Don Caroline’s behavior. She really seems to have it out for Teresa and looks like a bully this season.
I am really leaning on Teresa’s side thus far. And I agree that seeing her on CA has cast her in a whole new light.
Ah hahahahaha…it took me a couple of reads to figure out just who “don Caoline” was…I love it. Make no mistake, this woman is an immature bully who needs to focus on healing her own relationships and stop acting like a child victim.
I have a warm heart and whilst I often attack people’s behaviours try not to attack them. CA was a very enlightening moment for me and I recognized, for the first time, that Bravo seldom let’s us see the whole person. Shame on them
You are right CA was an eye opener, and in my opinion if Caroline would have been on, she would have failed miserably. Although I would be interested in seeing her husband Al on there, he might be good. I feel for Teresa, she is spread thin right now, mother, wife, author, on tv show; she’s juggling a lot of balls. Meanwhile Caroline and Jacqueline sit @home dwelling on and manipulating every single wword and action of Tre’s. My point is Teresa needs to fix her problems with her brother, Caroline needs to fix hers with Dina. Both are in denial about thinking it’s the other sibling who has a problem, they both should look from within. Teresa doesnt have time or energy to, Caroline has tons of time to reflect, apologize, and make amends. I dont get this newfound disgust and hatred Caroline exhibits towards Teresa. Tre really didnt do anything to deserve Carolines behavior IMO.
Oh, I agree, particularly with the Tre is so busy part. My Lord, just managing 4 children is a handful…add everything else and I am quite impressed. The other issue you point out is that neither Caroline or Jacqueline have much going for them right now and I’m beginning to wonder if there is a little envy going on. Why else would you tear someone down? I don’t understand why Caroline is raging at her and not herself.