Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson may have made a star out of incoming Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), but it was what the comedian whispered to the now-famous Navy veteran after their joint SNL segment that really gave me hope for the future of our political discourse.
After about five minutes of jokes, where Crenshaw landed a few light-hearted jabs at Davidson, the segment wrapped. But the microphones were still on.
Davidson leaned over to Crenshaw and whispered, Youre a good man.
The reality is, had Crenshaw not behaved the way he did following Davidsonspoorly executed joke at the veterans expense, Saturday nights segment, when the two men came together to celebrate Americas war heroes, probably wouldnt have ever happened.
Ryan Saavedra@RealSaavedraOn NBC's Saturday Night Live, Pete Davidson mocks GOP Congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw for losing his eye in war: You may be surprised to hear hes a Congressional candidate from Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie. Im sorry, I know he lost his eye in war, or whatever.
Even as Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican Party, was calling on SNL to apologize for Davidsons bad joke, Crenshaw made it clear he didnt want an apology. Instead, he gracefully critiqued the quip while also encouraging his own fellow conservatives to avoid the temptation to be outwardly outraged, arguing apologies just arent necessary every time someone is offended.
As a result of his graceful response, Crenshaw was invited on SNL, where forgiveness stole the show. Thats what gives me hope.
When we like Crenshaw and Davidson are able to see our common humanity and celebrate our shared experiences, good things can happen. It takes humility, and both men embraced it over the weekend.
Davidson and Crenshaw, like most of us, really arent that different from each other.
The comedians father, Scott, was a firefighter who died during the terrorist attacks in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001 a tragedy that led Davidson to struggle with his mental health. Crenshaw, a retired Navy SEAL, fought to defend the country from the attack that killed Davidsons dad.
During his tour to Afghanistan in 2012, Crenshaw was hit by an IED blast. The war hero was evacuated and awoke from a medically induced coma to discover his right eye had been destroyed and his left eye was severely damaged.
Initially blind, Crenshaw underwent a battery of surgeries. His vision ultimately returned to his left eye, after which he deployed overseas two more times.
On Saturday night, Crenshaw implored Americans to forgive one another and remember what brings us together as a country. He also paid respect to Davidsons father, asking viewers to tell veterans, Never forget.
Never forget those we lost on 9/11, heroes like Petes father, Crenshaw said, before shaking Davidsons hand and telling him to never forget. The comedian reciprocated, adding, And that is from both of us.
It was a truly American moment, and it gives me hope for the future of our political discourse.
https://www.faithwire.com/2018/11/12/these-four-words-pete-davidson-whispered-to-dan-crenshaw-on-snl-give-me-hope/
