Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Roseanne Barr And Starbucks


Tuesday was quite a day for the self-righteous.  Roseanne Barr lost her show despite her apology for a crass tweet, and Starbucks trained their baristas not to engage in unconscious bias, however that can be done?  I've previously mocked Starbucks for their absurd overreaction to a unfortunate incident.  Their new policy of allowing table space and bathrooms for non-customers cannot have good results.  My hardcore subscribers know that I'm not much for political correctness, and those who want to make being a victim a career.

The Me-Too Movement has become predatory itself....It even ate Al Franken.

I certainly understand that racism is real, and  reducing prejudice is a most desirable goal.  However, I don't think that smelting down a statue of General Lee that stood in a New Orleans park for 100 years will accomplish the task.  The statue is now gone, and so is the educational opportunity associated with it.

We have to learn the difference between teachable moments and burning people at the stake, or worse, commercializing the PC response.  The Starbucks school yesterday was such a public relations response, nothing more. Unfortunately for Barr,  the anti-Trump entertainment industry relishes her execution. If ABC hadn't fired her,  I suspect that in some future show Barr would have turned the incident into a teachable moment.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Overpreaching At A Royal Wedding


Bishop Michael Curry got carried away with his 15 minutes of frame, by about 5 minutes.  His sermon concept was appropriate,  but the delivery was way too long. There were too many examples of each point that he wanted to make.

Most reviewers, especially the British, are too polite and politically correct to bluntly say that he was supposed to complement the service, but not dominate it.  One review said that he stole the show.  The problem is that it wasn't his show to steal,  it was a royal wedding.  Guests, both invited and vicarious virtual,  came to witness a wedding, not a sermon.

I fully appreciate that Meghan and Harry wanted to blend their cultures at the ceremony.  Bishop Curry was a good choice to speak,  but fewer words would have been better received.

Never the less, I wish to express my gratitude to Harry and Meghan for their kind invitation.

Published from The Savoy Hotel, London, England