Maybe it has something to do with the fact I’ve never found slapstick “funny.” People hurting themselves is unfortunate and sad. People who we used to call freaks and geeks, before all that became unfashionable and fashionable at the same time… kind of weird for us old fogies… are neither funny nor all that interesting to me.
I do find it ironic that circuses used to have the tattoo lady, or man, now I see them walking down the street every day. No problem with it, but nothing I ever had an interest in.
Someone who can write a poignant, beautiful, song?
Yes, that’s interesting.
Do incredible dives or jumps while skiing?
Yes.
Not what they used to call freaks and geeks. Especially since part of the problem, to me, is we don’t value others. Finding value in devaluing them is part of our problem as a society.
…and not taking elections seriously.
I was reading about Donald Trump’s digital slap off with someone very capable of producing grand insults when I started this column…
Really? That’s a valued talent? Sigh. Never did like the Don Rickles’ brand of “comedy.” But tis popular. Guess that’s why I am amazed. Even if he can’t insult well his polls go up.
So what does that tell me? Well, perhaps we view elections more like some best circus performer vote rather than serious business.
No, Donald, not as much an insult aimed at you as questioning what our elections seem to have become. Rating a pol by whom you’d love to have a beer with? Really?
OK, if the only “beer” a candidate would drink is Ultra I might reconsider my vote for him or her… but joking aside: whom I want to have a beer with has nothing to do with who should be president. In fact, it might be just the opposite. I imagine, at least a time or two, any president should be too busy for such matters.
Another form of odd applause for the Donald is he “says what he believes.” Again… really? If you really believe that is a great qualifier, how many of the worst characters in human history would you have eagerly voted for, supported, given that standard? Flat Earth-ers “say what they believe.”
It’s all so much like a circus atmosphere, combined with American Idol. And as much as I disliked his persona, Simon Cowell was far more worth listening to than Trump, and that’s despite the fact I would shut Simon off immediately whenever he was on. I dislike single, narrow minded, smug arrogance, but Trump’s brand is almost impossible to avoid these days. Hell, it’s been impossible to avoid long before “these days.”
He’s the current master of ceremonies, until the drooling, bat crap, media chooses another ringmaster. And, to be fair, not even Trump may be as bad as the image they offer with what quotes they choose to use, what they cover, or not.
Hardly into start of the 2016 circus’ run and I already long for it to be over.
It’s going to be a long, long… LONG year and a half.
-30-
Inspection is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over 30 years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks and into the unseen cracks and crevasses that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.
©Copyright 2015
Ken Carman and Cartenual Productions
all right reserved