Humanitarian Comic Jon Stewart Handed off His Baton with Two Memorable Reminders, Humbly Delivered

© 2015 Peter Free

 

08 August 2015

 

 

Jon Stewart’s last Daily Show ended with a couple of mildly stated, accurate observations

 

These were (and are):

 

 

(1) We are always lofted by others’ contributing efforts

 

and

 

(2) our culture’s tide of bullshit requires consistently vigilant correction.

 

 

He heartfully thanked the large crew that had made his show successful

 

The visual scurry through their ranks reminded viewers of what it takes to produce a quality experience like his has been.

 

None of us does anything completely on our own.

 

 

And, afterward, Stewart mildly reminded us that the narcissists, plutocrats, and plain nasty people in our midst really are out to get us

 

Partially quoted, with my italicized paraphrase in brackets:

 

 

Bullshit is everywhere. There is very little that you will encounter in life that has not been, in some way, infused with bullshit.

 

[There is acceptable social “fertilizer” bullshit, like commenting favorably on an ugly baby’s appearance.]

 

But then, there is more pernicious bullshit — your premeditated institutional bullshit, designed to obscure and distract . . . .

 

So I say to you tonight friends, the best defense against bullshit is vigilance. So, if you smell something, say something.

 

© 2015 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Jon Stewart’s Final Episode, Comedy Central (06 August 2015) (pertinent segment begins at 32.30 into the video clip)

 

You can go directly to this segment by visiting Donald Kaufman, VIDEO: ‘The Daily Show’ Wraps Up With Fond Words, Special Appearances and a Warning, TruthDig (07 August 2015) (scroll down the page to the embedded videos)

 

 

The moral? — Rectitude requires both acuity and spine(s)

 

It was a humbly memorable way to leave.

 

As Stewart felicitously said in parting, the “conversation” is not over.