There is no shortage of things to be outraged about in today’s world. Wars, genocides, and all other manners of mistreatment of humans is, unfortunately, far too common. In the right situations, outrage is the appropriate response.
And then there are the many, many other things that no one should be outraged about, yet get angry over anyway. This happens on a daily basis – just spend 5 minutes on social media if you don’t believe me. Two prime examples of misplaced outrage took place this past week and are so ridiculous I can’t help but spend a few minutes on them.
#1 Anything involving anyone’s reaction during or immediately after the State of the Union address. The SOTU is supposed to be the fulfillment of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution. It states that the President must “Give the to the Congress information on the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient”.
For the first approximately 125 years of our nation the SOTU was written by the President and sent to Congress via courier. Woodrow Wilson was the first to deliver his address in person, and Lyndon Johnson was the first to have his shown on TV.
Now it’s become a media circus. The President doesn’t write the speech, he has a large, well paid staff for that. Everyone in that chamber during the address knows damn well they will be on TV and dress, choose their seat, and behave accordingly. It’s theater, pure and simple. And nothing else.
#2 Adam Levine taking his shirt off during the Super Bowl halftime show. There is a small but angry group of folks who are outraged that Adam Levine could show his nipples on national television but Janet Jackson could not.
This is laughable. News flash- men and women are different. Our bodies are different. Claiming there is no difference between men’s nipples and women’s shows either a lack of understanding of basic human anatomy or human sexuality. Either way, you look like an idiot.
So, what have we learned? Save your outrage for truly important issues. To do otherwise makes you look silly and is probably very tiring to boot.