I think trying to be distinctive is a fraught project for Christians and, to be honest, I think we can look wistfully back at the days we whined like the rest of the world whines. We’re much whinier these days.
For instance, you conflated who Jacobson insulted. I don’t think she would have been disciplined for cursing Moses, Oscar Wilde, Martin Luther King, Emiliano Zapata or Hillary Clinton. Jacobson has things to answer for, but not to me.

OK, so it seems Christians – Muslims – Jews – non believers – you can keep going on the list – really love being “victims”, but fail to claim their positions as persecutors – as violence ready to happen. Remember the meaning for “Satan” is the accuser or prosecutor while the word for the Holy Spirit – the Paraclete – is the defender.
I distrust Christian groups that claim their victimhood – ie the two mentioned above.
When did Christianity become some big ol reality show where the drama of “poor little us” is the primary reason for existence? I consider both the Catholic League and the American Family Association to be a bit like – Jerry Springer or Maury Povich. You see religous people who have abandoned such nonsense – and you see saints. Some can make victimhood a bit classy – almost Oprahesque. But our constant need to be part of it is simply a hall of mirrors. It is without reality. The fact is – we love to be part of the righteous group that accuses – I like it as much as anybody – but claiming our rightful position as victimizers -is just icky – it’s called conversion and it’s harder than it looks. It requires seeing the beloved humanity in every person we meet.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu gets it, MLK and Gandhi got it – they could call out injustice without taking the humanity from anyone. Everyone could maintain their human dignity – Jesus did that very thing with the tax collector, with the woman at the well, with the Samaritans, the lepers. the only people he accused were – the accusers themselves – the scribes and pharisees. I can claim both positions at one time or another – both Scribe and Pharisee. This Christian thing is harder than the Catholic League seems to understand. Oh, well – enough. There’s a possum in the trash on the back porch who just grabbed hold of my broom with its nasty little teeth. Think I’ll go figure out what to do there before I tackle the problems of the world. Ever seen possum teeth before? Reminded me of a pundit I saw on CNN last week. Same nasty little eyes and teeth as he insinuated and kind of lied about pretty much everything. Wonder if pundits get in the trash at night – what do you think?

Interesting to think of “religious” people who, if the world became perfect tomorrow (I know it won’t, but follow me), would not have their mission fulfilled but rather would have it lost.

Good point David. If we started whining about the anti-Christian comments and actions in this country, we would have to complain about every Progressive, Liberal, Democrat, pop-media outlet (and every westernized country on the planet, and venezuela). Of course not to get into all of the Islamic atrocities meted out to unarmed and peaceful Christians everywhere Muslims rule. There’s just not enough hours in the week to complian about the incredible amount of anti-Christianism that goes unchallenged daily. Hey Thinker, Possums are the most incredible of animals. Opposeable thumbs, prehensile tails, marsupials, sharp eyes and ears, effective teeth (as you know) incredibly adaptable. I resent you comparing a worthwhile creature to the Lefty-Democrat fundraisers of CNN. Please apologize to Possums everywhere.

David,
I first saw you on a news show promoting your first book. You seemed thoughtful. Posts like this confirm it for me.
I don’t agree with you on everything; but that’s no problem. I think that you probably understand things I don’t having worked in D.C.
“Show her that those who follow Jesus are different.”
I could work on forgiving others myself.
I grew up Evangelical and saw the movement change from Billy Graham and Johnny Cash style to Christian Coalition victim/attack mode.
If what you promote on occasion comes back in style, I might have to join the flock again.

David, perhaps you should check into the latest on this situation.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2008-01-23-jacobson-anti-jesus-rant_N.htm
She received a one week suspension. No, she was not fired. But she was disciplined.

Apart from the alcohol she was reportedly swilling during her speech, I’d be interested in knowing what prompted Dana to say what she did. Perhaps, in some twisted way, Christians are getting their just desserts for having the indecency to suggest that given what millions in the world face on a daily basis, our Lord gives a possum’s sweet petootie about a touchdown or a football game.

Oh, pish posh. This is barely even relevant to religion at all. She was being a jerk to ND football. All right thinking humans hate them like they do the Dallas Cowboys.
Touchdown Jesus has as much religious meaning as does Wake Forest’s mascot.
And everyone knows that the Catholic League is a partisan clan, every bit as “Catholic” as the NRA or the John Birch Society.

Good point, Elvis. Why don’t we fire the demon deacon? It represents bald-faced anti-deaconism.
Donny, heaven forfend we start complaining about anti-Christianism, I agree.
Thinker, I’m with Donny on the possum. I thought they were the ugliest thing ever until I learned they’re the only marsupial that lives outside Australia. Since then, I’ve l have loved them as Desdemona did Othello, for the dangers they’ve passed. I think you should appreciate that critter for making your waste lovely by comparison. CNN anchors are largely beyond appreciation and have little hope of heaven.

YOu didn’t have the thing hiss at you!! I left him alone and he’s gone this morning. Had little hands that untied the trash bag. I have to agree it was a bit of an insult to the possum to compare it to the pundits. Often wonder where people go to pundit school – must be a bit like Hogwarts and they are definitely in the house with all the bad guys.

“Yes, what she said was nasty. Yes, what she said would have gotten her fired if it were directed at (take your pick) Jews, gays, African-Americans, Hispanics, or women.”
And if she had directed it at atheists, you’d be telling us not to get our panties in a wad.

“Yes, what she said was nasty. Yes, what she said would have gotten her fired if it were directed at (take your pick) Jews, gays, African-Americans, Hispanics, or women.”

Jewish, gay, African-American, Hispanic, or female are vastly different categories than “Christian.” “Christian” is a choice. There is no crime in not having respect for people’s (in some’s opinion) bad choices.

Hey anonymous, You can “become” a Jew (like Ruth did) and Rabbi’s can somehow de-Jew you if you become a Christian. You can “become” a man or a woman NOW! The indigenous populations conquered and ruled by the Spanish “choose” to be called hispanic. They’re actually Mayans, Inca’s what-everers. Homosexual sex is a chosen sex act. (Er, uh-hum, do the math.) “Christian” is ALWAYS and only a choice. But, Christians are the ONLY group of people that can be killed and ridiculed and discriminated against in legisaltion and at work, and disgustingly insulted on live TV (and at ESPN functions). . . and no one, no one, of the typical Lefty Screamers for “tolerance and diversity” says one thing about it. In fact sir, madam, or “other,” the Congress of the United States is trying to outlaw Christian truth by passing the ENDA Bill, while implementing and encouraging homosexual sex be engaged in by children.
And Thinker, just wait until you see a momma Possum with a brood of her babies gripping onto and riding her back. Your heart will never see these critters the same again when you hear one that has fallen off calling “khhh, khhh, khhh.” Notice that your Possum only hissed a little as a protective measure and didn’t attack you. Kinda like an Evangelical (Conservative) Christian huh?

As a Christian wanting Dana Jacobson fired has nothing to do with forgiveness. I have already prayed for her and sought forgiveness for her actions. That is what Christians are supposed to do, which by the way there are plenty of other religions that there would no possiblility of forgiveness. But forgiving someone does not mean we get out of facing the music for our actions. There a price to pay and in this case, being drunk in public and making these comments requires more than a week suspension. If the reports are true that she was drinking vodka straight out the bottle and cursing as well then she has some serious problems to deal with and giving her a bail out is not to her benefit. Some times it is necessary to hit rock bottom to find the way out. She needs help but if she is not held appropriately accountable, I fear she will not seek the help she needs.

Thinker, “punditry school” would make a great euphemism for a brain-jarring blow to the side of the head. gf “that sonofabitch tried to pinch my lady so I sent him to punditry school.”

Dana Jacobson needs forgiveness just like the rest of us.The nature of the Christian gospel is “all have sinned,” and “there is no one who does good.” That’s why a Savior is needed.
But that doesn’t mean she won’t get fired.
ESPN – and it’s cohort ABC – are owned by the Disney corporation. Disney is not likely to want the bad press of having one of its employees say “F*** Jesus” while in a drunken rant in a public forum.
Notre Dame people take their kids to Disney World (or to the ESPN Zone, or ESPN at Disney) too. Christians take their kids to Disney World and spend their money and their time and tell their friends about what they did there.
Christians also buy ESPN stuff, and subscribe to cable.
But don’t look for the mouse to get too angered. There are morals clauses in contracts, but Britney Spears’s sister Jamie Lynn might be able to skirt around the vageries – at least until she starts to show.
It is ironic that Muslim anger over cartoons forced a world response, but this will be swept under the carpet as we are told we need to “forgive.” If she worked for me, I would say “I forgive you, but you’re still fired. Try to get into rehab.”
I doubt Disney will do the same.

I find it funny how the Christian reaction to the whole Islam cartoonist deal was “get over it”, and that the reaction from Christians when those in their name make slams at others (see most televangelists) is “forgive and move on”. Yet, when someone insults them once, the Christian reaction is “fire her now”.
Shows how Christians can deal it out but can’t take it back.
To be fair, neither can any of the other religions in the world. So I guess it’s just par for the course.

Addenum to above:
Before anybody says it, yes, it’s not a majority of Christian represented by these groups. I get that (and am grateful for it). And I get that religion overall does more good than bad in the world, though I’m beginning to wonder how much longer that will be true.
But I’m tired of hearing any number of people go off about how every Muslim is responsible for world terror and need to be answered for what they do, yet when it comes to Christians now or in history, the response is “well, that’s just a group/individual, it’s not representative of all of us.”
So, which is it? Is everybody in the group responsible for their religion’s faults or is it individuals? And is it wrong to insult God in any form or just your own?

Meanwhile, Westboro Baptist Church (of Fred Phelps fame) plans to protest at Heath Ledger’s memorial service because he played a gay character in “Brokeback Mountain”.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,324966,00.html

Forget about her remarks.She should be fired because of her work as an anchor which is horrible.

Westboro is really an issue around here. Phelps is only about an hour from here and shows up at funerals, plays, concerts all the time. I have encountered him once and it was the only time I feel I have encountered the presence of “evil” in my life. He’s currently warning a local school that he will be there for every performance of a play they are doing. My students want to go – just to confront Phelps – not a good reason to go anywhere. So what do we do with the Fred Phelps of the world? I’ll be darned if I know. I want to believe he is one of God’s beloved – but I’ve looked in his eyes and he’s just scary. I guess I can believe it – he’s one of God’s broken souls and somehow I must trust that God will heal that rage somehow, someday.

Send him to punditry school, Thinker?

Donny: “But, Christians are the ONLY group of people that can be killed and ridiculed and discriminated against in legisaltion and at work, and disgustingly insulted on live TV (and at ESPN functions). . . and no one, no one, of the typical Lefty Screamers for “tolerance and diversity” says one thing about it. In fact sir, madam, or “other,” the Congress of the United States is trying to outlaw Christian truth by passing the ENDA Bill, while implementing and encouraging homosexual sex be engaged in by children.”
Yep…Donny proclaims Christian truth by implying that gays should not be able to earn a living. They should not be allowed to earn their food, nor should they have a place to live.
Instead, they should be killed outright. So sayeth the Bible.
“If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.” (Leviticus 20:13)
This is the truth as proclaimed in the Bible, the Word of God. And we must obey the Word, right Donny?
http://deep.mastersfamily.org/2004-08-27/michigan-bishop-says-gays-should-be-killed/
“David C. Vorce is President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC), and a retired Marine and police officer.He is also currently a Bishop within his church. IFOC trains people to serve as chaplains in various institutions and settings. At a training seminar in Pontiac, Michigan, last week Reverend Mark Bidwell, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit was one of Vorce’s students. Bidwell is gay and MCC Churches serve mostly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members.
Vorce told the class that he always carries a gun and extra “ammo”. When asked why, he responded to the class “Because if I start shooting I’m gonna keep on shooting.” The fact that he may have had a gun with him during the class was unsettling to Rev. Bidwell especially after Vorce made the following comment when the topic of homosexuality came up in the seminar: “That’s the one thing I cannot tolerate is homosexuality. The Bible says that homosexuality is an abomination and they should be killed.”

“I find it funny how the Christian reaction to the whole Islam cartoonist deal was “get over it”, and that the reaction from Christians when those in their name make slams at others (see most televangelists) is “forgive and move on”. Yet, when someone insults them once, the Christian reaction is “fire her now”.”
I seem to remember a lot more reaction to the “Piss Christ” display than simple demanding that someone be fired. If I recall correctly there was some vandalism that resulted from the Christian response.
As we have seen with the likes of Paul Hill, when push comes to shove there are some Christians who will kill for the sake of their “ministry.”

As a Christian of course I forgive her weather she asks for it or not. But then again I would forgive a bank robber, but he would still have to go to jail as per the “consequences of his or her actions.
If this lady had attacked Mohammad there would be a billion Muslims “screaming” for her head, quite litterly. But then again if she had done that she would have been fired long ago. It’s open season on Christianity because the darkness is afraid of the light and is offended by it.
World wide there is no other religion that is persecuted so openly. It’s a sign of the times. Don Imus got fired for much less, to demand her job is completely justifiable.
Folks Jesus Loves You very much weather you believe it or not He does, and He loves this lady that spoke badly of Him. The tolerance police tolerate everything but the truth. Love in Christ WC

canucklehead:
Jesus does care who scores touchdowns or wins sports matches, just not for the reasons our limited human immaginations believe. We tend to think “I scored therefore God is favoring me” or “I lost, God must favor the other guy.” We don’t know what his plan is.

WC: “But then again if she had done that she would have been fired long ago. It’s open season on Christianity because the darkness is afraid of the light and is offended by it.”
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO
It’s been a few months since I read something this full of BS on a blog. We have six viable Presidential candidates trying to “out-Christian” each other, and you actually have the guts to say this?
Maybe, WC, if Christians would stop trying to tell everyone else how to live their lives and, instead, focused on cleaning up their own, we might see fewer outbursts against them. Instead of preaching against homosexual marriage maybe you should speak against the heterosexual child abusers you call ministers. Instead of preaching against athiests and saying they are not fit to run for office maybe you should instead police your own ranks and remove the unethical leaders you have at the helm of your religious organizations.
But of course that would require self-reflection, and if modern evangelicals have proven anything about themselves it’s that they believe they are perfect, and therefore immune to any chastisement about their own character.
Selfish baby boomers, having burned out on the 60s and 70s rebellion against those in power, now decide that having power is not a bad thing. It’s no coincidence that as the “me generation” aged and began taking on jobs, accumulating wealth, and having children that they decided that establishment was not a bad thing after all. In fact, they found the power so enjoyable that they took control of these establishment institutions and decided to exercise power over others. You can trace the rise of evangelical Christianity as the median age of the boomers increased. Instead of rebelling against authority, they found themselves in authority and decided to take control.
Thus we have the hypocritical authoritarians like WC and Donny complaining about how “poor persecuted Christians” in this nation are not allowed to run rough-shod over the Bill of Rights. They take Jesus not as a savior but as a prostitute to their own agendas, and they pimp him out to the servitude of the Republican Party.
Meanwhile their churches become infested with power-hungry leaders who play their congregations like fools while feasting at the troughs of the powerful in Washington DC. Donny and WC come here and complain about homosexuals but say nothing about their “Christian” leaders becoming allies with Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his Unification Church. They complain about the “homosexual agenda” and say how it is against the Bible, but utter not a word as the their “Christian” politicians gather to crown Moon as the returned messiah.
I’m sorry guys, but it’s no longer funny to stand aside and have to hide my religious faith from my employer for fear of being fired while folks like you complain about “open season on Christians.” It’s no longer fun to hear my children taunted at school about their religious faith by children of “good Christian men and women.” It’s no longer fun to stand and watch people like you make life a living hell for folks like me, and then whine like babies when someone dares to utter a slanderous saying against the god you worship.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Some call it the golden rule. Others call it karma. In the case of WC and Donny, it’s an invitation for persecution.

World wide there is no other religion that is persecuted so openly. It’s a sign of the times. Don Imus got fired for much less, to demand her job is completely justifiable.
Pointing out clearcut bigotry and hypocrisy is not persecution.

“World wide there is no other religion that is persecuted so openly. It’s a sign of the times. Don Imus got fired for much less, to demand her job is completely justifiable.”
Don Imus called actual, living people whores (with the undertone of a racial insult as well) in front of millions.
One of these things is not like the other.
“If this lady had attacked Mohammad there would be a billion Muslims “screaming” for her head, quite litterly. But then again if she had done that she would have been fired long ago. It’s open season on Christianity because the darkness is afraid of the light and is offended by it.”
Ah yes, the ever-popular “Well, some Muslims are behaving worse than some Christians, so therefore you can’t criticize anything we do!” excuse.
The fact that you can’t imagine anyone having a legitimate beef with Christianity is indicative of almost a cult mentality. Yes, what she said was wrong and inappropriate, but this sort of “virtuous us vs. evil rest of the world” type of thinking is one of the reasons so many people are turned off Christianity to begin with.

“Yes, what she said was wrong and inappropriate, but this sort of “virtuous us vs. evil rest of the world” type of thinking is one of the reasons so many people are turned off Christianity to begin with.”
Had she said it about Islam, she would have been saluted by Rush, Savage and FOX News.

“Yes, what she said was wrong and inappropriate, but this sort of “virtuous us vs. evil rest of the world” type of thinking is one of the reasons so many people are turned off Christianity to begin with.”
Had she said it about Islam, she would have been saluted by Rush, Savage and FOX News.
—————–
And it would have been a headline on Agape Press and Focus on the Family

Trying to remember how long it has been since Jews, Catholics and Blacks ( to say nothing of Latinos and Asians ) were lumped together for the particular hatred of the KKK. Less than 60 years would be my guess. Muslims being suspect for being sort of brown and praying – well it’s a fairly new phenomenon . I still remember my grandmother getting upset because “that little girl she plays with is just a Jew”. And my grandmother was a good woman – just a product of her culture as are we all.
As Christians in this culture – we’re a lot better at being the persecutor than anything else. However, I see hope in the new generation of Christians – they are dismissing such crap and actually trying to live the Gospel. Inspiring. David seems to be in that crowd as opposed to the – God as boogey man who will get you and everyone we hate crowd – My own kids are more driven by the promise of the Kingdom of God than by the promises of upper middle class life. Jim Wallis spoke of it a couple of nights ago on the Daily Show – gave me hope and thrilled me to my toes.
You might recall the march to Selma – right in front with the African American leaders was a little habited nun – a Sister of St. Joseph named Sr. Rosemary Flanagan. Try googling “the Selma Sisters” – exciting story. Sr. Rosemary is in her 80′s now, taught ethics for years and is a force to be reckoned with. Sometimes , you just know God is in charge – our bigotry and weakness is just a distraction from that universe that always bends toward justice (as Gandhi might say).

One can understand the f— Notre Dame remark, the same has probably been said about any athletic team in the nation, be it high school, college, or pro. But to say it in a public forum, in front of a crowd, and while representing a network? That’s just down right stupidity.
The thing that is disgusting is the fact that this was also said aboutChrist.
What happened to Jimmy the Greek when he made a racial remark? Gone…Done… Ruined. But say something about Jesus? 1 week off. I have to say that ESPN is being run by a bunch of spineless cowards afraid of what Dana Jacobsons lawyer would do if they fired her. Way to go hide in the corner sucking your thumbs, fellas.
And as far as the above article wanting whiney christians to show forgiveness? That forgiveness is not ours to give. (Way to show your intelligence, David Kuo.) She did nothing to us, but what a slap in the face of Christ.

Forgive & keep her in prayer, her actions are between her and the Lord, all of us have sinned in the sight of God & only He can ultimately judge if she is truly repentant of her actions or just trying to save her career…….Godspeed

I believe if she is truly sorry the Lord will forgive her. However, just blowing it off as a drunken rant smacks of network hypocrisy. Had it been rant about other minorities or religious belief systems, other than christian. There would been no place she could of hid. ESPN’S hypocrisy is in the fact that on the show “Around the Horn” they had a segment about the golf channel’s commentator’s outrageous remarks about Tiger Woods which I agree was very uncalled for. However ESPN fails too mention or the discuss anything about the utter filth coming from the mouth of Dana Jacobson I’ll never know. ABC and ESPN need to start reporting on their own people, before they report on other network’s shortcomings.

Alycia Lane, Kelly Tilghman and Dana Jacobson ought to get together and do a reality show about “fallen anchorwomen” after this ;-P

I am a Christian, and yet, because of how I have been treated (badly!!) by so many others who call themselves Christians, I always understand and empathize with people who in anger say things like the comments of Ms. Jacobson. I don’t know her motives or life history, but I have certainly felt like saying “F… you and your Jesus” when people claiming to speak for God and Jesus were telling me I’m a great sinner because I’m a lesbian and that I need to “repent” of this to hope to be allowed to be in *their* wondrous and inspiring company. I separate the Jesus of history–the real Jesus–and the “Jesus” Ms. Jacobson and I can hate: that “Jesus” is a mean bigot and needs to be rejected for the false idol he is so that one can see there’s a real Jesus who’s nothing like that and doesn’t make people pass tests to be in his company.

ESPN suspended her. She said she was sorry. As Christians we need to show the same kind of grace and forgiveness we have received from Christ.

I am a Christian and I think that what she did was wrong, yes, but it is between her and God. It’s not for us to decide what should’ve or should happen to her.
God Bless