“A steady diet of cynicism destroys respect for humans.”
Excellent quote. Adding to facebook page.

“A steady diet of cynicism destroys respect for humans.”
I agree, very good quote. I agree with your post, and wish more of the responses I’ve seen from our brothers and sisters in Christ were as well tempered. I’ve been as wearied by those who have chosen to react to comments like those of Letterman & Wright by responding in kind. There is a way to hold their feet to the fire without joining in their wrongs, and you’ve displayed that way here. Thanks.

I agree with the premise of this post. A preacher/teacher of experience and substance like the Rev. Wright, whom I respect,has no business using this type of tropein this hamfisted way. The broader point he was making–how Pres. Obama because of political considerations must walk a tighrope when it comes to his associations with Black nationalist causes–is so true. Contrary to much present hype, we don’t live in a post-racial society.
His is a voice which must be listened to but his use of this tainted language does him and his message a disservice.

James,
Thanks. I read Michelle Malkin to see what the right wingers would be saying and, while she made some good points, she simply draws lines in the sand deeper.

Ditto to facebook.com quote.

Our culture no longer even knows what an apology is.

scot,
thanks for this. i only found out via your entry. i agree: inexcusable on both fronts.
wrote something quickly on my blog:
http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/shame-on-you-david-letterman-jeremiah-wright/
and i guess one of my questions:
“You have to wonder if the folks that took shot at Palin throughout the election season will do the right thing and stand with her; if the folks that defended Rev. Jeremiah Wright and in many ways, rightly defended his context of black and liberation theology will say the appropriate thing regarding this situation to this minister: ?Repent.?

Well put. Needs to be said.
His pseudo-contrition was just an opportunity for more condescension.

Couldn’t agree more about the cynicism. And in many ways, those late night talk show hosts reflect the mood of American. Lots of cynicism.
I just wish that everything I hear about Sarah Palin is how she’s persecuted. Perpetual victimhood is not a good posture to be in and does her no good politically.
Rev. Wright – what can you say? He more than anyone ought to know how to apologize but I doubt he does it often. If the shoe were on the other foot, he’d be angry and loud.

Scot, how do you know that the Jewish lobby and zionist gropus such as AIPAC are’nt blocking Jeremiah Wright from President Obama. Do you know this? Are you on the inside?
Zionism is a big problem, particularly Christian Zionism.

Sam,
Obama is the President of the USA. If he wanted to talk to his former pastor, he could do that. Obama is making this decision.

“You have to wonder if the folks that took shot at Palin throughout the election season will do the right thing and stand with her?”
I am one of those. I did not think she was qualfied for the office.
Letterman’s comments were inexcusably despicable on several levels.

Yes, inexcusable from both Letterman and (especially) Wright.
But I find it hard to work up much sympathy for Sarah Palin as a victim of grace-less comments. I don’t recall her even getting to the “pseudo-contrition” level for her comments like “palling around with terrorists”

cynicism- for sure. it is ripping us apart. as is sarcasm. Fine, fine point.
letterman was totally out of line. totally inexcusable.
And wouldn’t it also be fair to say that Palin was out of line in her response? she made a sick statement that she couldn’t let her daughter near Letterman, insinuating that would be dangerous…and leading the public to believe it was for perverse reasons (I believe she used the word “pervert”). When asked to explain her remark, she was equally creepyin return to Letterman, insinuating that the public can “take her remark as they like and interpret it for themselves.” She didn’t own up either, which is equally a problem. She was vengeful and out to damage another. I understand she was upset, and rightfully so, but her behavior was also disgusting.
And between Palin and Letterman? Palin calls herself an “evangelical Christian.” Unacceptable. Both of them.

You are too easy on Wright. He is in the same league as Letterman when it comes to hurtful words. The man is too used to people taking him seriously.

If Palin hadn’t used the last 10 months to make a public hobby of vilifying anyone who may disagree with her, I might be more inclined to take Her offense more seriously. I freely admit that I do not care for Sarah Palin, her brand of politics, or quite frankly, her understanding of Christianity and/or America.
But, she has been unfairly attacked in the last 10 months on a wide variety of levels. Letterman has never been kind in his dealing with her, and this is an example of him coming up to or crossing the line.
But which person is the Christian in this situation? I can’t really tell from the behavior of either person. To my knowledge Letterman has never really talked about any faith, while Palin has been very vocal about hers
Is insinuating that Letterman is a pedophile really the best response?
It is easy to get worked up at the person we don’t like of the two (probably depending upon what political bent you come from), but if we are going to be thorough in critique this situation, I think we must admit that both people have made statements that are inexcusable.

I think that neither one of these people should be saying anything. What would Jesus do to them if he were here right now. People now a days have little to no morals and it is no wonder that teens are pregnant and voilated before they get into high school. I am a mother of a 13year old. I make sure she knows what is appropriate and what is not. Dressing like a little harlet is not. We have a strong christian faith and by G-d’s grace I can raise her to be a respectful adult.

Is insinuating that Letterman is a pedophile really the best response?———————————– My response to you is no. But he is thinking about a young girl having sex? Yes. So what would you define that as??? Governor Palin was well-respected until this election. Now people can not cut her down enough. But the Bible says Christians will be persecuted. Same goes for Ms. California! But in the end who will win out??? Think about it!

You’re very right on both points, Scot. Both Wright and Letterman hopefully will learn from this that the old saw of “if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” really is true. Both were clearly in the “inexcusable” category in what they said, and it seems like it’s come back to bite them.
This is not to allow Palin’s comments insinuating pedophilia on Letterman to go unchallenged, however. I will grant that if I were in her shoes, I’d be mad as a hornet if some cynical late night comic tried to have a few laughs at my child’s expense. But to say what she said (implying that Letterman was a pedophile) only added fuel to the fire on this, and hopefully she has learned that as well. Has everyone forgotten the lesson of James 3 about the power of the tongue? I hope we can all remember that from all this ugliness, and learn to choose our words more carefully, since they can, and often will, come back to haunt us.

Are these the Palin comments some are saying are unChristian?
Sarah Palin: “Concerning Letterman’s comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he’d ever dare make such comments about anyone else’s daughter): ‘Laughter incited by sexually perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands — that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone’s daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.’”

Now let’s say: “All right, Dave, this is a responsible apology. Good Job”
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/06/letterman-readdresses-palin.html