To use a word that's been bandied about often during this turbulent political season, dashing William Wolfrum is a true maverick. And, he's Whether he's covering "the humorous and obscure in news, politics and pop culture" at WorldGolf... or profiling an uber-sexy girl golf blogger on BadGolfer, his voice is unique and distinctive. And at this particular moment...at the end of a week where the American financial system has been completely reordered, due to a toxic combination of greed and negligence at the highest levels... I think it behoves us all to at least look at that which is unique and distinctive.
Mr. Wolfrum was interviewed recently by Diane Tucker of The Huffington Post. In his own inimitable way he expounds upon American presidential politics and the upcoming election. As will always be the case, some overlooked the satire and branded his remarks Anti-American. But, WKW loves America, and as an expatriate, there's nothing...in the world...he'd like more than to see it thrive. To see it be the best.I know this feeling intimately, I lived overseas for a couple/few years myself.
So check out the HuffPo interview, over the weekend, when you have a few minutes. You may not agree with it, and that's OK. But I think we're at a time when we all need to look beyond our comfort zone, at least a little bit, in order to begin to figure out how we got where we are right now.
Interesting stuff...sort of. His ignorance of basic American history and willingness to twist other people's ideals does sort of open him up to that "unamerican" tag. Of course - the fact that he lives in Brazil and takes shots at America might be another reason. Brazil - a country of amazing levels of poverty - and he wants to take shots at America.
ReplyDeleteThe United States was NEVER intended to be a democracy - the founding fathers were very clear about that. They recognized the dangers of mob rule.
This country has problems - and he nailed a couple of them - but holding up someone who doesn't live here and holds no alliegence to America - he has no voice here. Write about sports - but you have no business in American politics.
I've read Wolfrums blogs at WorldGolf and I often find them funny and I'm always amazed that people don't understand the satire.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know he lived in Brazil and I agree with Court that one needs to be careful when criticizing a place from outside, but lately, the way things are going I'm not sure we don't deserve as much criticism as we get.
We have no one decent who is running for President. I'd be willing to consider a non-American if it mean we could have someone better than our current candidates on the ballot.
ReplyDeleteLook he comes from Alaska and he doesn't like Palin either...for that I like him. And while patriotism is good, blind patriotism is not. Blind patriotism doesn't serve the country well.
ReplyDeletePatricia, thank you so much. You are dazzling in so many ways, but it's your depth that makes you a star.
ReplyDeleteCourt: Are you an American citizen? So am I.
one needs to be careful when criticizing a place from outside
I'll take my chances, Langston ;) And thank you very much for the kind words :)
Wolf - you have chosen to live your life somewhere other than the US. You have no problem taking shots at conditions in the US while ignoring the conditions of the country you are living in now. You put your long distance support behind a guy who has already told you that he wants to tax you into submission to the almighty imperial government. Since you are an American who obviously has the cash to live somewhere else your stance makes no sense since Obama wants to take your hard earned money at the point of a gun and give it to people who choose not to work. You do not know what a democracy is, which makes you dangerous as well as ignorant. You are a writer, but do not know the meaning of words you use.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to take shots at other people when it won't affect you. The thing about all these "comedians" who get the laughs from their audience - they don't seem to see or care that their careless use of language has an affect on people who go along with the "cool" person just because they are popular.
While I agree with you that we don't have a truly great American to vote for in this election - these are the two we do have to vote for. Taking cheap shots at one side while ignoring the truth of the other is just plain foolish.
I appreciate good humor - and you have written some very good stuff - but I can't agree with your stance here. The thing about real satire is that it is based in the truth - not cheap shots for the sake of getting a laugh.
I think it's great to hear both sides. To hear varying opinions. Most of us golf bloggers (including me) avoid airing our political beliefs because of fear that they might alienate a segment of our audience. I've got to say I've been tempted to expound a number of times, though... and I've got admire it when someone expresses their beliefs...whether I share them or not.
ReplyDeleteCourt - People interpret what I write based on their own views and I normally don't comment much on my stories, posts, etc. You have your interpretation, and that's fine by me. Feel free to call me a dangerously ignorant anti-American all you like. ;)
ReplyDeleteHowever, when you make statements like this ...
You have no problem taking shots at conditions in the US while ignoring the conditions of the country you are living in now.
... that sort of falls into the category of making assumptions about the person you're writing about.
fear that they might alienate a segment of our audience.
I know that feeling ;)
Wolf - I never called you "anti-American". I said that some of your words might get you pigeonholed into that catagory. And yes - if you use words that you apparently can't define - you are dangerously ignorant - especially when you write with the intent of influencing people.
ReplyDeleteOk - so let me get this straight - you're saying that the things you write are so perfectly neutral that either side of an argument could argue for or against you ? That your pro-Obama stance and anti-Palin attacks are "neutral" ?
If you have managed that feat, then you are not only the greatest writer in the world, YOU are the man we should be electing President. There could be no greater statesman in the world...well...until we needed someone to stand up against the bad people in the world.
dear wkw
ReplyDeletecourtgolf will argue and points adnausium and try to reclarify his stupid comments over and over again. it is a distinct pattern he dispalys over and over again on this blog.
best to ignore him, we mostly do.
lol Anon - as opposed to dropping crude insults like you do ? Yes - logical thought is more than you can handle.
ReplyDelete