The Monk Bought Lunch

my plea

I seem to remember that we used to have this thing, called embarrassment. This was a feeling one had when one behaved in a regrettable fashion. What made that behavior regrettable could vary- it went against societal standards of morality or propriety, or it caused a concussion.
The thing about embarrassment is that it depends on an audience. This is why people traditionally behave differently when they're by themselves.
Lately it seems that embarrassment has gone by the wayside (and where the hell is the wayside?). I hate to even mention Tom Cruise, as I'm sure we all became sick to death of him a good long time ago, but I wouldn't be surprised if, on his next talk show appearance, he comes out in his underwear dancing to Bob Seger. The fact that he can argue that there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance while providing a spectacular example to the contrary every chance he gets says to me that there is no such thing as embarrassment in Mr. Cruise's bag of tricks. And I should be embarrassed to have written that sentence, but hey, case in point.
And he's not the only one- Brooke Shields wouldn't have made such an easy target for Mr. Cruise had she not been so eager to announce to the world her post-partum depression. Look, I'm not advocating shame here. There's no need to be ashamed of mental illness, I'm just saying, to paraphrase Otis Redding:
"Try a little embarrassment!"
There's not being ashamed, and then there's trumpeting from the rooftops, "I, formerly bland public figure, would like to announce that a large family of bats have just signed a renewable lease on my beautiful penthouse apartment of a belfry! I will now proceed to hop around all 'Early Daffy Duck' like! Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!"
Why does this concern me, you may well ask. Well, it's selfish, really. See, I occasionally do the stage comedy thing,and comedy kinda depends on a category of behavior that embarrasses people.
It just won't do for me to be onstage in rainbow afro wig and tutu, singing "Camptown Races" and fucking a pumpkin, if the audience is thinking "Big deal, the weatherman did that on the five o'clock news tonight!".
So,please, let's bring back embarrassment. I and the pumpkin would really appreciate it.