SNL mocked my appearance. Here’s why I didn’t demand an apology. {Dan Crenshaw}

[thackney]

Dan Crenshaw: SNL mocked my appearance. Here’s why I didn’t demand an apology.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-made-amends-with-pete-davidson-on-snl-but-thats-only-the-beginning/2018/11/13/e7314fb0-e77e-11e8-b8dc-66cca409c180_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.055dd4fff587
November 13, 2018

...On the Nov. 3 show, SNL’s Pete Davidson mocked my appearance — “he lost his eye in war . . . or whatever,” Davidson said, referring to the eye patch I wear. His line about my looking like a “hit man in a porno movie” was significantly less infuriating, albeit a little strange. I woke up on the Sunday morning after the show to hundreds of texts about what Davidson had said. A lot of America wasn’t happy. People thought some lines still shouldn’t be crossed.

I agreed. But I also could not help but note that this was another chapter in a phenomenon that has taken complete control of the national discourse: outrage culture. It seems like every not-so-carefully-worded public misstep must be punished to the fullest extent, replete with soapbox lectures and demands for apologies. Anyone who doesn’t show the expected level of outrage will be labeled a coward or an apologist for bad behavior. I get the feeling that regular, hard-working, generally unoffended Americans sigh with exhaustion — daily. 

Was I really outraged by SNL? Really offended? Or did I just think the comment about losing my eye was offensive? There is a difference, after all. I have been literally shot at before, and I wasn’t outraged. Why start now?

So I didn’t demand an apology and I didn’t call for anyone to be fired. That doesn’t mean the “war . . . or whatever” line was acceptable, but I didn’t have to fan the flames of outrage, either. When SNL reached out with an apology and an offer to be on the show, I wasn’t fully sold on the idea. It was going to be Veterans Day weekend, after all, and I had events with veterans planned. I asked if another weekend might work. No, they said, precisely because it was Veterans Day, it would be the right time to send the right message. They assured me that we could use the opportunity to send a message of unity, forgiveness and appreciation for veterans. And to make fun of Pete Davidson, of course.

And that’s what we did. I was happy with how it worked out. But now what? Does it suddenly mean that the left and right will get along and live in utopian harmony? Maybe Saturday’s show made a tiny step in that direction, but I’m not naive. As a country, we still have a lot of work to do. We need to agree on some basic rules for civil discourse....

[Sanguine]

Great response from this guy.

[edpc]

He could be our Moshe Dayan.

[Jazzhead]

Spoken with the confidence and self-esteem of a real American.   Great response.   

[musiclady]

Love it! 

[skeeter]

A balanced well spoken guy. Hopefully he can avoid being consumed by the system.

[thackney]

A balanced well spoken guy. Hopefully he can avoid being consumed by the system.

10 years as a Navy Seal reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  I think he can withstand a lot.

[Applewood]

Trump could take lessons from Crenshaw.  There really is no need to hit back at every negative comment or put down.  Either ignore the comment or, as Crenshaw did, maybe have a little fun with it.  One doesn't have to "win" all the time by getting into a snit.  With class and a little humor, Crenshaw vanquished the enemy.  He "won."

[musiclady]

Trump could take lessons from Crenshaw.  There really is no need to hit back at every negative comment or put down.  Either ignore the comment or, as Crenshaw did, maybe have a little fun with it.  One doesn't have to "win" all the time by getting into a snit.  With class and a little humor, Crenshaw vanquished the enemy.  He "won."

Indeed.  Sometimes winning is actually losing.

Crenshaw is a winner.

[Jazzhead]

Trump could take lessons from Crenshaw.  There really is no need to hit back at every negative comment or put down.  Either ignore the comment or, as Crenshaw did, maybe have a little fun with it.  One doesn't have to "win" all the time by getting into a snit.  With class and a little humor, Crenshaw vanquished the enemy.  He "won."

QFT

If Trump had engaged his critics more along the lines of Rep-elect Crenshaw,  we be looking a solid GOP majorities in both halls of Congress,  and blue skies ahead for conservatives.   Instead,  his blindered combativeness has embarrassed and/or angered enough voters that conservative policy initiatives are dead and buried for the foreseeable future.   

[Silver Pines]

Trump could take lessons from Crenshaw.  There really is no need to hit back at every negative comment or put down.  Either ignore the comment or, as Crenshaw did, maybe have a little fun with it.  One doesn't have to "win" all the time by getting into a snit.  With class and a little humor, Crenshaw vanquished the enemy.  He "won."

@Applewood

Have you seen the SNL clip?  Pete Davidson showed class, too,  He gave a real, straight-up apology, and encouraged Crenshaw to bash him in return. 

[Silver Pines]

Here's the segment.  It was nice to watch--you don't see this very often.

! No longer available

[thackney]

@Applewood

Have you seen the SNL clip?  Pete Davidson showed class, too,  He gave a real, straight-up apology, and encouraged Crenshaw to bash him in return.

...“In what must be a huge shock for people who know me, I made a poor choice last week,” Davidson said. “I made a joke about Lt. Com. Dan Crenshaw and on behalf of myself and the show, I apologize… I mean this from the bottom of my heart, it was a poor choice of words. The man is a war hero and he deserves all the respect in the world. ”

Davidson continued, “If any good came of this, maybe it was for one day, the left and the right finally came together to agree on something: That I’m a dick.”

Crenshaw then said from off-camera, “Ya think?” as he sat down next to Davidson on the Weekend Update set....

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/pete-davidson-dan-crenshaw-apology-snl-754563/

[Applewood]

@Applewood

Have you seen the SNL clip?  Pete Davidson showed class, too,  He gave a real, straight-up apology, and encouraged Crenshaw to bash him in return.

Yes, I did see it.  What I'm saying is that after the original skit aired, Crenshaw could have been like Trump -- taken to the airwaves or to Twirter and snapped back at Davidson and SNL.  Doing so likely would have escalated the situation, resulting in even more and nastier bashing.  By not tangling with Davidson and SNL and in fact, going along with the next week's skit, Crenshaw, and actually SNL and Davidson,  all came up smelling like roses. 

[goodwithagun]

Crenshaw for president.

[Applewood]

Crenshaw for president.

Right now, I'd vote for him.

[Slide Rule]

I would have preferred a skit of the Navy Seal and the funny guy.

Say a physical skit in a closet. Seal rules apply.

:)