This is an excerpt of six minutes from a really terrific, moving speech at the Anti-Defamation League's "Never Is Now" summit. It's about the problems of social media, in particular Facebook and the need to address responsibility in stopping lies, hatred and conspiracies. It's pointed, thoughtful, angry and eloquent. And the most fascinating and unexpected thing of all is that it’s from…Sacha Baron Cohen.
And as a bonus, just yesterday he wrote an op-ed on the subject in the Washington Post. It's as good and as eloquent, and I love that it starts with a self-aware disclaimer -- "I get it: I’m one of the last people you’d expect to hear warning about the danger of conspiracies and lies. I’ve built a career on pushing the limits of propriety and good taste." And then notes, "I admit that most of my comedy over the years has been pretty juvenile" -- but then puts what he himself does in perspective, "The ugliness my jokes help reveal is why I’m so worried about our pluralistic democracies. Demagogues appeal to our worst instincts." You can read it here.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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