We are either failing as a nation or there is a toxin in our national discourse that cannot be extracted from our verbal drinking water (weird metaphors, I know). Clearly, despite calls for civility since the tragic and deadly January shooting in Arizona that targeted a Congresswomen, hate talk remains a dark reality. Three recent cases, however, do not come from the political realm, but the world of entertainment:

• Noted British fashion designer John Galliano was fired this week by the prominent Christian Dior house after allegedly harassing a British couple with anti-Semitic and racist slurs. On Monday, a video of him praising Adolf Hitler also came to light. No doubt pushing Dior to move is that noted actress Natalie Portman declined to work with them when the news about Galliano became public. (See: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/03/01/2743106/dior-designer-suspended-for-anti-semitic-racist-slurs )

• Entertainer Glenn Beck (who, actually, is not so entertaining), said Reform rabbis “are almost like radicalized Islam.” He later apologized, which was accepted. Still, does anyone expect him to be polite at any time in the future when discussing differences with people? (See: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/02/27/2743101/beck-apologizes-to-reform )

• Actor Charlie Sheen fame wants the Anti-Defamation League to apologize for saying his rant against a producer was “borderline anti-Semitic.” His screed included calling Chuck Lorre “a contaminated little maggot,” a “clown” and “stupid” and then referring to him by his Hebrew name “Chaim Levine.” As the ADL said, “Sheen left the impression that another reason for his dislike of Mr. Lorre is his Jewishness.” (See: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/03/01/2743139/actor-sheen-demanding-apology-from-adl )

One can argue about the third case. Sheen has said that referring to his own Latino ancestry is not necessarily anti-Latino. Maybe so, but at best Sheen is a garden variety jerk. Besides, anti-Latinoism never formed a theological basis for a wholesale slaughter of that ethnic group, nor did it give rise to crusades, blood libels and – you know the drill.

Sheen aside, certainly the first two episodes are ignorant, insulting, offensive and, yes, anti-Semitic. Together, all indicate a culture where insults continually dance on the border of being inappropriate or much worse. Of course, it is a huge outrage to say negative things about African Americans, as should be the case. Yet, when Jews are targeted it seems more acceptable for some.

Now the response of the above perpetrators to the public reaction is most revealing. That’s because, as this week’s annual obsession with the Oscars showed, a core value in entertainment is protecting highly cultivated images. Succinctly put, being labeled an anti-Semite, racist or simply a buffoon is bad for business. Just ask Mel Gibson or Michael Richards.

Now their fans might say that’s because the Jews control the media, where many Jews as individuals are indeed in positions of power. So what? Would Jews not being in those seats mean that anti-Semitism – overt, covert or any other type – would be more acceptable? Such line of argument is inane.

Most important, in our media-saturated and celebrity-obsessed culture, the rising generation monitors and mimics those in the national spotlight. For that reason alone – let alone common decency—we cannot not let down our guard when it comes to pointing words of hate, borderline or otherwise.