Why are we all so hypocritical on so many levels?
"Well, you say you're woke, but the companies you work for run sweatshops in China - unbelievable. Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS started a streaming service, you'd call your agent."
I think when Ricky Gervais listened to this, we all went "Yeah!!! Hypocrits!!!". I certainly did and for the next few hours I thought about the shows that are on these platforms and how much people are turning a blind eye to what really goes on in the world to suit themselves, make money or because they actually don't care.
The comedian also called out people that hobnobbed with Epstein or collaborated with Harvey Weinstein, which was just a starting point for Hollywood's complicity. I agreed with him.
Then I thought further about Michelle Williams and her statement about both having a woman as President, encouraging all female voters to make their vote count, and then talked on her own abortion experience. In one part, I thought good on her although I thought she forgot one important fact and that is that women are the people that are not voting other women in, and are trying to hijack women getting to the top. In many cases, this is not men. So we all feel empowered as women, but it is women who hold back other women from reaching the heights they can potentially hold.
When it came to abortion, I pause. Everyone has their own beliefs on this topic and are entitled to it however, I thought that basically stating that you can't be successful unless you have an abortion (not possible to be standing on the podium), is bollocks. I personally took offense to that and I really felt that impressionable young women might then start to think it is "cool" to have an abortion, because that's what successful women do. Clearly I am closer to the right than the left although I like to see myself somewhere in between.
There were many famous and rich people who were happy with Epsteins hospitality, private jets, parties and alike, and no-one found it unusual that there was a swarm of young women around him at all times. Funny that. I would have thought that to be highly unusual and probably would have suspected the worse... that they were ladies of the night. So either people knew what was going on, were happy to be down and dirty with young women of the night, or were blind. Either way, it doesn't sit well with me.
Last but certainly not least, is Weinstein. Now come on. All of these women are just coming out now? No-one thought to say anything along the way? Everyone still hugged him in publicity shots? There is more to this than meets the eye and I think it opens are can of worms. To me, it's no different to a movie star, athlete or rockstar sleeping with a groupie. You know that they only reason they are sleeping with you is to get "bragging rights", hope you fall in love or because they are full of alcohol and drugs and really are not of a sound mind. When you get rid of them like they are nothing, they are feeling not that special. Are people watching this behaviour complicit? I wonder. I don't know the answer but I'm sure we are sitting in a very grey area.
Climate change is without doubt the topic of the week, but please, if you hop in a private jet or fly in a plane every week - don't talk about climate change. I am not listening. So to the Prince Harry's of this world and I'm sorry, Leonardo Di Caprio, I cannot listen to a thing that comes out of your mouths. You are the problem and not the solution. Buying carbon credits doesn't mitigate what you have done to the environment. Period.
But having said all of that, we all play a part in complicity, moral judgement and climate change. I have certainly been around famous or rich men taking advantage of young women and not interferred. I'm not perfect in any sense of the imagination on any topic. I try not to buy too many new clothes, leather, items from sweatshops etc., but I do own many iphones that are not only made in sweatshops but also generate waste. We all can do our bit to change and evolve, be aware and take precautions, so the time is now. We all need to start talking the talk and walking the walk and stop our moral stand on things that we have no place being so hypocritical about.
And... it's easy to care about the environment. Plant trees, don't buy leather of any description and don't wear buy fur. Only buy products that are packaged in recycleable materials and in general give a "stuff" about the environment and the world we live in.
Governments, you can do more. Number one... stop technology companies bringing out more waste every quarter at the expense of our environment and no plastics - anywhere.
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comment ( 1 )
Ally Gayfer
14 Jul 2020Hi Mellissah,
ReplyThoroughly enjoyed this blog post on being complicit, moral judgment, and climate change.
You spoke about being complicit on a personal level and at the time of reading this, I believe the sentiment has never been more true in regards to business operations facilitating human rights abuse through beneficial and silent complicity within their operations on a global scale. I agree that the onus should be on consumers to be more educated prior to purchasing and doing the research, whilst giving attention towards the people who are "walking the walk", rather than listening to people who are preaching without carrying out actionable measures ahem ... Prince Harry...
Looking forward to reading more direct, insightful & concise blog posts!
- Ally