OPINION

Fighting Words

After years of America’s hyperactive cancel culture, we are all acutely aware of how a few badly chosen, inflammatory, politically incorrect or insensitive words can dismantle careers and wreak havoc, disappointment and even despair in people’s lives.

Though some of those who have been dethroned by their own words have deserved exactly what they got, society overall has gone too far when it comes to punishing verbal accidents. Today, we live in a world that is oh-so-ready to pounce. As Rowan Atkinson, the “Mr. Bean” actor has put it, cancel culture is like a “medieval mob looking for someone to burn.”

Let’s face it, human beings are complex creatures, and the spontaneity of our words is much akin to our most basic, physical instincts—not so far from the essential “fight or flight” reflexes. Much of our speech is just a reaction to the thoughts and feelings running through the synapses of our brains, so it’s easy to understand how things we say may seem offensive to some individual or group. The bottom line is that, in an over-sensitized society, there will always be something that sounds like an afront.

Being censured or canceled is a hazard of our times. At the Oscars this past weekend, we observed Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock for telling an insensitive joke. Talk—and particularly public speech—has always been a minefield, but the internet and modern communications have ensured that any candid, critical or frank words will spread instantaneously. In the past, news just slowly trickled in, if at all. But today, public disgust becomes a concentrated mass so quickly that there can be a catastrophic effect and no escape.

It’s certainly worth considering that the truth, itself, can be considered a gaffe. And that’s exactly what happened last week in President Joseph Biden’s address in Poland. Biden passionately stated, in a reference to Putin, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” The reactionary flak followed immediately, and his words will not be soon forgotten.

Biden’s detractors seized upon the moment, crying that his choice of wording could cause further destabilization of the world. France’s President Emmanuel Macron chimed in almost immediately, suggesting that Biden’s speech constituted an escalation of a tenuous situation. Moscow, of course, was furious and made it clear that the American president was not the one to affect regime change. The quick retort was that only the Russian people can change their president—through the free-elections process.

Biden’s exact words weren’t really so very different from other statements he’s made about—and directly to—Putin. He has previously said that Putin is a “pure thug,” a “murderous dictator,” a “war criminal” and a “butcher.”

As Biden’s advisers scramble to put a more acceptable spin on his words, there’s a general understanding that no matter how much Biden meant what he said, the president’s speech created a very uncomfortable feeling across the globe. His staff tried to cast a different meaning for his words, suggesting that Biden only meant that Putin should not be allowed to wield power against Ukraine and other free nations. That’s what apologists do—window-dressing a president’s words to make them more politically palatable.

As a nation known for its meddling in international affairs, the U.S. president’s statement could be seen as a plea for regime change. Biden’s gaffe, a spontaneous departure from his speechwriters’ carefully drafted text, seemed a bit ominous, and some world leaders were gobsmacked at his choice of words.

But it wasn’t that anyone disagreed. It’s probably safe to say that the free world wants to see the “back” of the Russian president. Julianne Smith, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, acknowledged that Biden was simply saying what the situation required, “a principled human reaction.” It was a conscientious and honest faux pas.

Unfortunately, Biden’s so-called gaffe has been fodder for the Russians, the rest of the world and his political opponents. Even many of his supporters believe that he was out of line in using those words. But my guess is that nobody thinks he was wrong.

Should Putin be allowed to continue to lead the Russian people in this ongoing decimation of a sovereign country? Of course not. But the tacit threat of regime change shook a lot of people. Sadly, it seemed to convey the likely reality that the Ukraine problem will not be fixed as long as Putin’s ego is solidly seated on the Russian throne.

After more than a month of a military invasion of Ukraine, the understanding that Putin is a monster, a terrorist and a serial killer is almost universally accepted by those who have access to accurate information. Certainly, Biden has used numerous highly judgmental descriptions of the Russian leader and—considering the level of destruction, suffering and death in Ukraine—no one has faulted him for those previous allegations.

So why the outcry on Biden’s latest words? What he said is certainly no reason for cancellation. I think all Americans—and most of the world—stand solidly behind his exclamatory words. “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.”

The only thing he left out was “bastard!” (Obviously, it’s a good thing that I’m not the president.) CW

Private Eye is off this week. Send feedback to comments@cityweekly.net.

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We know if climate change is going to be addressed, there has to be a profit motive. Dominion Energy’s “Carbon Right” program is just that. It’s a carbon offset offered to a million customers for a mere $5 a month. Ca-ching! It’s both a good and a bad thing—good if Dominion really manages to decarbonize; but bad if people keep using more and more fossil fuels. To the point, it would take 20 or more such projects to offset the carbon footprint in Utah, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. Meanwhile, state Auditor John Dougall wondered on KCPW 88.3 FM about the “really green” option of nuclear power. Why they call it green is curious because nothing grows from nuclear energy, Public Citizen makes that really clear. There’s the mining of uranium and, of course, the waste issue. “Promoting nuclear risks to reduce greenhouse emissions is the classic jump from the frying pan into the fire!” Public Citizen says.

HIT: Golfing Us Dry

There are a lot of golfers out on the greens—25 million (250,000 in Utah, mostly male) or 8% of the population, according to statista.com. Only 8%, you say? They are the 8% that count. Take Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, for instance. He pushed year-round Daylight Saving Time through the Senate because the golf industry likes that late afternoon light. But even avid golfers are beginning to see the folly of their sport. It doesn’t produce many jobs and the greens require tons of water. St. George’s Entrada country club uses 145 million gallons of water per year, the Deseret News reported. With the drought and conservation efforts, that could go down to 105 million gallons. The state uses about 38 million gallons of water per day on golf courses. The industry knows it needs to conserve— and keep the golfers happy. Good intentions may become necessities.

MISS: Let Them Play

So … science. It’s really not something the political right wants to think about—or believe in—because science seems to run counter to belief. We’ve heard a lot about transgender issues this week. The governor vetoed a bill to ban trans athletes from competition, and then the mostly white male Legislature overturned it. Why? Because they were “protecting” the girls. Here are a few facts they missed, from Scientific American. “Transgender girls are not the only girls with high testosterone levels. An estimated 10% of women have polycystic ovarian syndrome, which results in elevated testosterone levels. They are not banned from female sports. … Transgender girls on puberty blockers, on the other hand, have negligible testosterone levels.” And those girls would be forced to play with boys, or not at all. “Studies of testosterone levels in athletes do not show any clear, consistent relationship between testosterone and athletic performance,” a Yale University expert says. Lawmakers prefer emotion over facts.

Trans Visibility

On this annual awareness day for transgender communities, it’s a good time to check in and process all that’s been happening. Who can forget the Legislature targeting young trans athletes by banning them from sports? At Beyond the Binary: Trans Day of Visibility Panel Discussion, you’ll hear how to celebrate “the triumphs, contributions and resiliency of transgender communities while shining a light on the enduring challenges they face.” The panel includes trans and gender-nonconforming people who span multiple identities and backgrounds. They will share their stories and insights. Virtual, Thursday, March

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Sensuality and Resilience

As part of the Pride celebration, sexuality doula, author and sensualist, Ev’Yan Whitney will keynote Cultivating Your Sensual Self as an Act of Resilience. Whitney “will speak about the practice of sensuality as a liberatory act—one that is both pleasurable and crucial as we navigate this world as marginalized individuals.” The talk will be part lecture and part practice to help the audience reconnect to sensuality through joy and authenticity.

Westminster College, 1840 S. 1300 East, Thursday, April 7, 4 p.m., free. https://bit.ly/37MxUor

Pets Have Needs, Too

Homelessness can be devastating—and lonely. Many of the unhoused have found companionship in pets, but those pets experience the ravages of homelessness along with their people. The Vaccine Clinic and Pet Food Outreach aims to help out. The vaccines will be given on a first come, first served basis. Pets will be microchipped and their owners given pet food. No sign-up required. Pioneer Park, 350

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About Those Sanctions?

While the United States tries to stop a war with sanctions, the world wonders if that strategy really works. The U.S. and China are the big players, and the question is if they can lead. “In each crisis the world faces—whether the war in Ukraine or COVID-19, the rise of sanctions or surging energy prices—we find ourselves asking what this means for the U.S., for China and for the future of global leadership.” The

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