Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.
The only thing less pleasurable than being wrong -- or, I should say: reassessing your own correctness as there's always some dial-up speed gandy dancer to tell you you're wrong for you -- is not manning up to your own wrongness.
I was wrong.
Two weeks ago I wrote about Ellen DeGeneres being, seemingly, more empathetic toward animals than humans.
By returning to her television program this week following a brief hiatus at the beginning of the Hollywood writers' strike, Ellen has proven -- or reaffirmed -- what I'd missed; that she cares quite deeply about people. She does so despite being publicly dried as a scab and a traitor for crossing the picket line.
Falsehoods and slander.
What Ellen is, is an individual responsible for keeping her television program on the air and securing the livelihoods of some 135 people she has on staff. One hundred and thirty-five people who would find themselves out of work, without paychecks and -- with both a strike on and a holiday season approaching -- not many prospects for making money.
One hundred, thirty-five people.
Despite this fact, the WGA-East -- the vestigial limb of the WGA -- has in particular been openly, vocally antagonistic regarding Ms. DeGeneres' return to television. They are so seemingly without notice that Ellen's is hardly the only daytime syndicated program to remain in production and on air. And also without noting that in the past David Letterman and the great Johnny Carson crossed lines to remain on air and keep their staffs employed.
Where's the righteousness in a cause that segregates that supposed righteousness from compassion?
There is none.
Such tactics are the equivalent of strapping on ideology, and walking into a crowded room to indiscriminately unleash philosophical fury with no regard to who is left maimed: a grip, or cameraman. A make-up, or craft service artist. Those who so many often refer to in the worst of paternalistic pejoratives: "The little people." Tiny, helpless individuals who will either forcibly accept the "goodwill" of others, or be crushed by the collectivism which claims to want to protect them.
If the leadership and membership of the guild wish to strike regardless of who loses their job or their ability to provide for their family, that is their right. But I would ask that they not vilify those who will not concede their moral obligations to group think.
I continue to support the guild by not working during the strike. However, added to my display of support will now be the daily viewing of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.