Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet set off a fury of condemnations this week from the cultural ministers of America and, within a few hours, ABC cancelled her TV show. It’s a good thing that we have them expressing all of their holy outrage or else we, the poor mindless masses, wouldn’t know that ridiculing someone is rude and inconsiderate. I mean, didn’t we learn this in kindergarten? However, the cloth isn’t upset about ridicule. No. It’s a special type of ridicule that they condemn. After all, many TV shows are created for the sole purpose of ridiculing various segments of society. Take for instance The Simpsons. The purpose of this show is to poke fun at pretty much everything, but apparently race may not be one of those things. It was hilarious watching SJWs lose their minds over the Apu character, an American-Indian portrayed in stereotypical ways. Racism is no longer about just racism; it’s about controlling political dissidents.
Condemnation and Righteous Indignation
I had no use for Roseanne’s tweet. It lacked any virtue whatsoever, including humor. So now that I’ve condemned it, may I climb up on that temple steeple and virtue signal with our sanctified media elites? The answer, of course, is “no.” That pulpit is reserved for their circle of social engineers, and they are viciously intolerant of anyone challenging their position. Okay, wise ones, permit me to ask a few questions. In spite of how tasteless the tweet was, whom did it harm? Has Roseanne ever actually done anything racist? She’s a comedian. That means that she has made a life of making fun of us. We even applauded it. Nevertheless, everybody takes missteps. Every comedian makes terrible jokes. Here’s another question. Why has race become taboo in an industry where nothing should be taboo? We Americans have allowed the media to create labels so powerful that by merely calling their opponents by those terms, they permanently brand and silence the opposition.
Calling Bullshit
Michael Fishman, who played Roseanne’s son D.J. Conner on the show tweeted, “While I am going to miss being part of the ABC family, I believe that to sit back or remain silent in an attempt to distance myself from the actions/statements of others would unintentionally endorse or placate those statements which I find truly offensive. My character was designed to represent the inclusive nature of my views. To represent portions of society often marginalized. We must stand-up against; bias, hatred, bigotry and ignorance to make society a better place for all.” (Full sermon)
First, let me take a moment of silence to contemplate the profound virtue of this apostle of the media. Oh, wait, my bullshit meter is blitzing. As a man, a Mormon, a polygamist, a middle-American voter, and a teacher, I have often witnessed bias, hatred, bigotry, and ignorance spewed from media outlets related to my way of life, and not in the form of tweets from people acting in a private capacity, but actually written into the scripts. For instance, consider the Book Of Mormon show. It’s two hours of pure ridicule of the Mormon history and culture. After I watched it, I straightway condemned the writers publicly, I organized a protest to picket the venue, and I started a petition to have the show cancelled. Actually, I did none of those things. Why? Because I’m a man. I don’t have to throw a tantrum to coerce everyone to over-pad my feelings. Also, actually, it was hilarious. I laughed, because I can laugh at myself. Something we should all learn, for God’s sake!
Roseanne, replying to Saint Michael Fishman, tweeted, “i created the platform for that inclusivity and you know it.ME. You throw me under the bus. nice!” He acknowledged her point by replying, “You fought, built, and designed Roseanne for inclusiveness. That is why yesterday was so out of character with the last 30 years. It was in your hands from the beginning to the end. No one can deny that.” So the media’s ascendant virtue discredits thirty years of activism and work for a twenty second tweet. Keep that in mind when they start labeling and virtue signalling their next pet peeve. Tyranny recognizes no boundaries.
This next tweet is my favorite. Emma Kenney played Harris Conner Healy, Roseanne’s granddaughter, on the show, but she got her big break on the TV show Shameless which ridiculed everything shamelessly. In other words, had it not been for the freedom of the media to poke fun at literally everything, we wouldn’t even know this little darling of an angel. She tweeted, “As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes , Channing Dungey and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will NEVER win.” Imagine the timing. Her offense was perfectly cued. I would find it a heavy burden to carry so much anger around all the time. Also, I hope her next role pays more. She totes deserves it.
As I called my manager to quit working on Roseanne, I was told it was cancelled. I feel so empowered by @iamwandasykes , Channing Dungey and anyone at ABC standing up for morals and abuse of power. Bullies will NEVER win.
— Emma Kenney (@EmmaRoseKenney) May 29, 2018
Bullies Will NEVER Win
I hope you’re right, alter girl, but social justice warriors are the biggest bullies I have ever witnessed. It makes me wonder if the cancellation of the show was really about racism or if it was rather about silencing Roseanne who has been a vocal Trump supporter. We may never know the full story, but one thing is clear, it was a heavy handed way of dealing with the issue. It reminds me of the H&M retail clothing fiasco when a cute little black kid was shown on their website modeling a hoodie sporting the phrase, “Coolest Monkey In The Jungle.” All of that deeply rooted resentment and anger boiled to the surface faster than you could brew a shot of Starbucks’ new culturally sensitive espresso. Settle down people! There is no way that H&M intended that as a racist insult. Everyone knows to steer clear of the the blacks. Don’t mention anything but praise and empathy. Oh, and give them lots of money, because nothing demonstrates how racist America is like having mega rich black celebrities. Are we really so thin skinned? If a reference to apes, monkeys, or any other primate unravels you that quickly, you’re not only weak, but pathetic, too.
The Soft Underbelly of America
I think America should be stronger and more resilient than this incessant pandering to the basest human emotions. It feels like we’ve become a nation of whiners. I despise racism (see Racism Defiles), but the things that I love carry me further. I want America to be strong, but I don’t think strength comes by silencing our opponents. Being outraged doesn’t make us right, it makes us weak. Admittedly, words can hurt and words can incite weak minds to violence. I’ve seen all kinds of hatred in this country and it breaks my heart. Hating someone is never a good idea. It’s not that people shouldn’t be silent, but they shouldn’t be silenced. We need to elevate our arguments, not by coercion, but rather by love, respect, consideration, patience, and understanding. I heart you all. May God bless America, the whole blessed thing.
Ariel Hammon
Author of JACK
AP photo obtain from theblaze.com here.