Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Typical

It's not very often that I actually know what's going on, so when I do, it's so surprising to me that I have to talk about it. I never watch The View because I can't stand it, but I really like Whoopi Goldberg, so I decided to watch her premier on the show.

I'd like to talk about all of this hooey about Whoopi Goldberg supporting Michael Vick. Have you heard about this? Of course you have because it's all over the net and the paper that Whoopi started off her new hosting duties at The View with a huge controversy when she said she supported Michael Vick.

There is one major problem with this breaking news--she never said she supported Michael Vick! I actually watched The View and know what she said. She said it's interesting to hear the culture he comes from--the deep South where dog fighting still goes on--and how it seems he's now realizing that it was wrong. She wasn't defending him, she wasn't condoning dogfighting, she wasn't telling people that this in any way is OK. She was simply saying that maybe understanding where someone comes from gives you a head start to understanding why the person did what he did and stopping it in the future. So, let me say it one more time: Whoopi Goldberg did not say she supports what Michael Vick did.

It's really sad the way so-called reporters cherry-pick quotes to create controversy. And it's really sad that a person can't say what she thinks without it being twisted and used against her. No wonder we, in general, spend so much time censoring what we say. But if you are one of those strong people who does voice your opinion confidently, more power to you because someone will find a way to be offended and try to discredit you.

So, that's that. I hope we've cleared up this little misunderstanding. It's obvious that the media just want to stir up controversy because I thought Whoopi's first day on The View was pretty sedate and nothing special or different, which is what I expected. She's intelligent and funny without being overbearing, and it seems like she just wants to be one of the ladies sitting around the table talking. Instead of reading something into what is being said, how about actually listening to what is being said.

6 comments:

Peggy said...

It must have been a slow news day.

I hadn't seen a thing on the Goldberg-Vick thing, so thanks for clearing things up for me. :-)

Dog fighting is everywhere, not just the south. Maybe its more common down there or something. I just hate it. I get folks saying that Polly would be a good fighter. Grrr

Newt said...

I'm glad I read this. I only caught the headline but never read the story. I thought it was really odd that she would have said that so it's good to know it was just another case of media stupidity.

Chelle Y. said...

You know what? I never heard that about Whoopie. I am not much of a news person. Haha! Can you tell? Uh, who's running for president? LOL!

I cannot stand The View at all! :) All that "yakking" drives me insane.

Jay said...

I didn't see The View (what a shock, huh?) but as soon as I saw them on MSNBC bring that up I knew it was a load of shit.

In fact, this is one of the problems we have in this country. There are ares and cultures where dog fighting is accepted. Maybe if we and our "leaders" would recognize this we could find a way to go about changing that attitude and culture. But they'd rather just bitch and make shit up I guess.

Helena said...

It's a bit like the attitude to fox hunting in England. It's a case of trying to change centuries of bigoted tradition. I'm not totally sure exactly what the attitude is these days but at last there are considerations and developments in the law to ban the way the animal is killed.

Granted, any sport that puts animals in a cruel position for our enjoyment (as opposed to survival) will cause great uproar. But yes, I do feel that it is wrong to twist Whoopi's actual statements when all she was really putting across that attitudes in some places need better education and understanding. It's a huge world we live in after all.

Tink said...

I'm glad you posted about this. Otherwise I would have never known. All day the radio stations have been ripping her a new one. I would have believed them too. Because, you know, the radio NEVER lies. ;)