Monday must have been a very slow news day.
The media went into a frenzy to cover the demise of Robin Williams.
Suddenly he was the greatest comic genius the world had ever seen.
With all due respect to his family, I don’t share this opinion.
Robin Williams could be occasionally funny, but a “comic genius” he was not.
I never liked “shticks” and he used too many of them.
I had a soft spot for him in “serious” roles like in Good Will Hunting.
But it is not easy to be tagged a “funnyman”. You have to constantly prove that you are witty and it is more often a burden than an advantage.
Personally, if I had to pick a funny man, it would choose John Cleese of Monty Python fame or Jerry Seinfeld.
But with the world ablaze with hatred and destruction, I cannot understand why news departments everywhere chose to devote most of the day to report the passing of a comedian.
Excuse my French, but right now I am more concerned with what’s happening in Iraq where a bunch of Islamic fanatics are maiming or killing anybody who don’t share the same twisted beliefs.
I am worried about Ukraine where Putin might ignite Word War Three.
Who thought that the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand would start WWI?
I am worried about Israel, the last sane, pro-western bastion in the Middle East cauldron.
I am worried about Turkey where sinister “mildly Islamist” Recep Erdogan was just elected president.
I am worried about Afghanistan, the resurgence of the Taliban and the fate of women in that cursed country.
I am worried about Syria, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, etc. and the rise of extremism everywhere…
I am worried about the spawning of radical zealots in Europe.
So excuse me for not showing extraordinarily concern about the passing of a mere troubled “funny man”.
Alain
Some things do not translate well culturally and humor is one of them. Having grown up watching this extremely gifted, versatile actor and creative entity I am disappointed at your callous response. There is also the aspect of depression that claims many a creative spirit that you disregard. I do not get the appeal of Jacques Tati at all, but I respect his talent and recognize his importance to the French people, and would not dismiss him particularly if he committed suicide. To place century’s old religious wars that can never be won over creativity and the human spirit is misguided at best. Williams was more than a mere ‘funny man.” Much, much more.