Total and Utter Unnecessariness

That's right, I made up a word.

Here's the thing. I like Grey's Anatomy ... a lot. One reason I like it so much is that the characterization on the show is near-impeccable. There is an interesting variety of personalities that everyone who is familiar with the show can tell you is both amusing and engaging.

I also am a huge supporter of gay rights. To me, everyone is the same and, as such, everyone should be allowed to the same social liberties--simple as that. It bothers me personally when people use derogatory terms or exhibit intolerant behaviors.

However, we can't reprogram the minds of every intolerant person in one fell swoop, nor should we feel like it is our job to. I'm not speaking against educating people and spreading positive awareness. I just think that there are effective ways to handle issues, and excessive ones.

Isaiah Washington, who plays (played) Dr. Burke on Grey's Anatomy, was recently notified that his contract would not be renewed for another season, and the reason for that are both private and public incidences where he used homophobic slurs when speaking of his openly gay co-star, T.R. Knight--aka Dr. O'Malley.

I don't deny it--Isaiah Washington is a dickwad. I don't like the guy, he's an asshole. I wouldn't want to have a nice lunchtime chat with him. And although he's made public apologies and entered supposed "rehabilitation programs, I don't buy for a second that he's sincere. He's just covering his ass.

But all of this being said, Washington WAS an integral, valuable and major character in the program. My unhealthy obsession for the program aside, what will ABC achieve by firing him? The new title of Gay Man's Hero? No. The fact is, Washington DID apologize, even though I'll admit that his fingers were probably crossed behind his back. With so many people out there in the world of television and radio media, we would be delusional to believe that a couple of the other television stars we eagerly tune into every week don't hold similar beliefs. By allowing Washington to remain on the air, ABC would simply be retaining an employee who's not as tactful as some others who may agree with his rude way of thinking. This would be completely acceptable, considering his oh-so-public slap on the wrist affirmed that ABC doesn't condone such behavior. Firing him is like, and excuse my horrible analogy, shoveling a snowstorm of intolerance with a quick-fix teaspoon instead of a plow of information and awareness.

Furthermore, this is the beginning of Grey's Anatomy's downward spiral to the hit-TV tomb.