Jim Carrey, I know funny, and the state of the country today is no laughing matter, The Atlantic

[Beringia]

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/jim-carrey-truth-justice-and-world-without-trump/615964/

(First 4 paragraphs)

I’ve spent much of my career trying to reach audiences through humor. It’s always come from a loving place, a joyful place—wanting to free people from concern. I know that hearing a performer give voice to the things you’re thinking and feeling can be an enormous relief and that laughing hysterically at a willing fool is almost always good medicine. But relying on jokes can sometimes cancel out the seriousness of what you’re trying to say. At this moment, the best anyone can offer is gallows humor. The truth is, we should all be seriously concerned.

The United States faces catastrophe. That’s a word from my world—drama. In ancient Greek, katastrophḗ means “overturn,” or “a sudden turn.” This is what we have suffered. Untold American lives have been ruined by the presidency of Donald Trump. The rule of law is imperiled, our unity has been shattered, the service sector has been obliterated, and major cities are suffering. Black Americans, who have endured half a millennium of wickedness and brutality, now face more injustice and death.

Last week, amid all this suffering, Trump and his acolytes held their Totally Illegal COVID-19 Super-Spreader Spectacular at the White House, in flagrant violation of the Hatch Act. It got me thinking about the great director Francis Ford Coppola, who masterfully wove together evil deeds and pious words in classic films. Watching Trump accept the nomination of the Republican Party in the people’s house during a pandemic he exacerbated was like watching Michael Corleone swear a sacred oath while his underlings settled scores across the city.

Those in the audience on the South Lawn of the White House might have believed their lives were their own to lose, but after their big night, they now risk infecting other Americans. Trump and the GOP have decided not to heed science, leaving us helpless during a plague. But as far as I know, plagues don’t care about reelection campaigns. They don’t wither in the face of the Secret Service or succumb to the intimidation of goon squads. And they don’t respect the families of gluttonous aspiring monarchs.

[MatthewG.]

1. Carrey shows some common sense wisdom and decency

While I’m not a big fan of Carrey’s comic material, he shows some decency and common sense in this article. I hope all Americans possessed of decency and common sense come out this year.