Here we are, the day after Will Smith fired the slap heard ’round the world, and the social media universe as well as cable news is aflame with commentary.
This is quite understandable in a world as tranquil as ours that the diversion of a mild physical altercation at the Oscars should dominate social discourse.
It’s not like we have Russians invading other countries. OK, so we do.
It’s not like we have ongoing war between governments and terrorists and/or rebels in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ethiopia, Yemen, Haiti, Myanmar, Mali, Burkina Faso, etc., etc., etc.
OK, we have that, too.
But at least we have political and economic stability in this country. Our president is popular, dynamic, thoughtful and effective. Or not.
Our prices are stable, debt is low and confidence is high. Or not.
We certainly are not facing worldwide crises ranging from food shortages, to energy shortages, to ongoing viral outbreaks. Right, we are.
A cynic might suggest Smith was urged by Joe Biden operatives to do something, anything, to take the spotlight off their bumbling figurehead president who spent recent days embarrassing himself and our nation in a European tour.
It was an ongoing gaffe-fest in which delusional Joe uttered things like urging regime change in Russia and his cleanup crew got out the shovels to note that while Joe did say it, he didn’t actually mean it.
Like a latter-day Lee Harvey Oswald, can it be Smith is but a government stooge, charged with diverting public attention and armed with an open hand instead of the oft-mentioned Mannlicher-Carcano rifle?
Even at that, the likes of Muhammad Ali, whom Smith once portrayed on film, must be spinning in the grave over the meager Smith effort.
A slap? Really? Isn’t that the sort of effort rap singers lay on their ‘hos?
Video replays (of course I didn’t watch this virtue-signalling event live) show Smith purposefully striding toward Rock, who was onstage having joked about Smith’s wife. Smith unloads an open right hand that barely interrupts Rock’s chatter.
Smith seems to have invoked Ali’s memory, but got his wires crossed. Where Ali floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, Smith hit like a butterfly and buzzed like a bee afterward.
Reports indicate Rock will not be filing assault charges. But considering that the assault took place on national television, and has played endlessly since, it is my understanding that someone, perhaps the LA district attorney, could file the charge.
Don’t hold your breath on that one owing to the reality that left-wing DA’s in California and elsewhere don’t think it is worth prosecuting drug dealers, shoplifters or muggers, all of which rank above celebrity slappers.
I’m OK with Smith taking umbrage at Rock and delivering a physical message, pathetically executed as it was.
But I’d like the same freedom should anyone insult my family or otherwise cause me upset.
I’m thinking I could do a better job of expressing the outrage, but I don’t expect that I’d get the Smith free pass.
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