I just reread a post I made awhile ago, “On expectations”, and I couldn’t help but laugh ruefully at the example I used in it, given said example’s latest epic fuckery. Sigh.
You know, for me, Keith Olbermann has always served a very specific purpose. I try to be a reasonable, calm person when discussing issues. I really do. I try to hear everyone out, weigh the facts, learn and read as much as I can. Sometimes, though, as you might have noticed with my previous rant, I just can’t do it. I just need to scream and shout and yell about people being stupid because otherwise, I’ll explode. It’s taken me a long time to realize that this is actually good. It’s okay. Screaming and shouting can be helpful, and even if it isn’t helpful, it can at least be cathartic.
Keith Olbermann always appealed to me in that respect. At a time when we had a whole network of Angry Conservatives, we had absolutely no one around to be the Angry Liberal. No one was getting pissed off about the things that I got pissed off about. At least, not until Keith. Finally, someone was. Someone people knew. Someone who got listened to. (Granted, the fact that he’s white and male does help that a lot.) It was awesome.
That’s why I always appreciated him. I always appreciated that reminder that sometimes, it’s okay to be loud and angry. It can be good. It can be useful. So while obviously I never agreed with him 100%, and he has said things that make my blood boil, there’s that little part of me that still thinks, thank you. His recent Special Comment about the so-called tax “deal” comes to mind as a specific example.
Of course, I don’t let people off the hook just because I like them. When they do something wrong, they need to take responsibility for it, and my God has he done something wrong. Rape culture and rape apologia come in many forms, Mr. Olbermann. Stop digging yourself a hole and step the fuck up already. Either that, or fuck the hell off.
(And yes, it’s partly because of you that I feel comfortable enough in my anger to say that.)
Tags: feminism, keith olbermann, misogyny, rants, sexism
