We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
A war is raging in Ukraine. We've been confronted with a combination of rising prices and dipping stock values. Recent events demonstrate that the world is a scary place. Our Congress is in gridlock, unable to pass anything that's meaningful. We are led by a weak President who looks like he'd blow away in a gusty wind. Our former President is a blowhard supplying the wind. As a population, we are now just as divided as Congress. But yesterday, all the pundits and news outlets were focused on none of these things. They, and the population as a whole, were diverted by Will Smith's assault of comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars. The story, and the ridiculous amount of attention we paid to it, demonstrates that we are the hollow men.
While I love movies, I have absolutely no interest in these staged productions honoring our celebrities. It makes no difference whether it's the Oscars, Grammy awards or whatever. But too many of us do. So many of you probably saw Will Smith's open-handed bitch slap aimed at Chris Rock after the comedian told an off color joke about Will Smith's wife. Despite everything going on, this is what people chose to discuss.
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar
I have no idea why so many of you are interested in these long and boring shows. That's several hours of your life you won't get back. I love movies, but like actors much better when I know as little about them as possible. They are hardly standard bearers for anything, even though most think they are. Because we pay so much attention to them outside the box office, they become entitled. They're Super Kens and Karens. And we are the hollow men.
Precisely because he's entitled, Will Smith thought it was perfectly OK for him to jump on stage and strike a comedian because his joke offended him. This now sets the ball rolling for other entitled people to disrupt events they dislike. It could be a comedian on a stage. It could be a school directors setting a policy that some find objectionable.
We've got too many Kens and Karens.
While we're obsessing over these assholes, we ignore the real problems. And out planet withers.
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
30 comments:
In your class you could be the scarecrow while teaching, a brainless stuffed suit formally what remains of the human that once presided? Thanks for the digg about the Oscars but there are many who could care about this circus shitshow of plastic like creatures that are the likeness of the humans that once presided too?
Right you are ! I walk down the street - There is a deep hole in the sidewalk-I fell in -I am lost ,hopeless - It isn’t my fault- Portia Nelson ,Stages of change.( 1 of 5 brief ).
It’s one thing to lament the sorry state this nation finds itself in now. We ALL understand things just aren’t right. But, what can we do about this?
For me, the die was cast leading to this place when Joe Biden was installed as President. For such an effort to find success, and to still be ignored, meant our government agencies and actors could go ‘rogue’ to achieve their political and personal goals. Typical legislative and judicial processes that once acted as controls could now be pushed to the side. Accountability lost. Our culture reflects a similar decline of values. It’s all hard to watch.
As a common, everyday citizen I plan to work to remove as many politicians from office as I can. The only way to reverse course now is to flush out a huge segment of politicians now in place. As a group, they have failed us greatly. A new look, a fresh start, MIGHT help to stem America’s decline. Incumbents be gone!
The saddest/funniest/most satisfying part of this post is the Trump reference. Perhaps it's the impending red November onslaught as voters attempt to correct the mistake they made in a fit of pique two years ago. But Trump's ownership of your thoughts and the degree to which he made you more strident and less reasonable is satisfying. Putin didn't move on Trump. Putin moved on Bush, Obama, and Uncle Touchy. Two of those pathetic, hollow men received your endorsements and votes. They are you. You are they. I hear the echo in your head every time you can't get through another post without mentioning your daddy, La Grand Orange. Great post, btw.
I want to blame the media (all of them), but its a chicken or the egg thing, do we want it because they provide it, or do they provide it because we want it?
The breathless discussions, the hot takes and opinions that are shared mostly by empty suits and skirts on TV seems to give all of these "events" an extended shelf life that just really isnt deserved or justified. Then of course the various "Infotainment" news channels then take the event and turn it on its side to show that the event really highlights how bad the other political party is for our country and half the country just nods along with it.
I guess many people just welcome the distraction from their own lives to get away from either the boredom or stress of everyday living.
We should try to be better, but first we need to at least wake up and recognize we're all being played and a few people are making a shit ton of money off of us for it...
Well at least this blog hasn't fallen into that trap and wasted time on it.
Oh, wait.
No different than Northampton County Executive, Northampton County Commissioners, and the Northampton County employees!
Well said!
Ending with a bang is looking ever more possible.
This is the world we were born into. If you enjoy biking, treat yourself to this enjoyable pleasure of riding a bike through what is left of our once wilderness. If you enjoy working with your hands and creating beautiful things, then don't deny yourself the simple pleasure of relaxing in your shop and sharing your talents with friends, relatives and maybe a museum somewhere in this world. If you enjoy documentaries or music or any other type of live entertainment that you don't have the talent to share with the world then turn on your Television and enjoy the wide range of entertainment that is available through the airwaves. Enjoy life to the fullest. You only go through this cycle one time. Most important, during this time you have here on this earth, you have many times to make your journey here pleasurable. YOU DON"T GO THROUGH THIS LIFE TAKING. You will have many opportunities to enjoy the creature comforts and other pleasures shared by the so called me generation. YOU MUST GIVE SOMETHING BACK. When you leave this world, you should be able to tell your children what you did to make this world just a little better place than when you found it. Take the time to give something back regardless of how small you think this good deed may be. Volunteer your time and talents to make this world just a little better. There is no greater satisfaction.
I have to disagree. Biden is not a hollow President. He is trying to avoid WW3. Putin is relishing the attention of getting Russia in the world headlines. He sees this action as rebuilding the USSR. Remember always that he is an ex-KGB agent.
I agree, the Oscars are industry awards. They don’t mean anything to anyone not in the industry. (Except for Gail King, who lives in the Opra-aura.) Both Rock and Smith should be reprimanded by the industry. I was planing to go see Smith’s winning performance, and spend money at a real cinema. Now I have no interest. The industry lost my business. Multiplex owners- you can blame Smith for that.
ABC network needed a boost. The on-air brawl probably gave it to them. Now we have to explain to kids that this behavior isn’t right and you can’t act that way, even if Hollywood multi-millionaires do.
Very astute observations..all! We are in deep poop as a world yet this inanity grabs our attention for way too long. What a sad commentary on the Entertainment world too many of us worship and adore. The meme's alone from this act of stupid violence will remain for some time as it is used to show whatever the poster wants to skewer that day for some laughs. The wolves at our doors are of no consequence as long as we can laugh at and praise our golden idols on the big and small screens.
CNN reports that the Oscar ratings “surged” (or is that “SU-U-U-R-R-RGED!!!!!”?) to about 15 million (still the second lowest ever). That’s less than 10% of the people that voted in the last election. You are mis-reading twidiot babbling as the pulse of the nation.
And I’m not sure where you’re getting the comment about frailness of our current leader. As far as I could tell, the Morning Call this morning had nothing that would indicate anything like that. They didn’t even cover his fumbling about regime change, which I guess is not news. They did have a big headline about a former President though.
I have felt disheartened for a long time about the public worship of entertainers. I feel the same way when I see about a quarter of a daily news program dedicated to athletic entertainers.
I hear that they will ask Mike Tyson to be the MC next year.
@9:56 - And now we elect entertainers to public office. Trump, now Herschel Walker and Dr Oz... American Public: Ooooh! I saw him on TV once, he should represent me!
@6:57
"For such an effort to find success, and to still be ignored, meant our government agencies and actors could go ‘rogue’ to achieve their political and personal goals."
The January 6th Commission is slowly revealing the above to be sadly very true.
"The only way to reverse course now is to flush out a huge segment of politicians now in place. As a group, they have failed us greatly. A new look, a fresh start, MIGHT help to stem America’s decline. Incumbents be gone!"
Here we are in complete agreement. At the moment we simply have elected officials who put party above country on every topic. Everything they do is pure political theater meant to get a mention from their favorite cable news opinion show. The system needs an enema.
Get rid of cable news or failing that legislate the bejesus out of what they (and YouTube and other social media platforms) can talk about. Individuals have 1st Amendment rights, not mass media.
A bit hypocritical. We are distracted and focusing on the entertainment industry when we should be focusing on a war halfway across the world, that's your position? There's a war going on here, right in American that is overlooked day in and day out. Why are we concerned about the suffering of Ukrainians but not our own? Or rather, why are we being condemned for not caring enough about it, while ignoring suffering right in our backyard is acceptable? Poor and lower middle class Americans are treated like trash, living in unfathomable conditions and facing insurmountable obstacles to the opportunity to live even a decent life. Where is your outrage over that? Crime driven by rampant poverty Chicago and Baltimore. Contaminated drinking water in Detroit and Flint. Escalating homelessness in California. Drastically under-reported crimes against women in Native American communities. You're right, there are much bigger problems, but we don't and shouldn't be looking to the world to find them because they're right next door.
There be no slapping of iron mike.
@9:54 - "They didn’t even cover his fumbling about regime change, which I guess is not news. They did have a big headline about a former President though."
So easily distracted by small shiny things, which is the crux of Bernie's post... Lets break it down for you in small easy to understand bites.
Biden made an off the cuff remark during a speech (Something Trump frequently did - but you were probably OK with, cause he's on your team). The quote that apparently Tucker Hannity Ingram has your underwear bunched up about was when he said Putin "cannot remain in power". I will agree that what the President of the United States says and does, is a direct reflection on our country and certainly has its own gravity across the globe (again all of which you choose to ignore and/or celebrate when Trump did it). That said, having Putin removed from the stage as a global leader would likely benefit most of the Earth, so its not like Biden said anything most of us weren't already thinking. I wouldn't be aghast if Putin said the same about Biden, and in fact, Putin has thru direct action attempted to remove Zelensky from power with his Ukraine invasion - but your ass is chapped because its Joe Biden?
Then speaking of Trump, we get yet another layer of the story of his increasingly apparent unconstitutional post election scheming and manipulations to stay in power. But you have no problem with that because the election was rigged and there was rampant voter fraud that you've read about on the internet.
TV and Hollywood. Another awesome reason as to why I cut the cord and barely watch TV now. So much more to life.
Court jesters used to be the lowest members of the royal court. While enjoying some jesters privilege, they often ran afoul of those they insulted and/or failed to entertain. We've elevated jesters to positions of substantial influence. Shame on us.
Say what???
Chris Rock was over the line and is lucky he did not get a broken jaw.
Smith is not entitled he is a husband who's wife was insulted.
Most men would have no problem "correcting" chris rock if he insulted the guy's family.
Chris rock had a responsibility to know who he was commenting on, most likely he did know and slammed her anyway. Chris rock then tries to hide under "free speech"--he forgets there are limits to one's speech.
Basically Smith slapped him to humiliate chris rock, and chris should learn his lesson.
Best post ever. Thank you
Anon 6:57 you are right on pal. I’m going to do same thing . Change political personal like underwear.because there’s always a stain-in them . Like rape , - penetration no matter how slight ,constitutes the act. And almost all politicians have crossed some limes no matter the party. Son of bitches are mostly in for themselves. I’d name a few here ,but I’ll refrain.
Our focus as Americans is certainly often related in the news at least to things like this slap. Frankly with a war in Ukraine with the potential for WW111 I find it incredible that a slap is big news. Our country does have big issues but I am not so sure we as Americans should only worry about us and not the rest of the world as we see we are all connected and peace and stability in the world is fragile. Only one nut case away from the end of the world as we know it. The issues that you raise related to the poor reminds me of all of the available jobs that Americans chose not to take. I know of hardworking Americans working two jobs to make it work. That's what this country is about. The American dream has to be worked for not given away to be appreciated. Crime and homelessness are of course major issues dealt with by a strict criminal justice system and improvement in mental health services. We have become soft feeling like it's up to someone else to take care of us and not holding people accountable for their own inaction or action. I admire the Ukraine people. They cherish democracy. They'll fight for their freedom as they appreciate it above all. Americans have lost the appreciation for all we have and we take our freedom for granted. That's the real problem. No honor here true Americans have always looked to promote freedom and democracy in the world. I don't see that as a problem but rather a great attribute.
Annon 5:27, Chris Rock made a joke (funny or not) using words. Will Smith committed assault and battery. Big difference.
12:19 PM
Typical. "I don't want to admit 'my side' made a mistake so because Fox News is reporting it, I don't have to believe it."
How about MSNBC?
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/biden-s-remarks-about-putin-are-playing-fire-n1293483
Quite a defense too. "Trump did it too."
voted for Obama, I voted for TRump, I voted for Biden. I keep hoping we get someone that is somewhat normal and not a schmuck.
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