A Farce out of literary fancy
Until Sunday night, I thought Don Quixote was the hero in a book. But suddenly, one man strode across the Oscars stage and bitch slapped another for insulting his wife. HOORAY! I have watched comedians regale audiences with the hilarity of two seagulls having a discussion (Red Skelton), the subtle and hilarious sexuality of Sid Caesar, and the brutal, gut-wrenching humor of Lenny Bruce. But rarely have I heard the nasty, sleazy disparagement of a man’s accomplishments by attacking his wife for having an incurable disease. I don’t think Mr. Rock understands that there are rules which govern everyday social discourse. An awards presentation is not to praise the skills and accomplishments of the host; rather, the host should speak to the achievements of those persons being honored.
When violence does not deserve an apology
Will Smith has already offered a public apology to Chris Rock and the powers behind the Oscars. He began his apology with the oft-quoted statement, ” There is no excuse for violence.”
NONSENSE! If you see a person being lynched by a group of thugs and you have a tire iron in your car trunk. If you take the iron to defend yourself while saving the victim and, in the process, you kill one of the thugs. You’ve committed murder. Is this not a case for justifiable violence?
True, Will Smith was not trying to kill anyone. Chris Rock was viciously and vindictively attacking Will Smith by trying to besmirch Mr. Smith’s wife. That is an extreme act of cruelty. It is violence against a person who has nothing to do with the award or even the reasons for receiving the award.
The collective Judgement is not always right
First, there was the slap and then the silence. Almost as if nothing had happened or something so extraordinary had just occurred, no response could do justice to the event. The one reaction that should have happened didn’t happen. There were not enough cheers. There was not loud enough or long enough applause.
It was wrong for Will Smith to strike Chris Rock, but it certainly was understandable. His reaction was that of a good husband and a good man, and I applaud him for it.
Where is the applause for simple human dignity and respect?
Will Smith was standing up for and defending his wife. He did the right thing in the most honorable of ways. Chris Rock was goading Will Smith. He was not engaging in humorous banter about the foibles of Will Smith. No, he compared Jada Smith to Gi Jane. The tone and the delivery were not flattering. Jada Smith has nothing to do with the Oscar presentation. She was there as the wife of a potential recipient. She and the other guests should never be the mark for a host with few original thoughts to share.
The Oscar Academy is pursuing disciplinary action against William Smith. They are mute about Chris Rock. Will Smith has formally apologized to both Chris Rock and the Academy.
Chris Rock has not apologized to anyone, not Jada Smith, and not to the people who suffer from any illness that might be fodder for such a tactless and tasteless comedian.