Like millions of others, I watched the Oscars. The first thing that hit me was the loving, kind and careful manner in which co-presenters treated the older stars. As a friend of mine shared with me, “It was so sweet and showed real respect … something many people have forgotten.”
But what raised my concern were the harsh comments on Facebook and Twitter the next day. People criticized the appearances of Goldie Hawn and Kim Novak, telling them to sue their plastic surgeons, how “out of it” Novak acted, and John Travolta’s blunder when he mispronounced the name of the next singer.
It is easy for people to criticize others in a public forum where they don’t have to face those they attempt to harass. Unfortunately, this is just another form of harassment and bullying. For instance, take Kim Novak-once a great beauty and beloved star who suffered from both a breakdown and cancer and is 81 years old. What pleasure can anyone take from speaking cruelly about her? Many say “because she is a public figure, we have the right to criticize.” Do we?
What do you think? Is it right to speak unkindly about anyone’s appearance? Is it right to criticize an elderly person because he or she can’t “quip” with those younger than they? Is it okay to berate someone because they goofed up and mispronounced a name? Think of it like this: If you were the object of this type of criticism, how would you feel? Human beings are all basically fragile when it comes to what other people think and say about us. Why be the one to inflict pain on another?
In the case of Kim Novak, she was a trouper for getting up there and making no secret that she was having a problem. Academy Award winner, Matthew McConaughey, was her co-presenter, and he was wonderful, rescuing her beautifully and leaving her with her dignity. Isn’t that something we’d all like to do?
Til Next Time,
Carol
But what raised my concern were the harsh comments on Facebook and Twitter the next day. People criticized the appearances of Goldie Hawn and Kim Novak, telling them to sue their plastic surgeons, how “out of it” Novak acted, and John Travolta’s blunder when he mispronounced the name of the next singer.
It is easy for people to criticize others in a public forum where they don’t have to face those they attempt to harass. Unfortunately, this is just another form of harassment and bullying. For instance, take Kim Novak-once a great beauty and beloved star who suffered from both a breakdown and cancer and is 81 years old. What pleasure can anyone take from speaking cruelly about her? Many say “because she is a public figure, we have the right to criticize.” Do we?
What do you think? Is it right to speak unkindly about anyone’s appearance? Is it right to criticize an elderly person because he or she can’t “quip” with those younger than they? Is it okay to berate someone because they goofed up and mispronounced a name? Think of it like this: If you were the object of this type of criticism, how would you feel? Human beings are all basically fragile when it comes to what other people think and say about us. Why be the one to inflict pain on another?
In the case of Kim Novak, she was a trouper for getting up there and making no secret that she was having a problem. Academy Award winner, Matthew McConaughey, was her co-presenter, and he was wonderful, rescuing her beautifully and leaving her with her dignity. Isn’t that something we’d all like to do?
Til Next Time,
Carol
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