While missiles were falling in Ukraine and over four million of its citizens were seeking sanctuary outside their country and amid Republican threats to our democracy, what were our citizens discussing?
Well, inflation and gasoline prices for sure. I can understand that, since those on the brink of economic disaster can be pushed over by the smallest change.
But for those not living paycheck to paycheck, the big story was the childlike behavior at the Academy Awards Ceremony. What a sense of priority!
I’m sure everyone knows what happened. Why, even I, who cares not a whit for the celebrity world, learned of it. Comedian Chris Rock, who was emceeing the show, included in his routine a mocking of Will Smith’s wife’s lack of hair, a situation resulting from a medical problem. Smith was incensed and, showing the maturity of the celebrity, walked onto the stage, slapped Rock, muttered a few choice words, and refused to leave. Not funny in the least. Not slapstick. I am told that both of these individuals are well known.
But, honesty, who cares? Well, apparently a lot of people, because social media went crazy and regular broadcast channels devoted precious time to it.
When asked how I felt about the incident, I replied I thought Smith had acted in a disgusting manner, although I understood his being angry. I would be if someone made fun of my wife in a derogatory way. But I wouldn’t pick a physical fight. There might be words, but they would come later and not in a public setting. I would be disgusted with myself if I had acted in the way that Smith did. So why did he feel it was acceptable behavior? I can think of two reasons.
First, did Smith feel like he was so important, so well known, so superb at his job, so adored by millions, that he had the right to respond with violence?
We tend to look on celebrities with awe, knowing we could never act, sing, dance, or play basketball the way they do. So why do we give them so much slack? My guess is very few of them could teach mathematics, or take a nurse’s shift, or clean a. toilet, or do any of the myriad of jobs that we “normal” folks perform on a daily basis. Our love probably is because they are entertainers and for brief moments help us escape from the daily humdrum of our lives.
But it doesn’t give them an excuse to act worse than we do!
The second reason is scarier, Could the general breakdown of decency we are experiencing in this country and around the world have created a mind set in all of us, not just celebrities, that physical altercations are a completely acceptable way to deal with a problem, that there are no longer the societal checks that used to restrain bad behavior. Take our love for guns. If their preponderance doesn’t imply increased threats, I don’t know what does. Just scan the headlines of any paper on any day for verification.
For whatever reason Smith felt he could do what he did, any decent person would conclude he acted reprehensively. So were there only a few decent people at the ceremony? How else to explain the standing ovation Smith received later in the evening when he accepted his award.
There’s another aspect of the incident that bothers me.
What about the actions of Chris Rock? Is he all goodness and light? After all, he makes his money by mocking others. Do we condone eliciting laughs by playing on the weaknesses of others, especially ones suffering from a medical condition? I think we do,
I can understand the appeal. Especially if the mocking hits home, that is, if it deals with a situation where we can relate. Like about family. Or work. Or school.
Still, though, what does it say about the human species if we get a kick out of making others uncomfortable. I know this has been the norm for a long time. Don Rickles comes to mind.
It has been pointed out that I’m being a hypocrite, big surprise. Because my moral stance is damaged by the fact I am currently watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel that presents a comedienne ripping apart those in her life. And it is funny.
So how do I come down on the various aspects of the Oscar controversy? I’m not sure. There’s no question Will Smith acted abominably. Chris Rock seems to have stayed within at least what we think of as the norm.
I fear that the actions of both are a product of the times in which we live and the seeming lack of respect we have for each other.
Well, inflation and gasoline prices for sure. I can understand that, since those on the brink of economic disaster can be pushed over by the smallest change.
But for those not living paycheck to paycheck, the big story was the childlike behavior at the Academy Awards Ceremony. What a sense of priority!
I’m sure everyone knows what happened. Why, even I, who cares not a whit for the celebrity world, learned of it. Comedian Chris Rock, who was emceeing the show, included in his routine a mocking of Will Smith’s wife’s lack of hair, a situation resulting from a medical problem. Smith was incensed and, showing the maturity of the celebrity, walked onto the stage, slapped Rock, muttered a few choice words, and refused to leave. Not funny in the least. Not slapstick. I am told that both of these individuals are well known.
But, honesty, who cares? Well, apparently a lot of people, because social media went crazy and regular broadcast channels devoted precious time to it.
When asked how I felt about the incident, I replied I thought Smith had acted in a disgusting manner, although I understood his being angry. I would be if someone made fun of my wife in a derogatory way. But I wouldn’t pick a physical fight. There might be words, but they would come later and not in a public setting. I would be disgusted with myself if I had acted in the way that Smith did. So why did he feel it was acceptable behavior? I can think of two reasons.
First, did Smith feel like he was so important, so well known, so superb at his job, so adored by millions, that he had the right to respond with violence?
We tend to look on celebrities with awe, knowing we could never act, sing, dance, or play basketball the way they do. So why do we give them so much slack? My guess is very few of them could teach mathematics, or take a nurse’s shift, or clean a. toilet, or do any of the myriad of jobs that we “normal” folks perform on a daily basis. Our love probably is because they are entertainers and for brief moments help us escape from the daily humdrum of our lives.
But it doesn’t give them an excuse to act worse than we do!
The second reason is scarier, Could the general breakdown of decency we are experiencing in this country and around the world have created a mind set in all of us, not just celebrities, that physical altercations are a completely acceptable way to deal with a problem, that there are no longer the societal checks that used to restrain bad behavior. Take our love for guns. If their preponderance doesn’t imply increased threats, I don’t know what does. Just scan the headlines of any paper on any day for verification.
For whatever reason Smith felt he could do what he did, any decent person would conclude he acted reprehensively. So were there only a few decent people at the ceremony? How else to explain the standing ovation Smith received later in the evening when he accepted his award.
There’s another aspect of the incident that bothers me.
What about the actions of Chris Rock? Is he all goodness and light? After all, he makes his money by mocking others. Do we condone eliciting laughs by playing on the weaknesses of others, especially ones suffering from a medical condition? I think we do,
I can understand the appeal. Especially if the mocking hits home, that is, if it deals with a situation where we can relate. Like about family. Or work. Or school.
Still, though, what does it say about the human species if we get a kick out of making others uncomfortable. I know this has been the norm for a long time. Don Rickles comes to mind.
It has been pointed out that I’m being a hypocrite, big surprise. Because my moral stance is damaged by the fact I am currently watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel that presents a comedienne ripping apart those in her life. And it is funny.
So how do I come down on the various aspects of the Oscar controversy? I’m not sure. There’s no question Will Smith acted abominably. Chris Rock seems to have stayed within at least what we think of as the norm.
I fear that the actions of both are a product of the times in which we live and the seeming lack of respect we have for each other.
RSS Feed