Jesus Creed

Inexcusable

Saturday June 13, 2009

Categories: Public Issues
PalinLett.jpgDavid Letterman, who will do most anything to get a laugh, especially if he can do so at the expense of a public (and conservative) figure, spoke of Sarah Palin's daughter, who attended a Yankees game with her mother, being "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez. He messed up his facts, thinking the daughter was the pre-married pregnant Bristol but who was in fact the 14-year old Willow, and then lamely fessed up to what he had said -- but laced up his confession with cynical humor.

I've argued for a long time that a steady diet of cynicism destroys respect for humans, and David Letterman has now reached that level. What he said is inexcusable. Not just poor judgment, not just stupid, and not just crossing the line. It was inexcusable.

Jeremiah Wright, who has lived a life of living to craft words in preaching and who therefore knows the potency of words and the prophetic power of what he says, was asked by a reporter about whether or not he is in contact with President Obama. Wright, who says he was in a rush, said something about "Them Jews" who wouldn't let him get to Wright. Then he came up with a lame claim that he meant "Zionists." Since Wright is better with words than this, and since he is a man who has spent his life fighting stereotyped words that destroy the fabric of people groups, he needs to be particularly sensitive to other people groups.

Jeremiah Wright's wrong on two accounts: neither the Jews nor the Zionists are blocking him from Obama. And what he said, since it stereotypes Jews with an age-old conspiracy about who is really in charge behind the scenes, is inexcusable.  (See this for his confession.)
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Comments
Tracy Riley
June 14, 2009 8:51 AM

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.

Peggy
June 14, 2009 4:52 PM

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!

Alison
June 14, 2009 8:13 PM

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.

Rog
June 15, 2009 7:10 AM

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.'"

Rick in Texas
June 15, 2009 11:08 PM

Now let's say: "All right, Dave, this is a responsible apology. Good Job"

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/06/letterman-readdresses-palin.html

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About Jesus Creed

Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

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