Saw where Don Lemon has agreed to attend formal training in order to regain his job. I'm certain he is completely conciliatory and sincere in his desire to improve himself, become a better man. He regrets saying that Nikki is past her prime. But he did reference Google as a source of that information. It's scientific fact! That conclusion was based on studies conducted by trained scientists. In this case however we are told to not trust the science, in fact, if you believe in that science you need to be trained otherwise. It's all a very confusing message.
Now this statement by Don Lemon came during a discussion about the competency of Presidents. Lemon feeling that all candidates for president should undergo cognitive testing when they reach the age of 75. Apparently, he thought that didn't apply to women as Google said their prime occurs somewhere between their twenties and fifties. He didn't come right out and say Nikki should be tested, just that she wasn't in her prime. Immediately many thought he was referring to something physical. That was the thought, wasn't it? Is she in her prime childbearing years? Although I have heard no one say that directly we all know that was what was inferred. I'm no advocate of Don Lemon but is that what he implied? No, I don't think it was. He was implying Nikki's mental faculties were diminished. She is 51 after all. According to the science, not in her prime.
All of that brought to mind the famous or infamous Jimmy 'the greek" incident. Back in 1988 CBS fired the Greek for his controversial remarks about the athletes. He was never given the opportunity to apologize, attend any training, or make amends in any way whatsoever. Now Jimmy was also just quoting what he felt was scientific evidence for his remarks. For those of you that may not know he was talking about "selective breeding." In a totally misguided and ignorant fashion he made the point that many blacks had been "bred" to be more muscular, faster, stronger and in general more athletic than the white guys. He was comparing blacks to race horses! Well, he was a professional gambler and odds maker and took everything into account when making his bets. He was asked to resign, refused to do so and was immediately fired. It was the complete end to his career. Near the end of his life, he did return to the racetrack. But he was relatively obscure by then and had been ostracized from the betting community.
All of this just goes to show you have to watch what you're saying. It's nothing new. Every enlightened person has been called a revolutionary and vice-versa. It all comes down to who is allowed to say what. That is the landscape we have to navigate. It has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Words, terms, even descriptions are under scrutiny. The words and phrases used on Platinum selling Rap albums are acceptable in one demographic but would get another jailed! Remember we are debating pronouns these days! Bruce Jenner is a man, has always been a man and will always be a man. Yet, I'm supposed to use his preferred pronoun and noun! He says he is Caitlin and a she. If I were a person of note, which I certainly aren't, and said that publicly, my career would most certainly be affected in a negative way. I need to comply or be denied! As I said I'm no advocate of Don Lemon, but he is being attacked for what was inferred, not what he actually said. That's a dangerous precedent, a dangerous standard indeed. But then again, nothing new. It's what I said, but it isn't what I meant. That standard has been applied to our founding documents as well. It's what it says, but it isn't what it means. Guess we should all attend training, you know, to learn what not to say.
All that being said, fire Don Lemon! He should be removed and never heard from again. How offensive was that remark? Fire the bum.
Did I say that?
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