Sunday, June 4, 2017

KATHY GRIFFIN SHOULD BE FORGIVEN

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     In my column of May 31st, 2017 titled, KATHY GRIFFIN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HERSELF...I lashed out at Griffin for posting disgusting and disturbing photos...in a 12-second video on Instagram...where she is holding - what appears to be - a decapitated, bloody head resembling Donald Trump.  As an ultra-liberal, progressive Democrat who strenuously campaigned for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 run for President...and as a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton...I nevertheless was appalled by Griffin's presentation on social media. Therefore, she deserved to be chastised and shamed for crossing the line in to inappropriate territory.  But Griffin issued a video apology the same day.  In fact, she expressed her profound sorrow just hours after her offensive behavior was witnessed by millions of people on the Internet.  "I beg for your forgiveness.  I went too far.  I made a mistake and I was wrong."  And she was indeed wrong.  Griffin did make a big mistake.  But she has apologized...which is something that the man she offended has never done.  

     Let's get real here.  Kathy Griffin posted some very graphic pictures.  But she did not murder anybody.  She did not commit a felonious crime.  And although I am not - in any way - condoning what Griffin did...she should not be blacklisted forever. Some people have noted that her career in show business should be over...and that nobody should ever book her to appear in any live venue or on any television show again.  But Griffin should not have to suffer consequences for her actions that last for the remainder of her life.  If that's the case then Donald Trump should never have been elected President of the United States.  Wow!  What a concept!  That's right, folks.  Donald Trump should have never been elected.  But I've been saying that for a very long time.

     Let us remember that the current occupant of The White House is narcissistic, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic and racist.  But I have echoed those strong feelings for a very long time too.  Often over the last two years - since commencing his campaign for President - plus even on more occasions before that...Trump proved his guilt as a bigoted bully.

     Throughout his campaign - beginning June 16th, 2015 - Donald Trump's verbal abuse was vulgar and vicious.  Let me remind you - in no particular order - of just some of the derogatory moments during those seventeen months.

     Trump's words attacked a grieving Gold Star Mother and Father whose son - U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan - was killed in Iraq while performing a heroic act of bravery to save the lives of troops in his command.  But when Khizr and Ghazala Khan appeared at the Democratic National Convention in July 2016, Mrs. Khan stood by her husband as he addressed the delegates and the nation.  Two days later, an abusive Donald Trump reacted cruelly during an interview with ABC News.  "If you look at his wife, she was standing there.  She had nothing to say.  She probably, maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say."  Mrs. Khan later stated she was too emotional to speak at the convention.  Trump - during that same interview with ABC News - also compared himself to parents who had lost a child when he responded to Mr. Khan's convention statement that Trump had "sacrificed nothing." Trump insisted he had, in fact, made "a lot of sacrifices" throughout his life because he made charitable donations..."worked very, very hard" and "created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs."  Yes, in case you forgot, he actually equated the death of a son to employing people and raising money for charities. Even ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos seemed shocked by Trump's answer.  How twisted can this man be?  And Republicans actually voted for him.

     Trump belittled a U.S. Navy officer who was a North Vietnamese Prisoner of War when he wrongfully disparaged the military record of John McCain.  Long before becoming a U.S. Senator from Arizona, McCain spent five years in a cage.  When he retired from the Navy in 1981, McCain was honorably discharged as a captain...one rank below rear admiral...and he had pinned to his uniform a silver star...a bronze star...and a purple heart...among many other medals.  But in 2015, Trump blasted Republican Senator McCain with a deplorable comment.  "He's not a war hero.  He's a war hero because he was captured.  I like people that weren't captured."  You are so wrong, Donald.  John McCain is absolutely a hero.

     With his foul mouth, Trump was brutally evil towards two of his Republican Presidential challengers.  He posted on Twitter an unflattering picture of Heidi Cruz - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's wife - next to a glamour photo of Melania Trump, who is a former model.  A caption read..."The Images Are Worth A Thousand Words."  Trump also accused Texas Senator Cruz's father for possibly being involved - or at least linked in some way - with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  And in a 2015 RollingStone magazine interview, Trump insulted former GOP candidate Carly Fiorina by saying..."Look at that face.  Would anyone vote for that?"

     Donald Trump became even uglier and more obscene with his language when he gave a distasteful description of then Fox News anchor (now NBC News anchor) Megyn Kelly following a Republican Presidential Debate that Megyn had moderated. About her repulsion for Trump during the debate, the billionaire businessman candidate spewed this vile statement in a 2015 interview with CNN.  "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes...blood coming out of her wherever."

     But the following remark off Trump's venomously toxic tongue was what started his campaign with savage hatred.  In his announcement that he was seeking the GOP nomination, Trump harshly criticized our neighbors to the south.  "When Mexico sends its people...they're not sending their best.  They're bringing drugs.  They're bringing crime.  They're rapists."

     Trump demonstrated other forms of reprehensible treatment when he demeaned a federal judge - who happens to be Latino...and Muslims - who he wants to ban from our country.  But I would perhaps object most to when Trump ruthlessly mocked a disabled reporter.  To make fun of somebody who is physically challenged is beyond disgraceful.

     Kathy Griffin regrets her wrongdoing and has shown deep remorse for her poor attempt at humor.  With genuine sincerity, Griffin has said she was sorry for posting the photos with the bloody-looking fake head of Donald Trump...and I think she should be forgiven.  Trump - on the other hand - has never apologized to any of the individuals...or the groups of people...who he has offended.  Of course uttering the words "I'm sorry" would be the honorable and decent thing to do.  Unfortunately...we have a President...who isn't decent.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again."

The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions.  Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.

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