The Victoria Osteen civil trial is shaping up to be the biggest catfight since Alexis v. Krystle (he says, dating himself badly). Osteen, the Aimee Semple MacPherson of feelgood megachurch Evangelicalism, apparently behaved like a right royal you-know-what on an airplane, and got into it with flight attendant Sharon Brown over the tiniest little thing -- literally, a spot of water on a first-class seat. The Princess-and-the-Pea situation got resolved with the Osteens having their Worst Flight Now, and being escorted off the plane.
Now the flight attendant is suing Mother Osteen. Get this load of b.s.:
Shayna Patrice Lee, a psychiatrist, testified that Ms. Brown suffers from "major depression" and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the scuffle.She said that because Ms. Osteen was a well-known religious figure, her behavior caused Ms. Brown to "question the whole issue of spirituality."
Moreover, Dr. Lee, who said she had expertise in treating African-American patients, said Ms. Brown, as a black woman, was especially harmed because Ms. Osteen's behavior made her feel "demeaned and humiliated."
As Henry Kissinger said of the Iran-Iraq War, it's too bad they both can't lose.
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If you can't handle a difficult customer, even one who gets belligerent and rough, then you have no business being a flight attendant.
On occasion, I have had to referee arguments like this. Usually, the offending parties (both of them; I don't spare overmuch time for things like this) are spanked and sent to their rooms without supper.
Since my older boys turned 6 and 4, however, I don't hear too much about problems like this. These days it's my 2-year-old son throwing that kind of tantrum.
Your servant,
Lord Karth
No matter what you think about the Osteens, it is sad that they have to take this case all the way to a jury trial to defend themselves. Good for them for not bending to pressure to settle the matter quietly!
It is cases like this that give plaintiff's lawyers a bad name. This case is almost as absurdly frivilous as the guy who sued his dry cleaner for a billion dollars for losing his pants.
Just imagine how traumatized the flight attendant was by that giant "Ka-Ching!" sound that sparked her inner ear during the incident.
This may be the first time I've agreed with anything Kissinger said.
There is a way for both to lose. The jury should find for the plaintiff and then award her $1 from Osteen.
The Rev Victoria Osteen:
The prosperity preaching Rev delayed the flight for 2 1/2 hours; any one have a business appointment? The Good Rev tried to open the flight deck door-a no no. The Revs elbow hit a chest muscle operational area, ouch. The FAA investigated and fined the Good Rev $3,000 dollars, she paid.
Ms. Brown is putting the Good Rev's words into practice.
Sincerely, J R Dittbrenner
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