Whatever happened to class?

[gurdymonkey]

A number of people are applauding a recent video by actor George Takei in which he takes to task Arkansas school board member Clint McCance for hateful anti-gay statements.

I, however, can't help but feel disappointed. I had believed Mr. Takei had more class than this. Just because you say it in Mellifluous Actor Baritone (TM), does not make it Shakespeare or you the gay Martin Luther King. 

Profanities have their place. They are a valid part of our language, and can be extremely expressive in the right situation. I don't happen to think this was the right one.

McCance has called shotgun on the Express Handbasket. The good news is that he's resigned from his position on that school board.

And now, for some classy putdowns: http://www.usewisdom.com/fun/insults.html

Comments

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

That George Takei video also hit me the wrong way.

Loved the song but I don't remember it from the Chicago movie. Looked it up and found out that it was cut from the theater release (which is the only one that I saw.) I should check out the DVD sometime.

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

It's in the special features and it's a shame it was cut because it's lovely.

[la-peregrina.livejournal.com]

I think he was going for shock value, of the disparity between his voice/dress/surroundings and the actual word. I must confess that I found it funny at first. However, I do love the list you have there. :-) Dorothy Parker is one of my favorite put-down artists of all time. :-> I must remember, "This wasn't just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible, this was terrible with raisins in it."

[bovil.livejournal.com]

It is George. His public persona these days is a mix of gravitas and very calm but sincere anger.

And, frankly, McCance deserves a bit of anger.

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

My George Takei moment was about 20 years ago at a con when he would not stop making comments that made my straight boyfriend very uncomfortable. I could have told you class was not his forte.