Overkill
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 05:54PM By now, most people in the civilized world are aware that former Seinfeld actor Michael Richards made some racially insensitive remarks while performing a stand-up routine at a comedy club. While his remarks were rightly met with derision and scorn, I have to admit being appalled at the amount of media attention the story is getting. I can understand covering the story for a day. After all, the sight of a fairly well-known celebrity having a meltdown and throwing a tirade full of racial epithets on camera is newsworthy, but only for a day. Why does this story merit coverage for a second full day? The guy made an absolute buffoon out of himself -- probably forever tarnishing his reputation -- and apologized. End of story!
Still, with our media culture being what it is, I fully expect to turn on the television or radio tomorrow to hear "updates" on the reaction to Michael Richard's comments with the usual pantheon of people thrust before the microphone explaining what he must do to make amends. Then we'll be treated to stories about the problems of race and how we still have so far to go before racial harmony is achieved. I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see some time devoted to media self-reflection where the media asks itself whether it devoted too much time to a story of this nature, and on it will go. All because a guy lost his temper along with any measure of reason that he possessed.
Then there are those interviewed. I saw one segment today where the person being interviewed discussed how hurtful Richard's comments were. While certainly inappropriate and unnecessary, I hardly understand how Richard's comments, his actual words, hurt anybody but himself. Who cares that much about what Michael Richards thinks, anyway? What he said actually tells us more about him then about the individuals at whom his tirade was directed. He made an unadulterated fool of himself and received the appropriate amount of social ostracism that his comments deserved. There's no reason to believe that somehow millions of Americans have been emotionally damaged by his moment of idiocy.
My disgust isn't limited to the Richards' fiasco. I thought the media spent an inordinate amount of time and energy covering Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic rant. Then, like now, Gibson's comments should have been reported, his apology covered and that should have been the end of it. I don't need one person after another telling me just how outraged I should be or how I should feel. There shouldn't have been what amounted to a media flogging of Mel Gibson. If what he said was offensive and, in the opinion of some, beyond the scope of his apology, they can choose to boycott his movies. People are intelligent enough to recognize ugliness without the media having to beat the drum endlessly pointing it out.
Update: And away we go.
Update: And the beat goes on.
"Michael apologized profusely. He wants to heal the tremendous wound that he's inflicted on the American public, and on the African-American community," he said.
Give me a break! How mellow-dramatic does this have to get?
And, in typical fashion, Jesse Jackson has gotten involved:
"Clearly he needs some race sensibility training, and some psychiatric help. His anger is volatile and dangerous to himself and others," Jackson said. "I hope he gets the help he needs. But the culture that's producing this kind of animosity toward blacks must be addressed. ... We're increasingly facing cultural isolation in Hollywood, in the movies and in TV."
Jackson added, "We have to evaluate the use of the n-word and categorize it as hate speech, no matter who uses it."
Idiotic statements like those made by Richards keep Jesse Jackson's face in front of the camera. Please Reverend Jackson, the sight of you pontificating before the camera is punishment enough. I'm crying uncle! Stop the madness!
It gets worse. Now people are coming forward accusing Richards of making anti-Semitic remarks. I suppose the next wave of stories will contain interviews with associates and childhood friends of Richards who will be asked if he has a history of making bigoted comments. Note to the media: I don't care. It's unfortunate if Michael Richard's is a racist bigot, but I don't care! Who is Michael Richards to most Americans, anyway? Is the media going to seek out every racist in the country and do a full page expose on them? How about a racist of the week pullout section? It would be different if Michael Richards, or anyone else for that matter, were perpetuating acts of racially-motivated violence. That's something I would want to know about. What I don't need is endless coverage about someone's ill-conceived and ill-mannered verbal tirade. He's entitled to say what he wants, and the rest of us are entitled to socially ostracize him by electing not to support his career endeavors with our money.
I'm going to let the media and the race-baiting establishment in on a little secret. The rest of us know that racists exist. Some of us even know one or two. We don't need you to devote resources to inform us just how angry and bigoted people can be. I have a recommendation. Instead of chasing down stories that tell us that some people make horrible racist comments -- something we already know -- why don't you devote your resources to learning more about the goals of our enemies in the Global War On Terror? That would be a far greater service then the current coverage of the GWOT, which largely consists of criticizing how we are waging it. Instead of interviewing Jesse Jackson, seek out some Islamic dissidents and ask them about what motivates the extremists. Interview some experts on the jihadists and what their views of Sharia law mean for the rest of us. Provide us with some useful and insightful information instead of a series of stories about an actor's angry outburst.
Update: Ed Morrissey weighs in and rightly wonders when extortion became acceptable.
Update: Approximately one week later and this story is still going.
Reader Comments (2)
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Happy Thanksgiving!