A Whole New Meaning to Irreverent

Nothing really surprises me these days. Take for instance the recent comments on the performance of John Stewart as the host of the Academy Awards Show. The oxymoron I heard mentioned how "irreverent" John Stewart was that night. Let me get this straight: people are upset that John Stewart was "irreverent." Well that's a big surprise! How dare John Stewart be "irreverent!" - and at the Academy Awards no less in front of all those "important" people.

I have to say personally that I found him quite funny. I'm speaking now out of my own appreciation for sarcasm and irreverence of those who profess to be "reverent." For me, the whole issue boils down to semantics and reality. The semantic issue is the unnecessary use of the word "irreverent." I'm mean really - does Hollywood demand the "reverence" of us peasants who buy the movie tickets to watch the movies that Hollywood produces so that actors, directors, producers and all other related professionals can sit on a hill of splendor and Lord it over us?

What at times makes me shake my head is the self-indulgence of Hollywood that is so clearly displayed at the Oscars. Us peasants need a John Stewart to keep it real and show us how ridiculous Hollywood truly is at times. I can respect someone who is good at their profession and I can also respect the need for art and film but I can't respect those who only demand respect and never give it. I know that I'm making a generalization but I have to think that $100,000 booty to every Oscar winner is truly unnecessary. Why don't they donate the money to a worthy cause on behalf of the winner? Why don't they take the same desire for integrity they impose on us by encouraging us to not pirate their films and hold themselves to the integrity of spending their resources [which they get from us anyway - we buy the tickets] to help humanity rather than create a mythical demi-god society.

I was so pleasantly surprised that "Crash" won the Oscar for best movie. Yes - there is a ray of light even in Hollywood! Rather than vote for the "avante guard" movie of the year that challenged societal phobia of homosexuality, they voted for a film that depicts the true "irreverence" dished out everyday from one human being to the other. I thought they made the right choice. Crash was truly the movie of the year as it portrayed how truly insane humanity has become. Yes - Hollywood does have a conscience! Thank you for reminding us that reverence belongs to every single human life - but please [this goes out to the media and to Hollywood] - do not use such semantics to comment on someone - who for the most part - tries to keep it real by reminding us not to take ourselves so seriously!

The future needs the "reverence" for human life to return to the social stage. Bravo to artists like U2 who can handle the fame and use it to raise the level of "reverence" for life reminding us that there are truly big problems in the world that we can conquer if we put our hands together and "reverence" what is worthy of "reverence!"