The reality of what the media commentary landscape is going to lose when Jon Stewart steps down from his role as host of The Daily Show arguably still hasn’t been fully grasped. It’s staggering, his ability to provide balance between humour and humility.
And none more is that evident than in this monologue summing up his thoughts, anger, and sadness about the Charleston Shootings.
On Wednesday night, 21 year-old Dylan Storm Roof – a white man – entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina and shot dead 9 people, all black, in a racially motivated act of local terrorism.
The American media is already treating it with the same whitewashing that it uses for all mass shootings – questioning mental health, claiming him to be a lone wolf or a rogue, and virtually ignoring all the systemic racial, societal, and legislative issues that continually contribute to massacres on this scale within the USA.
Opening the Daily Show, Jon Stewart firstly apologised to his audience for not having any jokes prepared for the opening monologue. He then launched into a solemn speech that was as concise as it was deeply heartfelt and troubling.
It is, more than most things, absolutely worth your time. Even if your interest in American affairs is merely in passing.
[Editor’s Note: Video has since been deleted]
Jon’s leaves the Daily Show on August 6th. Enjoy every second of him while you still can.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin via Getty Images.
via Uproxx.
