2019-03-28
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"I am sorry. I went too far. I was wrong," an inconsolable Kathy Griffin said after showing mock images of President Donald Trump's blood-soaked severed head and called it an "artistic statement."

Disgusting...loathsome and unconscionable are a few words that come to mind. We all can take the childish jokes, the bashing and his misspelling of the word "coverage" (covfefe). The jaunts about his hair, his orange complexion and the over usage of: "It's going to be huge." We mean, we get it.

But not this time.

Most logical people would agree that Griffin's antics put her on the "Z" list if there was such a thing. An apologetic Griffin took to Instagram to issue a mea culpa for the photo shoot: "I beg for your forgiveness for the gruesome anti-Trump photo shoot. I'm a comic," she added. "I crossed the line. I moved the line, then I crossed it. I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people. It wasn't funny. I get it." Celebrity photographer Tyler Shields was under fire as well for his involvement and took the images down. This is the era of the internet and those images are a part of history as nefarious as they imply. What are we to take from these delusional acts more aligned with the images that ISIS publishes? Here are thoughts to consider.

It's time for the gloves to come off.

Anger, bitterness, insults and hatred is the glowing mantra of today on the news and across the nation. As humans, we get sucked up into this damaging web of hate and also feed into it.
Many of us let go of the deplorable behavior we see and hear coming from people regarding Trump and others. Yet, it is time to stand up for what is right. Consider if this was done to another sitting president? Exactly, it wouldn't be tolerated. Griffin is just a cog in the machine of the vileness of some on the left.

We need to set a new standard.

What makes this nation great is that we live in a democracy. “The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.” Now, we live in a society that is politically correct, saying the name “God” is frowned upon. We've seen protesters destroy property, burn buildings and attack innocent people all in the name of democracy? We applaud those who threaten a sitting president and make excuses for their behavior. Alec Baldwin who played President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live," supported Griffin. He Tweeted: "No 1 believes u meant 2 threaten Trump. Trump is such a senile idiot, all he has is Twitter fights," he continued. "Ignore him. Like all the leaders of the other countries in the world. Ignore him." Oh Alec, give us a break on the love fest!

It reveals our values.

Do you know that the Bible is the most contested book ever written? It has been banned, destroyed, burned and forbidden in over 50 countries.
People should be able to read the Bible or pray during their free time, banning such actions makes us no different from other totalitarian governments. But there is not enough backlash for a replica of President Trump's severed head. Ask yourself why the Bible is so condemned but the actions of Griffin are overlooked?

We hit a new low.

Trump's son, Barron, was subjected to attacks by comedians. Of course, they are never in good taste. Comedy Central writer Stephen Spinola was under fire for Tweeting that President Trump’s 11-year-old son Barron Trump is a “date rapist to be.” He followed it up with another Tweet that stated: “I don’t want my Mom to get raped, but if she does I hope it’s by Barron Trump." The Tweet was deleted. "Saturday Night Live" writer Katie Rich also went on the attack. “Barron will be this country’s first homeschool shooter.” If you have to attack a kid, you need to seek profession help, not Twitter. You would think Griffin would've received a hint from her peers to not cross the line.

Give up the excuses.

"A sitting president of the United States and his grown children and the first lady are personally trying to ruin my life forever,” Griffin said during a press conference. She said that white men have tried to keep her down her entire career and that she is concerned about her future. “The threats that I am getting are . . . detailed and they are specific. And today it’s me, but tomorrow it might be you,” said Griffin. Donald Trump Jr. was not dazzled by the lip service the comic offered. “The only thing #KathyGriffin is a victim of is her own ignorance. 24 hours from fake apology to victim status is impressive by any standard," he Tweeted. An incensed Trump family is not the only battle Griffin faced. CNN fired her as co-host of their annual New Year's Eve program with Anderson Cooper and the Secret Service is investigating her.

How far is too far? This is a question that we all must reckon with. Whether Griffin was playing the victim card, is yet to be proven. But the incident will put her down in history or in infamy. And yet, she made something improbable happen. She helped Trump receive sympathy across party lines. 
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