The World Upside Down
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25812)
Pikeville, North Carolina
March 29, 2022 4:00pm CST
The hubbub over the slapping at the Oscars shows us all we need to know about how screwed up the priorities of this country and the western world are in general.
More people care about two overpaid, overhyped, middle-aged men misbehaving at an event where other self-glorifying millionaires present each other with trophies and pretend what they do is important than care about the fact that a lunatic with nuclear weapons invaded a sovereign nation and the rest of the world was too scared to do the right thing to stop him.
No, I don't think Will Smith should have slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, though I'm not convinced it wasn't a set-piece designed to resuscitate the Oscars flagging viewership. Even with ratings 50% better than last year, this year's show had the second-lowest ratings ever.
I also think Chris Rock, whose denials about knowing of Jada's illness I believe are bunk, was an ass for joking about her condition. Does this excuse Will Smith? No. But Rock's joke wasn't funny. It was mean-spirited and hateful.
But the fact that this story is still leading the news instead of stories about Russia kidnapping and executing the mayors of Ukrainian cities and towns, Gini Thomas being deeply involved in the January 6th attempt to overthrow the government, or that Merrick Garland is sitting on his thumbs and doing nothing about any of the primary architects of the attempted and still ongoing coup should be more important than one aging actor slapping another regardless of why and where it happened.
Rant over. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
And, yes, I took the photo.
25 people like this
25 responses
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
29 Mar 22
And thank you to everyone who is helping the refugees find places to stay, food to eat, and the other things they so desperately need.
My pastor's family lives in Poland and they are hosting refugee families. We are doing what we can to support their efforts.
5 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
29 Mar 22
Wag the dog.
It's been a popular way of distracting people for many centuries.
Quite effective too, I'll add. It's a political go-to for both corrupt parties.
Good discussion topic. Nice presentation too.
5 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
30 Mar 22
@Vikingswest1 I long for the days before CNN and the 24-hour news cycle when the likes of Rather and Cronkite reported the news and kept their opinions out of it.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
30 Mar 22
@DWDavis
I did see the movie. I believe is is more relevant today.
I may be out on a limb but most of what we see and read is tail wagging meant as a distraction from more serious events and issues that should be news. It's not limited to political theater.
The media uses the tool everyday with spoon fed news mixed with opinion.
2 people like this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
30 Mar 22
As if the Western world is so caring, I believe I see the EU first response to the bombings of Ukraine was meeting in some fancy hotel's conference room and have lunches, dinners and even enjoying the amenities in the hotel. What aid did they (EU) send? Then there was an imbecile and retard shouting war crime and war criminal and what did he send? Weapons! What about food and medicines?
Like the Middle East, Syria (war ongoing) and Afghanistan (Taliban takeover) what did the West do for these countries - NOTHING!
The world actually saw the Ukrainians arming themselves with Molotov Cocktails as if they have such strong arms to throw them at the Russians in Moscow. Unbelievable. I ask where is the defense system for Ukraine? The Ukraine President may be a stand up comedian but there is no comedy now - appearing in army fatigue everyday on TV isn't gonna gain grounds in the name of defense.
Okay I am done ranting too
4 people like this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
31 Mar 22
@DWDavis
I'd like to reserve my support that he is "intelligent" but one thing I can put to you is all his ramblings on TV for more weapons supply and military support isn't to me wise and certainly someone determine to work out a fast ceasefire.
What right has he to stop all male Ukrainians to stay behind Ukraine to fight the war? This war isn't like some John Wayne Hollywood flicks (no offense) we are seeing missiles and volatile projectile bombs being launched to take out facilities and men. So, what has Ukraine done in the name of national defense?
Now with the country being invaded and making its Ukraine currency devalued - he is asking for weapons and the military to be donated? Sorry, you think US wants to "give" these things - oh I forgot someone just signed to donate 80 million of arms (free? I doubt) to Ukraine but wait didn't CNN saw a German made antitank weapon and for what? Shoot down the Russian missiles?
There's a western saying : There's no free lunch
1 person likes this
@sulynsi (2671)
• Canada
29 Mar 22
'...though I'm not convinced it wasn't a set-piece designed to resuscitate the Oscars flagging viewership. Even with ratings 50% better than last year, this year's show had the second-lowest ratings ever...'
LOL - yes, that thought had definitely occurred to me - how do we know that both gentlemen didn't receive a bonus for 'spicing things up'? It's not unknown in the entertainment world for two well known stars to manufacture a beef - just for publicity.
Sad, sad, sad.
5 people like this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
30 Mar 22
It came too late in the Oscar show to help the ratings plus I'm sorry, staged or not it had to be an easy or staged slap---Chris did put his hand up to his face, didn't flinch, didn't lose a tooth, didn't bleed, etc.
5 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
30 Mar 22
I agree. It was staged.
But. Here we are, days later, still talking about the Oscars.
Which was the goal of the stunt.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (57578)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Mar 22
Yes, I know what you mean. It's like our govornment seems to want us to be blind to what's happening around us. Because smart people won't stand for their behavior.
4 people like this
@rebelann (111133)
• El Paso, Texas
30 Mar 22
It seems to me that the media decides what news we should follow rather than the public voicing an opinion. I tend to wonder how much of what the media spews is factual although it would seem there is no disputing that one very rude comedian got a well deserved slap for being rude, it's all over youtube
3 people like this
@FourWalls (62085)
• United States
30 Mar 22
The slap sound was too loud…sounded like a sound effect.
Interesting thing about them being overpaid: each attendee got a “swag bag” worth nearly $140,000. Seriously??? Someone challenged them to donate their bags to charity to be auctioned and the proceeds to help Ukrainian refugees. Given that they’ll owe federal taxes on the $140,000, they might do that.
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95042)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Mar 22
I agree between actors and sports stars it can be hard to find any news of importance anymore
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73330)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Mar 22
When I look at that link to the slap that was just it what is the fuss all about? It was a slap done with and over, Now if WIll had punched the guy right in the face that would have been cause to say Oh My! Anyway, everything in this world is much more important, especially what is going on in Ukraine and unfortunately, we cannot just crawl under a rock and hide,
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73330)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Mar 22
@DWDavis pretty much like those monkeys see no evil speak no evil and hear no evil but the world unfortunately is now full of evil Someone here was boasting that they could just let him at Putin and he would set things to rights and I said yeah why not I would lend him my cast iron skillet to knock some sense into the despot but of course that is al talk and never any action
3 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (58119)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
29 Mar 22
I think Will was fully justified if it wasn't staged. He was defending his woman.
But I also think if she didn't want it talked about, she shouldn't of been talking about it in public, for example the countless social media posts she's made about it.
4 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
30 Mar 22
I don't think Jada minds discussing her condition publicly. It was the mean-spirited, hatefulness of Chris Rock's unfunny jokes that were the problem. For the people excusing his excesses as jokes, "I was just joking," is the bully's excuse.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58119)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
1 Apr 22
@DWDavis
I didn't say she minded it. I am just saying by publicly speaking about it she is opening herself up to all kinds of stuff. Including being joked about. No matter how wrong it is.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169880)
• United States
30 Mar 22
I think it was just a welcome distraction from the real problems in the world. Maybe you should send your epistle to the local newspaper or the academy. Chris Rock is kind of a jerk.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36434)
• Toccoa, Georgia
30 Mar 22
I'm trying very hard to tune out that Oscars Drama.
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17854)
• London, England
30 Mar 22
If this hadn't happened, I'd have never known the Oscars had happened. It all seems a bit childish. Pleased to say, it wasn't the lead item on the radio news the following morning. Incidentally, when I saw the title, I thought it was about the siege of Yorktown, where the British garrison marched out with the band playing, 'The world turn'd upside down'. I do know some weird things!
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
30 Mar 22
I did wonder if anyone would be reminded of Yorktown by my title. I have visited Yorktown on several occasions. They have a very nice museum there that tells the story of the war.
Yorktown itself is still a fairly small town. Quaint.
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
30 Mar 22
The "news" is very frustrating. Entirely too much weight goes to things that really don't matter...but how much of that is because of what we, the consumers, actually choose to pay attention to?
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (28406)
•
30 Mar 22
Very well said. Priorities are certainly scrambled, all over the world.
I did hear on one news station that up to the point of the much discussed slap, the number of people watching it was way down, then people heard about it and started watching the rest of it to see if anything else happened.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (28406)
•
31 Mar 22
@DWDavis
I won't be one of those people. I can't tell you how many years it's been since I watched an awards show. Too many to count.
2 people like this
