Blogging from Slidell, Louisiana about loving life on the Gulf Coast despite BP and Katrina
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Will Smith Screwed Up (So Did Chris Rock)
SOURCE:https://kareem.substack.com/p/will-smith-did-a-bad-bad-thing?s=r&fbclid=IwAR3_C7-O5UlGHhS4bb1FbKpaJkwYOdXg8GXRmy3uR9Vw6XYJz_ffUyEl4NE
When Will Smith stormed onto the Oscar stage to strike Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife’s short hair, he did a lot more damage than just to Rock’s face. With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry, and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community.
That’s a lot to unpack. Let’s start with the facts: Rock made a reference to Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, as looking like Demi Moore in GI Jane, in which Moore had shaved her head. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss. Ok, I can see where the Smiths might not have found that joke funny. But Hollywood awards shows are traditionally a venue where much worse things have been said about celebrities as a means of downplaying the fact that it’s basically a gathering of multimillionaires giving each other awards to boost business so they can make even more money.
The Smiths could have reacted by politely laughing along with the joke or by glowering angrily at Rock. Instead, Smith felt the need to get up in front of his industry peers and millions of people around the world, hit another man, then return to his seat to bellow: “Keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth.” Twice.
Some have romanticized Smith’s actions as that of a loving husband defending his wife. Comedian Tiffany Haddish, who starred in the movie Girls Trip with Pinkett Smith, praised Smith’s actions: “[F]or me, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen because it made me believe that there are still men out there that love and care about their women, their wives.”
Actually, it was the opposite. Smith’s slap was also a slap to women. If Rock had physically attacked Pinkett Smith, Smith’s intervention would have been welcome. Or if he’d remained in his seat and yelled his post-slap threat, that would have been unnecessary, but understandable. But by hitting Rock, he announced that his wife was incapable of defending herself—against words. From everything I’d seen of Pinkett Smith over the years, she’s a very capable, tough, smart woman who can single-handedly take on a lame joke at the Academy Awards show.
This patronizing, paternal attitude infantilizes women and reduces them to helpless damsels needing a Big Strong Man to defend their honor least they swoon from the vapors. If he was really doing it for his wife, and not his own need to prove himself, he might have thought about the negative attention this brought on them, much harsher than the benign joke. That would have been truly defending and respecting her. This “women need men to defend them” is the same justification currently being proclaimed by conservatives passing laws to restrict abortion and the LGBTQ+ community.
Worse than the slap was Smith’s tearful, self-serving acceptance speech in which he rambled on about all the women in the movie King Richard that he’s protected. Those who protect don’t brag about it in front of 15 million people. They just do it and shut up. You don’t do it as a movie promotion claiming how you’re like the character you just won an award portraying. By using these women to virtue signal, he was in fact exploiting them to benefit himself. But, of course, the speech was about justifying his violence. Apparently, so many people need Smith’s protection that occasionally it gets too much and someone needs to be smacked.
What is the legacy of Smith’s violence? He’s brought back the Toxic Bro ideal of embracing Kobra Kai teachings of “might makes right” and “talk is for losers.” Let’s not forget that this macho John Wayne philosophy was expressed in two movies in which Wayne spanked grown women to teach them a lesson. Young boys—especially Black boys—watching their movie idol not just hit another man over a joke, but then justify it as him being a superhero-like protector, are now much more prone to follow in his childish footsteps. Perhaps the saddest confirmation of this is the tweet from Smith’s child Jaden: “And That’s How We Do It.”
The Black community also takes a direct hit from Smith. One of the main talking points from those supporting the systemic racism in America is characterizing Blacks as more prone to violence and less able to control their emotions. Smith just gave comfort to the enemy by providing them with the perfect optics they were dreaming of. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro wasted no time going full-metal jacket racist by declaring the Oscars are “not the hood.” What would she have said if Brad Pitt slapped Ricky Gervais? This isn’t Rodeo Drive? Many will be reinvigorated to continue their campaign to marginalize African Americans and others through voter suppression campaign.
As for the damage to show business, Smith’s violence is an implied threat to all comedians who now have to worry that an edgy or insulting joke might be met with violence. Good thing Don Rickles, Bill Burr, or Ricky Gervais weren’t there. As comedian Kathy Griffin tweeted: “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”
The one bright note is that Chris Rock, clearly stunned, managed to handle the moment with grace and maturity. If only Smith’s acceptance speech had shown similar grace and maturity—and included, instead of self-aggrandizing excuses, a heartfelt apology to Rock.
I don’t want to see him punished or ostracized because of this one, albeit a big one, mistake. I just want this to be a cautionary tale for others not to romanticize or glorify bad behavior. And I want Smith to be the man who really protects others—by admitting the harm he’s done to others.
Update: Since this article was first published, Will Smith has issued an apology to Chris Rock, the Academy, and the audience. In part, he posted:
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Monday, March 28, 2022
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
RIP Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright, he first woman Secretary of State (1997-2001), passed away today at the age of 84.
In her book, Read My Pins, she revealed that she used jewelry as a diplomatic tool during her years with the Clinton administration.
Because my comment departed from the niceties of normal diplomatic discourse, it caused an uproar in New York and Washington; for the same reason, it was welcomed in Miami. As a rule, I prefer polite talk, but there are moments when only plain speaking will do.
Red Pickup Truck vs Tornado
Story from: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/bastrop-county/we-found-the-red-pickup-truck-that-flipped-over-in-elgin-tornado/
ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) — “He was in shock; he was crying,” said Ruben Briones, who said he helped the driver of the red pickup truck seen flipping over on Highway 290 in Elgin in a widely-circulated video.
“He told me it was scary,” said Briones, who added the driver is from Manor but is leaving the truck in Elgin near where the tornado touched down for the time being.
The video of the truck driving through the tornado has gone viral. Hundreds of thousands have seen it across the world.
That includes Elgin resident Keith Leschber. He also happens to drive a red pickup truck. It was parked safely at home when the tornado hit, but when his friends saw the video — they got worried.
“He sees me and runs up to me, and I’m like, ‘what’s up man?’ He said, ‘I just want to see if you’re alright. I saw that red truck, and I didn’t know if it was you,'” he said.
The windows are blown out. The side panels are dented and scraped. The rear view mirrors are gone.
Commander Crim said he spoke with the driver on the side of the road shortly after the tornado hit.
“I asked if he was okay, and he shook his head and didn’t really answer me,” he said. At that point, Crim had not seen the video yet.
“Now I understand why he had a blind stare. I’m sure he was scared to death,” he said. Crim said a woman who identified herself as an off-duty EMT had wrapped the driver’s arm in a bandage.
We’re still working to track down the driver himself. Police said they believe he’s in his late teens or 20s.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Reggie Ford
So, there's an artist in NOLA named Reggie Ford.
After the tornado tonight, Reggie took it upon himself to redirect traffic
so that it wouldn't become bottlenecked after the storm did it's damage.
Before emergency personnel made it to where Reggie was, he determined
what roads couldn't be used and found some traffic cones and closed off
those streets. Here's a video he made of his kind deed.
https://www.facebook.com/reggie.ford.3
Heartbroken
Not sure of the strength of it, but a massive tornado struck Arabi and the Lower 9th tonight.
First reports are not good: a lot of homes lost, cars thrown about. It just happened about an hour ago,
so I'm just posting what I've seen.
My heart breaks for the Lower 9th and the pictures from Arabi remind me of Katrina damage. Please - if you pray - please pray for all who lost this fight with mother nature.
From #NOLATwitter, this video by Gabe LeBleu
Here's a picture from WDSU of the tornado in the 9th Ward
matthew burke took in chalmette on chinchilla st. you all have permission to use it! (tweet by Drew Burke)
Monday, March 21, 2022
Friday, March 18, 2022
Ukraine National Anthem
Ukrainian soldier plays national anthem on violin in symbol of hope in war against Russia
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
WHAT will it take to stop Putin
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy showed this powerful video to Congress, depicting Ukraine before and during the invasion. NONE of the buildings destroyed were military targets. Hospitals were bombed. Children were murdered. The video ends with a familiar call for a no-fly zone: "Close the sky over Ukraine." Is there a way to close the sky without starting WWIII? I'm sure there is, but will Congress find a way? UKRAINE NEEDS HELP!
Monday, March 14, 2022
Wednesday, March 09, 2022
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