With Class and Grace
Sometimes, it seems as if our culture is so awash in cynicism and polluted by sarcasm that we barely have enough civility to make it through the day.
We live a 24/7 news and entertainment cycle that allows us to keep tabs on politicians and celebrities around the clock.
My good friend, college buddy and 1992 Tallassee High School graduate Mike Hammonds pointed this out in a telephone conversation we had this past weekend.
In an earlier entertainment era of the 1940s and 1950s, he said, “the men had class and the women had grace.”
Back then, of course, it was easier to keep secrets and scandals under wraps because there just weren’t that many outlets providing information. Seriously, had Arnold Palmer been in the same situation as Tiger Woods in an earlier time, we would never have known.
The vapid cast of JERSEY SHORE provides a great example of just how far the culture has fallen. Oiled, tanned, selfish, texting, bar fighting, cussing, and all are as dumb as a box of rocks. All this from the #1 reality show of the season. It’s “look at me”, all of the time.
We’re just too disconnected to be connected anymore.
I even know two people who were fired by e-mail. That is a dubious distinction, but a cold reality in today’s world.
Everyone these days, from sports figures to media celebrities to elected officials, no longer has the luxury of living inside an impenetrable bubble. We know everything about them, living vicariously through our WiFi hook-ups and DVRs.
The unfolding drama of NBC’s late night schedule has occupied a lot of space on websites earlier this year. And, while Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien lived out their dispute publicly over hosting duties of THE TONIGHT SHOW, I was affected by the lack of sarcasm in Conan’s farewell monologue:
“Between my time at SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, the LATE NIGHT show, and my brief run here on THE TONIGHT SHOW, I have worked with NBC for over 20 years. This company has been my home for most of my adult life. I want to thank NBC for making it all possible. To all the people watching, I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me. All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism — it’s my
least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”
How often are we aware of our life’s Master Plan? Never. And how many times have you heard a successful person say that the best thing that ever happened to them was losing their job? More often than not.
My wife’s favorite saying is “everything happens for a reason”. It’s really hard when we experience a loss – a death, say, or perhaps the end of a relationship – to see the good in it.
Even in defeat, Conan O’Brien – who always seemed a bit uneasy in the chair once occupied by Johnny Carson – demonstrated both class and grace.
While his final speech may only be a blip on the pop culture continuum, I took it to heart. Sometimes the very best of times emerge from the worst situations.
As bleak as times have been lately, both here and elsewhere, it is easy to think that a negative and jaded worldview is here to stay. One thing, however, remains certain: class and grace will never go out of style.
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Finally! After almost a year and a half since Montgomery locals were turned up on Direct. Picture quality is great. ...