Making amends–and picking up the pieces

A number of new heroes and heels made their presence powerfully or pathetically (as the case may be) felt in 2015. On the list of heroes, inspiring standouts and champions include Pope Francis, Bill Gates, Malala Yousafzai, Angela Merkel, Aung San Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking and Muhammad Yunus.

For ironic balance and contrast, however, some heels also came out of the woodwork and negatively impinged upon the global consciousness, making us wonder and ponder: How could they possibly turn their failed fortunes around, make amends with the incensed public, and slowly but surely clamber up from the pits, to “deserve” being given another chance—and people’s “forgiveness”?

Topping our list of heels in desperate need of reinvention and “redemption” is Steve Harvey, the klutz who singlehandedly managed to turn the glamorous Miss Universe beauty pageant into a shocking and craven comedy of errors—by incomprehensibly making the biggest possible booboo of them all, announcing the wrong name as the winner of the global competition.

Of course, we’re reacting with special scorn, rage and unction because it happened to our best bet—Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.

But it must have also been traumatic, in a totally different way, to the “winner-turned-loser,” Miss Colombia—so our hearts go out to her, too.

Imagine, she basked in the sweet glow of triumph for a couple of minutes—only to have her happiness turn into the ashes and trauma of defeat?

What a cruel blow—and Harvey fully deserves the scathing opprobrium that was heaped on his pointy head.

But, everybody—even world-class klutzes and cretins—deserves a second chance. So, Harvey should win the public’s forgiveness by doing what he otherwise does best, coming up with a new and particularly funny production!

Never mind trying to hollowly poke fun at himself by wishing everybody “Merry Easter”—that just makes things worse.

What he needs is to start fresh and really funny—so, as we laugh at his antics in his new film or comedy special on TV, it could help wash away the bitter taste of the gaffe to end all gaffes that he so cluelessly made.

Another heel in great need of redemption is another funnyman, Bill Cosby, who is charged with the far graver crime of being a serial exploiter, seducer and rapist of young stellar hopefuls. He’s denied any and all charges, of course—but, could over 60 women be lying through their teeth?

Most everybody thinks not, so Cosby’s next move should be to finally ’fess up (like Harvey quickly did, when he stepped on the excrement).

No new production, no matter how hilariously entertaining, could placate Cosby’s accusers and the viewing public. So he should first own up, make amends, pay his dues—and then pick up the pieces!