Alright, I am far from the biggest Alec Baldwin fan. Though I have always liked Charles Barkley. But regardless of my feelings, this whole celebrity gaffe/offense thing has gone way too far. I understand that we (the public) really look forward to our opportunities to criticize and look down on public figures. And I don't really want to ruin anyone's fun here. After all, there's so much to look down on them for. They're generally richer, more successful, and (often) better looking than us. If that doesn't earn you the privilege of being overanalyzed and cut-down while having to take it all with a smile and an apology, I don't know what does. But still, there's a difference between indulging in a little celebrity-focused malice and reacting to everything like one of those grouchy, self-righteous women who takes offense at everything. You know, like the head of NOW or something.
So Alec Baldwin made a joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride. So Barkley said that some women "milk" the pain of labor and delivery and that it's harder to play on a sprained ankle than have a baby. So the hell what? Frankly, I'm not even sure what's offensive about Baldwin's comment, and I'm Filipina. It's a joke, people. Sure, it implies that a country isn't doing all that well economically, but that's hardly news when it comes to the Philippines, is it? And on the bright side, it does suggest that the women are attractive enough to be viable mail-order brides. I can think of a few countries that are lucky that they never had to resort to mail-order brides. For several reasons.
The Barkley thing is even more puzzling to me, since Barkley has made something of a career out of making startling or outrageous comments. Well, that and basketball anyway. And we all know that some women really do "milk" the whole pregnancy and delivery thing. Sheesh, some women will "milk" the "excruciating" pain of a hangnail. Having neither played professional basketball on a sprained ankle nor had a 36-hour labor and delivery, I can't really speak to relative pain, but I have it on good authority that both are dwarfed by the pain of a tooth in need of a root canal. So if you're in that situation, feel free to tell both pregnant women and pro basketball players that they're total wusses. Though, considering the uncertain tempers of both these groups, I suggest you do it quietly and from a distance of 15-20 feet.
RSS Feed
