American Hero

People sometimes ask me, “Reihan, why are you a crusty reactionary?” And I think it’s fundamentally because I think, “Dagnabbit, quit yer bellyachin’, ya layabouts!” Which came to mind as I read about Jamal Woolard, American hero, at Vulture.

In 2006, The New Yorker ran a great piece by Ben McGrath on violence at Hot 97, in which Woolard had this to say about his shooting:

bq. “I was there to do my job, so I did my job. Now, to people it looks like “Well, you got shot. And you still went in there and did your job?” Like, O.K., let’s put the shoe on the other foot. What was I supposed to tell a powerful influence like Flex, at Hot 97? ‘You know what, Flex? I’m sorry, man. I can’t do the show. I was standing downstairs—got shot in the ass.’ What, are you nuts? Right? It wouldn’t make any sense. So I had to do what I had to do.”

Yes, we were disappointed by the semi-crappy screenplay for Notorious, but it’s at least good to know that Biggie will be played by an actor we can depend on to do the job even if he gets shot in the ass.

Good grief, this man is an inspiration. I want him on the front of a Wheaties box!