So much of what grabs the public’s attention or passes as news these days is just banal trivia.
I don’t mean to be too harsh because we Americans — and probably all the world — have always enjoyed the occasional diversion from our bigger, more difficult troubles.
In 1801, for example, President Thomas Jefferson created one of those “international incidents” at a diplomatic dinner by choosing to escort Dolley Madison to the White House dinner table, rather than the wife of the British ambassador.
By flouting etiquette, Jefferson aimed to make a point: America rejected not only British rule but also the protocols associated with British tradition. And, also, Jefferson just enjoyed snubbing British officials.
But, egad, it was just a dinner.
And then there was the time President Harry Truman threatened a newspaper critic who had panned the singing talents of Truman’s daughter, Margaret. Truman’s note to the Washington Post writer became a national to-do.
But the elevation of the trite to news of supposed national importance isn’t limited to presidents.
A year ago, actor Chris Pratt made national news after an incriminating photo of the actor was posted to the social media site Instagram. Pratt issued a national apology, because in the photo, he is holding (insert gasp here) a single-use plastic water bottle.
Across the country, self-righteous environmentalists — including other actors — felt obligated to condemn Pratt for destroying the environment.
OK, they didn’t feel obligated.
What they felt was that this was an opportunity to shine a light on their own intelligence, passion, virtue or wit by finding fault with someone else.
Such demonstrations of outsized outrage have become our national pastime.
One reason that social media shaming is so popular is that it’s so easy. Cellphones come with cameras and are equipped to share videos and photos through any and all of the social media sites we choose.
As a result, an unfortunate encounter with a mentally ill bigot can be turned into a viral sensation, creating a worldwide tirade about systemic racism.
Or a “Happy Holidays” greeting from a store clerk can be used to fuel attacks on all the godless lefties who — we are warned again and again — are trying to “do away with Christmas.”
