DISGRASIAN™

The Importance of Being Earnest When You’re Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin made a quick quip about Filipino and Russian mail-order brides* last week on Letterman (see video above, at 00:33)–and the immediate fallout in the Philippines was not pretty. In fact, the incident incited a particularly hot reaction from Filipino Senator Ramon Revilla–a former action movie star–who called Baldwin “arrogant” as well as insensitive and ignorant to the country’s laws against mail-order brides.

From AP:

“Let him try to come here in the Philippines and he’ll see mayhem,” Revilla said, using a local idiom that implies the speaker will personally administer a beating.

Perhaps not the most professional or diplomatic approach, but certainly effective.

In response, Baldwin (who by now must be familiar with the art of public apology), submitted a lengthy “I’m sorry” note to the world via The Huffington Post–noting the outstanding issues of sex trafficking in The Philippines as well as other parts of the world, while directing attention to the non-profit organization Love 146.

And we’re down to support his apology. We’re also really, really, really glad we’re not famous TV stars whose comments are resonant enough to cause international rage.

In other news, Baldwin is going to Hanoi with the N.Y. Philharmonic! [Insert off-color quip here.]

*side note: I’ve actually met one Russian M.O.B., and she was very nice, as well as shockingly well-adjusted.

[HuffPo: Alec Baldwin - An Apology Regarding My Letterman Appearance and a Clarification on U.S. Autoworkers]
[Love 146 - Official site]

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Filed under: Alec Baldwin, Huffington Post, International Relasians, Letterman, Love 146, Mail-Order Brides, NY Philharmonic, Public Apologies, Public Shame, Russia, Sex Trafficking, the Philippines

Musical Relasians

The NY Philharmonic, led by honorasian music director Lorin Maazel, performs today in Pyongyang in an unprecedented visit to North “Love Our Nukes” Korea.

Bucking criticisms that the visit and performance signifies support of the country’s questionable political policies (Human rights? Psshh), Maazel firmly stands by his quest to use cultural diplomacy as a gateway to political diplomacy.

Reuters reports:

“I am a musician and not a politician, but music has always been an arena or area where people can make contact. It is neutral, it is emotional,” the philharmonic’s music director, Lorin Maazel, told reporters at the airport.

Will Dvorak’s symphony “From the New World” move Kim Jong Il so much that he starts singing songs of Jeffersonian Democracy? Maybe not. But throw in an encore of Elvis Costello’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” and who knows? Il just might.

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Filed under: Being Nice, Cultural Diplomacy, Dvorak, Gestures, Kim Jong Il, Making Friends is Easy, Music Saves, North Korea, Nukes, NY Philharmonic, What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding?