It used to be a time when I would get highly annoyed that the president would be speaking about un-presidential things involving celebritydrom and beyond-but then I had to remind myself:
Not only is he the first black president (who, by that alone, will be put under the microscope of scrutiny), but too-he’s the very first president in the history of the United States whose presidency and every move he makes….thou shall and will be done in this new world order and way of life called social media: A place where anonymously, or brazenly, one can shoot words or video expressing their pleasure or displeasure with the way a thing was handled. Whereas all presidents before didn’t have to be bothered with the world’s affairs so up close and personal [as President Obama].
That said (and considered-with cameras rolling and real time social media somewhere else in the world waiting) it’s to be expected that while he may have signed on prepared to take care of the business of world affairs, without plan or preparation, the moment he stands on that podium-“Plan Original” can easily be thwarted in exchange for unplanned rhetoric and time not allotted—then viola! Yours and my president may very well have to answer questions about social affairs, too.
That just happened, again.
As we all know, the hot-button issue in the world of celebrity (regarding an issue that concerns real people in real life): rape…was up on the drawing board—where PAVE (a nonprofit organization dedicated to sexual assault prevention) awaited to hear the president’s response on a petition shot to him regarding the revocation of The Medal of Freedom granted to once upon a time well-respected popular culture figure: Bill Cosby.
The petitions states: “‘The Presidential Medal of Freedom’ is the highest award bestowed on civilians for their contributions to society. Bill Cosby does not deserve to be on the list of distinguished recipients. We urge the administration to take the unprecedented action of revoking this award.”
The honor was bestowed upon Cosby in 2002 and given by (then) president George W. Bush.
https://youtu.be/HU60IrYVcKk
Apparently, the award is an honor acknowledging people who’ve contributed richly to national life-and that, Bill Cosby’s legend did in deed.
The problem is however, he tarnished that legacy by having been accused of drugging and raping several women and admitted (in a 2005 court deposition) to have drugged with the attempt to have sex with at least one or more women—over the course and span of his legendary contribution to national life.
Therein proves the problem.
The president made it clear that the honor/medal is a medal of freedom and not a medal of honor and it is out of his control to be able to revoke it but does agree rape is intolerable.
“There’s no precedent for revoking a medal. We don’t have that mechanism. If you give a woman or a man for that matter without his or her knowledge a drug and then have sex with that person without consent, that’s rape,” said the president.
“I think this country any civilized country should have no tolerance for rape.”
Although Cosby has never been officially charged with anything as yet, his lawyers still deny all allegations and (regarding the one case of Andrea Constand with whom he settled out of court with) asserts that: “The only reason Mr. Cosby settled was because it would have been embarrassing in those days to put all those women on the stand and his family had no clue. That would have been very hurtful.”
Oh really?
At any rate.
Oh say can we see, in all of America’s obsession with molten minerals made shiny.
Hear ye hear ye:
Although an honor of The Medal of Freedom bestowed upon Cosby cannot be revoked, I think it’s safe to say that considering the court of public opinion [aided and abetted by the recent release of the 2005 deposition of his admitting “yes” to have given drugs with the intent to have sex with unsuspecting women], many women got a piece of freedom that for years, had been closed, shut and mum.
In this land [of the] “free,” despite his still having yet to step up, take ownership and be brave; considering the fact that Bill Cosby is an old man now who should be enjoying the annoyances of our generation heckling him with the good times of many-a-Thursday nights (all thanks to him) he got that revoked too. He, his legend, and his “rich contribution to national life” is forced to hide. So that Medal of Freedom is null and void.
The fact that his disgraceful acts have ruined his own legend, being a possession of a mere Medal of Freedom (ironically) given for his legendary contribution to enriching national life-it’s quite the irony (and oxymoron) now.
And in 2015 only serves as a constant reminder of just how “free” he really is not.
