Moron of the Month - May 2010

I was late with my April moron. But, I'm already tracking on May. Even at this early date, I doubt we will find a dumber statement or person than this one. And my nominee will just go to show that everyone and everybody is totally eligible for this monthly award. Even if you're a movie critic with half your jaw missing.

Yep, folks, our May moron is Roger Ebert, who gets all ten fingers down as far as I'm concerned.

You may have heard about that big Cinco De Mayo controversy at some California high school last week. Four kids wear shirts emblazoned with the American flag and get pulled by an assistant principal. And his name just happens to be Miguel Rodriguez. The attire is offensive to wear on Cinco De Mayo. Why? Ask Miguel Rodriguez, who took his own personal viewpoint/chip on shoulder and blew it Macy's Thanksgiving balloon-like out of proportion. Especially when you hear that one of the "offending" kids is part Mexican.

Frankly, there was enough numbskullery to go around for the entire faculty of that high school. Especially in light of the fact that Cinco De Mayo itself is a celebration of a very minor Mexican skirmish. Indeed, it's not even a major holiday south of the border. Essentially, the damn day is honored here in America because Dos Equus wants to sell more beer. That's it in a nutshell. There's no real historical value to any day until the marketing department gets a hold of it.

The whole thing had evaporated into a size 12 yawn, but, unfortunately, Roger Ebert got a hold of the news story and felt the need to tweet about it. Okay, I get it. The only way this guy can say anything these days is by typing it. But, that shouldn't give him license to type out everything he thinks. Especially if he's going to type/say something as stupid as...

"@ebertchicago Kids who wear American Flag T-shirts on 5 May should have to share a lunchroom table with those who wear a hammer and sickle on 4 July."

Where is Gene Siskel when you need him? None of Roger's tweet made any sense. Unfortunately, a couple of goofball rightwingers took Ebert to task in directions they should not have gone. You don't joke about his cancer. But they did and that sadly prompted even more latent nonsense from Roger, who then proceeded to type/speak out on his blog.

"The question is obviously not whether Americans, or anyone else, has the right to wear our flag on their T-shirts. But empathetic people realize much depends on context. If, on Cinco De Mayo, you turn up at your school with a large Mexican-American student population wearing such shirts, are you (1) joining the spirit of the holiday or (2) looking for trouble?"

Huh?

Now I've always liked and respected Ebert's opinion when it comes to movies. I salute his courage and fortitude. But, during the extended course of his illness, he has gotten more and more outspoken on matters that should not concern him. Cancer apparently comes with a hall pass. Even with all the jawbones that have been removed, it's amazing that his mouth has somehow gotten bigger. I am no more interested in Roger Ebert's opinions on society as I am in hearing what Henry Kissinger thinks of the movie Kick-Ass. Stick to what you know. Tell us what you think about what you know about. Roger, nothing, and I mean nothing, gives you license to speak/type out on an endless list of topics. Particularly ones that are much, much larger than your skill sets.

Mr. Ebert, here's the greatest service you can do for your fellow man. Just tell us how bad "Sex in the City 2" will be. And then close your keyboard/mouth.

Dinner last night: Spaghetti and meatballs.