16288: Thank God It’s Flyday.

 

Protection For Everyone…? Kills Bugs Dead was deemed too toxic and violent?

15772: Will Smith v Chris Rock, Round Zillion.

 

There is already plenty of commentary regarding Will Smith smacking Chris Rock at the Academy Awards show—including discussions about race-based inequities and gender-based insults—but here’s one more.

 

The New York Post wondered if Smith could lose his Oscar should the Academy enforce its 2017 code of conduct that “emphasizes the importance of ‘upholding the Academy’s values,’ like inclusion, fostering supportive environments, and ‘respect for human dignity.’”

 

The Post story stated that when the code of conduct was issued, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Dawn Hudson wrote, “There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency. The Academy is categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, or nationality. The Board of Governors believes that these standards are essential to the Academy’s mission and reflective of our values.”

 

Indeed, the Academy was quick declare that it “does not condone violence of any form” after the Smith-Rock altercation. 

 

The scenario poses a diversity-related dilemma for sure. After all, if Smith were reprimanded for his violent outburst, could Rock also be subject to disciplinary action for his joke? As has been reported, the recipient of the off-color remark—Jada Pinkett Smith—is affected by alopecia, an autoimmune disease. In short, Rock’s “G.I. Jane” joke could be deemed as publicly shaming a person with a disability. That’s grounds for dismissal in most professional settings.

 

The incident definitely presented opportunities for a variety of teachable moments. And it underscores the need for forgiveness across the board. In the words of Marvin Gaye:

 

Father, father

We don't need to escalate

You see, war is not the answer

For only love can conquer hate

11405: Gun Culture Is Clueless.

The advertising for gun culture is ridiculous, with its mindless machismo and celebrity endorsements. Check out this campaign inviting idiots to vote for their favorite We Are Weatherby ad—and enter for a chance to win a Weatherby® Mark V® rifle. It’s the Marlboro Man packing heat.

11033: Running Rebels Run Ads.

Learn more here and here.

10723: Give Gifts Of Freedom.

Don’t mean to criticize the efforts of International Justice Mission, but placing an image of beautiful children against copy about slavery, sex trafficking and violence seems odd. Regardless, make a contribution if you can.

7293: Bounty Billboards.

From The Chicago Sun-Times…

Radical idea on target in the fight for justice

It may be sad. It may be distasteful. It may be extreme.

But it is still worth doing.

Last week, 20 billboards went up across the South and West Sides offering $5,000 rewards for information leading to the conviction of criminals who have shot or killed “our children.”

“Shoot or kill our children?” the billboard boldly asks. “You will be caught!”

Chicagoans are urged to call in anonymously with tips.

The billboards are the handiwork of the outspoken priest of the Faith Community of St. Sabina, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, and his supporters.

Count us as one of them.

After three decades of community activism, Pfleger knows that Chicagoans—fearful of retribution, of the police, of being labeled a “snitch”—don’t regularly report what they know about shootings in their neighborhoods.

If the violence is ever going to slow, this must change.
“It should not be acceptable that someone shoot or kill a child and then go to McDonald’s or go home and watch TV,” Pfleger told us.

“I don’t think shooters are afraid of the police, but I think they have to be afraid of the community,” he said.

The billboards went up Wednesday in neighborhoods where students have been killed.

That day, the phone at Pfleger’s Auburn Gresham church office began ringing.

It was just a handful of calls, but it was a start.

“If we can turn the tide a little and it starts to become acceptable [to report], it’ll be a ripple affect,” he said. “Now it’s a ripple effect not to do anything.”

Building a network of people who speak up helps Chicago neighborhoods and the victims’ families, most of whom never see anyone brought to justice.
Already this school year, 78 students have been shot and 12 have died.

Pfleger knows as well as anyone that the billboards should be just one piece of a multi-layered solution to quelling violence. And like the rest of us, he wishes Chicagoans would step up just because it’s the right thing to do.

“Yes, people should just do right to do right,” Pfleger said.

“But the reality is we have a culture of disconnectedness, of fear, so we have to take radical means to try to create the turnaround of responsibility and connectedness,” he said.

If you know anything, if you want to do more than bemoan the violence, Father Pfleger is waiting for your call: (773) 483-4300.