“I DO NOT AGREE WITH MERYL STREEP BECAUSE…” and THAT is how a mature, intelligent, grownup discussion begins.
But oh…we’re not dealing with mature, intelligent grownups here, are we?
I’ll get right to the point. Here is the portion of Streep’s speech that has a lot of people up in arms:
“But there was one performance this year that stunned me. It sank its hooks in my heart. Not because it was good; there was nothing good about it. But it was effective and it did its job. It made its intended audience laugh, and show their teeth. It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter. Someone he outranked in privilege, power and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can’t get it out of my head, because it wasn’t in a movie. It was real life. And this instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, it filters down into everybody’s life, because it kinda gives permission for other people to do the same thing. Disrespect invites disrespect, violence incites violence. And when the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose. O.K., go on with it.
O.K., this brings me to the press. We need the principled press to hold power to account, to call him on the carpet for every outrage. That’s why our founders enshrined the press and its freedoms in the Constitution. So I only ask the famously well-heeled Hollywood Foreign Press and all of us in our community to join me in supporting the Committee to Protect Journalists, because we’re gonna need them going forward, and they’ll need us to safeguard the truth.”
After reading that, it’s likely clear to you as to why that would an issue for so many people.
MOST people (to include me) have been immensely supportive of Mrs. Streep’s speech. However, the negative reactions to it are precisely why it was necessary.
As I began this blog post, most people simply would not say that. It isn’t because that’s how they feel. It’s because of who she is and what was said.
Now, I could end this blog post simply by saying this: If her comments anger you, that’s called your conscience kicking you in the ass. You’re feeling guilty about what she said because you know it’s the truth and sadly, it goes against everything you and President-Elect Donald Trump stand for.
However, here is how I will proceed.
The most common negative reply to this is that Meryl Streep is a Hollywood celebrity.
Donald Trump a celebrity, too, correct? The same ones putting her down for it voted for him to be president.
So what exactly makes it a problem for Meryl Streep and not Donald Trump?
I have yet to hear or read a single person who didn’t like the speech to come close to saying what I said at the very beginning of this blog post.
And you know what? Disagreeing wouldn’t even be so bad if that’s how many folks began.
There are a lot of Trump supporters out there. Way too many. I gotcha. No matter what I feel, I am not the approving authority over who people should vote for. Folks don’t all have to listen to me.
But I still have not heard anyone tell me what was wrong with Mrs. Streep’s speech.
If you really feel that confident in having a problem with it, state your points in a mature manner. Seriously. I mean, if you’re legitimate in what you’re saying, that should be easy.
Her occupation isn’t what was wrong with the speech.
Her fame isn’t what was wrong with the speech.
Her name isn’t what was wrong with the speech.
Her net worth isn’t what was wrong with the speech.
Who she voted for isn’t what was wrong with the speech.
Yet, that’s what so many are attacking.
That’s not called being an adult. That’s called pouting.
If you have a problem with the speech, then most of your complaints should involve…wait for it…
THE SPEECH.
And we can never have a celebrity speak her mind without those disagreeing saying, “I’m not gonna be your fan anymore!” which is the equivalent of us as children saying, “I’m not gonna be your friend anymore!” when you didn’t give them a pencil, or choose them as a teammate for kickball, or because you didn’t trade bubblegum cards, or something else like that. Usually, it was over something silly, but hey…we were kids back then. It made sense.
But we’re not kids anymore. At least not age-wise.
The thing about hate and bullying is that obviously, there’s not a lot of maturity involved. What I expect from grown adults just isn’t going to happen here. I get that. I’m also smart enough to realize that if this were someone on Trump’s side, that person would be receiving praises from the heavens from the very same people who are berating Mrs. Streep.
Yeah, I know how society works. I know how politics work. I don’t follow it, but I do know that much.
The bottom line is this. She exercised her right to free speech. Period. Many have a problem with this only after hearing or reading what was said.
She spoke about real issues and spoke the TRUTH. That’s another reason folks spend more time attacking her Hollywood status, her fame, her fortune and her political affiliation than the speech itself.
Responses are along the lines of people believing that she should “shut up.” Folks feel that being a celebrity, she doesn’t have the right to the same free speech that we do; at least when they don’t agree with her. People are also saying that being a celebrity, the implication is that she can’t speak on what she did because she couldn’t possibly understand how we as common folks live.
Well…I was born in Baltimore City and was poor for most of my childhood. I am not and have never been rich or a celebrity.
And guess what? I think her speech hit it right on the head.
Insert some comment here about me being black, or on welfare, or a criminal, or the “n” word…take your pick. Been there and done that. But like bullies often do, you simply want Meryl Streep to shut up because she said something you didn’t like. You feel you can “strongarm” her for making you uncomfortable by saying all this. Since none of that worked, you resort to the classic, go-to moves for bullies and other hateful individuals.
Don’t you think it would work better, or at least people would take you seriously if you actually stated points of her speech and address those directly, if you had such a valid issue with it?
But no. You attack everything that has nothing to do with what was said. I suppose you figure that if you say all that, it somehow discredits the comment or will reduce her to a lesser version of who she is.
But it’s just like those who quickly resort to something racial when they don’t agree with me about something. Like me, she’s likely heard it all before. Nothing new or epic is being said. It’s like I always state…if a person is immature to behave in this manner in the first place, chances are, they won’t be intelligent enough to say something that hasn’t already been said.
So, as the title states, Meryl Streep’s speech was needed, not only because it’s the truth, but because the negative reactions to it speak to exactly what she mentioned. It’s like if I gave a speech on how people shouldn’t kill other people and your response is to say that you’re going to kill me.
I can’t be the only person who gets that.
Silencing is not gonna happen. Period. I’m still tickled by all those out there who seem to think it will. Check your calendars. Mine says 2017. Not sure what’s on yours, but you might want to catch up with the rest of us.
And it stings just a little more that she is a woman. You know it does.
And that’s what makes it even sweeter.
Plus, name-calling. Yes. Can’t get by this without some of that. Grown adults calling her names because they don’t agree with her doing this. Not simply saying, “I don’t agree because…” but calling names like we’re in grade school.
I am 37 years old. I see people older than me doing this. That’s just embarrassing. But these are the same people who had a problem with Colin Kaepernick exercising his constitutional rights. Or, they would be perfectly fine with police officers running around and shooting unarmed black men and women on sight because oh yeah…us existing and speaking up about anything makes them uncomfortable.
And let’s not talk about all the people who claimed they wouldn’t be watching. Oh yeah…”#boycottgoldenglobes” trended for some time earlier that day as well. Guess that didn’t last too long. If you’re serious about boycotting something, don’t tune in because someone made a speech. Don’t comment because someone made a speech. Boycott means to remove yourself completely. That means don’t talk about it, don’t read about it, don’t say anything about it.
Unless I have the definition incorrect.
Didn’t think so.
Last thing…let’s stop saying that she shouldn’t speak on anything political “because she’s a celebrity. If that were the case, that means you should feel the same about ALL celebrities, correct? And you don’t.
You’re putting a damn celebrity in the White House for the next four years. So stop acting as if that alone is the problem.
Her speaking is the problem.
Her being a woman is the problem.
Her being right is the problem.
Her being a celebrity is the problem.
Her addressing something that desperately needs to continue to be addressed, is the problem.
And lastly…
The truth of what Mrs. Streep said and the fact that it’s severely kicking your conscience in the ass right now…
THAT’S the problem.
People's Court 
My objection to what Ms Streep pontificated about is:
Not because she is a woman.
Nor because she is a celebrity.
She may even be right.
Here are my problems with her speech. I will be succinct. She, like so many others, adheres to a strict double standard. Where was she when Obama spoke out about the incident in Cambridge, MA? He admitted he had no facts but he believed the police acted “stupidly”.
Did she speak out when “Hands up, don’t shoot” was proven a lie to try and calm the riots in Baltimore and expose the media for perpetuating a very dangerous myth.
She has not the courage to admit that “all lives matter”.
My problem is she subscribes to a huge double standard. One side can do no wrong, and the other can do no right.
She is a big voice and she is ising it to further divide this country, when she could help unify it. At a time when it is desperately needed.
Thst is as succint as I can be. But by far not all I could say.
LikeLike
I don’t have a problem at all with her speech, I don’t even have a problem with her intent. The problem I have is the fact that although flaughed, a person has voiced an opinion of the low income working people of America, and most of the group of her status do not care about the tribulations expressed. They then try to stimulate college, unemployed, and very liberal along with minority groups to excite racial unrest. Obama did a great job of that his entire political career, 8 of those as president. We have a problem when criminals and illegal immigrants are treated better than law abiding Americans…. We need to return to the old America, when I didn’t have to lock the door at home at night, when I didn’t have to carry my gun for safety, and when people smiled and said “good day” as you passed. Hate is running wild and racial unrest is rampant because the homes are being torn apart by the government and drugs and crime. More and more people believe in intitlements instead of working. What a shame we’ve become, when people would rather kill and steal than work. When are people going to realize that politicians become stronger when you have unemployment, racism and crime. They thrive during civil unrest. They feed the fire and reap all the benefits. It’s time to fight back! It’s time move in another direction! And it’s time to make America what it used to be! God bless those who still believe in America!!!!
LikeLike