Dennis Rodman's visit to North Korea has sparked some serious moral outrage given his defense of Kim Jong Un whom he now refers to as a "friend." Everyone in the media has attacked Rodman because he has chosen to label the injustices in North Korea as simply "politics" that he does not agree with. I think that this whole situation should be put into some real perspective.
No one in the media seems to understand that this is Dennis Rodman. Dennis Rodman does not have the relevance of a Muhammad Ali or anyone else that has chosen to use merit and stature as a means to engage in diplomacy and goodwill. Does anyone remember the wedding dress? Does anyone remember "Bad as I Wannabe"? Yes Rodman was a huge star with five championship rings but we are not talking about a Michael Jordan or someone whose achievements stand out as almost singular. I like Rodman and I think his personality made him unique on the court but his actions outside the court in a global aspect do not really call my attention.
The media understandably feels a need to chastise Rodman because he seems to be employing a tremendous lack of depth. I wonder if the media understands that Rodman is not a Rhodes Scholar. Rodman went to North Korea to have a good time and not to engage in shuttle diplomacy. I am certain that the North Korean government did not take the visit from Rodman as a sign of US approval for their policy on human rights or nuclear arms.
The media needs to really chill out before continuing to make this story something so relevant that we end up looking like a country that takes the opinions of a washed up sports ex athlete as if they were policy gold.
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