Janeane Garofalo: Opinions vs. reality
Gary Loftis
April 18, 2009
On Keith Olbermannīs show this week, Janeane Garofalo expressed her opinion that those who took part in the Tax Day Tea Parties were brain damaged racists. Her exact words were: "They have no idea what the Boston Tea party was about. They don't know their history at all. It's about hating a black man in the White House
" and "Their synapses are misfiring. ... It is a neurological problem we are dealing with."
While Ms. Garofalo is entitled to her own opinions -- which she is not at all shy about sharing with anyone who will give her a microphone -- one must wonder what informs those opinions, what makes them more noteworthy than, say, those of the average man on the street. Since she feels qualified to issue such sweeping generalizations and ad hominem attacks on those who disagree with her, Janeane must possess some special insight or special ability to profile people from a distance, a Ph.D. In sociology or psychology perhaps.
So, I Googled her and found that she bases her keen insight on a Bachelors Degree in History and "American Studies" from Providence College. No Ph.D., no sociology, no psychology, no apparent qualification to make mass societal judgements -- just opinions. Itīs a shame that she didnīt take the opportunity to meet some of the Tea Partiers. She would have found people who have actually read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, people who are living responsibly and expect no less from the government that represents them, and honest, sincere people who want all the politicians in Washington -- on both sides of the aisle -- to be responsive to their employers: "We the People."
Perhaps itīs to much to ask for Ms. Garofalo to actually try to learn something about a subject before she issues an opinion or condemnation. But, it doesnīt seem unreasonable for MSNBC to try to find qualified commentators.
Copyright 2009, Gary Loftis. All Rights Reserved.
While Ms. Garofalo is entitled to her own opinions -- which she is not at all shy about sharing with anyone who will give her a microphone -- one must wonder what informs those opinions, what makes them more noteworthy than, say, those of the average man on the street. Since she feels qualified to issue such sweeping generalizations and ad hominem attacks on those who disagree with her, Janeane must possess some special insight or special ability to profile people from a distance, a Ph.D. In sociology or psychology perhaps.
So, I Googled her and found that she bases her keen insight on a Bachelors Degree in History and "American Studies" from Providence College. No Ph.D., no sociology, no psychology, no apparent qualification to make mass societal judgements -- just opinions. Itīs a shame that she didnīt take the opportunity to meet some of the Tea Partiers. She would have found people who have actually read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, people who are living responsibly and expect no less from the government that represents them, and honest, sincere people who want all the politicians in Washington -- on both sides of the aisle -- to be responsive to their employers: "We the People."
Perhaps itīs to much to ask for Ms. Garofalo to actually try to learn something about a subject before she issues an opinion or condemnation. But, it doesnīt seem unreasonable for MSNBC to try to find qualified commentators.
Copyright 2009, Gary Loftis. All Rights Reserved.
Print
Email
