Unless you have completely avoided social media, or any media for that matter, you have likely heard about Whoopi Goldberg over the last couple days.
If you aren’t caught up, Whoopi said the Holocaust was not evil based on race, but on our own inhumanity. As a result, she was schooled on how narrow her view on this topic is. Whoopi sort of apologized, then went on Colbert and kind of destroyed that apology, then made a better apology on the View the next day.
Unfortunately, ABC execs weren’t pleased and they gave Whoopi a 2 week suspension. Which has prompted Whoopi to threaten to quit.
Got it? Good.
Here’s a few things to consider about this bruhaha. First, the apparent lack of understanding many people have about the how and why of the Holocaust. It’s inexcusable to not truly understand this quite recent major historical event. Whoopi is most definitely not anti Semitic, but she still has room to learn more about Jewish history.
Second, Whoopi gave us a master class in how NOT to apologize. An apology is not you trying to explain your viewpoint over and over again. It’s about contrition and acceptance that you were simply wrong. While her 3rd apology did acknowledge the need to educate herself more, the first 2 were seriously lacking that key element.
Third, this whole debacle brings up a case for true free speech. I don’t know if Whoopi should have been suspended, but I do know Gina Carano was fired for a much less grievous post. So either Whoopi should receive the same treatment as Gina, or Gina should have received the same treatment as Whoopi.
Better yet, neither should have been reprimanded harshly for what each said.
Finally, this situation, and others like it, are a product of the cancel culture that has taken over the world. There are some cases that require swift and severe action (see literally everything going on at CNN right now). However, most of these outrage inducing instances do not merit destroying anyone’s livelihood. It’s petty and shows how we, as a people, are fully capable of seeing a speck of dust in others eyes, while ignoring the plank in our own.
Perhaps we need to spend more time working on improving ourselves and less time throwing stones at anyone else. Only you can change yourself. Let everyone else figure their own selves out.
Made Dames 