Tuesday, August 23, 2005
If You Can't Say Anything Nice...
Pat Robertson has done it again! On his TV show, the 700 Club, Robertson suggested assasinating Venezualan president Hugo Chavez would be a good idea. What a ridiculous and irresponsible remark. Chavez has already used this to bolster his belief that the Bush Administration is plotting to assasinate him. I have grown weary of Robertson's asinine comments and even more weary of the mainstream media holding him up as a prominent leader of the "Christian Right." Robertson's influence is waining, and each time he speaks will only speed up the process. Let's hope that he doesn't do harm to the cause of Christ before his public profile fades. If you ask me, I think the guy is going senile. Keep the microphones away from him!
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7 comments:
I still wish that he would have been president. You know, I don't understand, are you for free speech?
Nicole: good thoughts.
Chad: I certainly am for free speech. This has nothing to do with free speech and everything to do with Robertson shooting off irresponsible comments.
I think you 'could' make the same agrument that George W. Bush (you may have heard of him) has said some similar irresponsible comments. Everyone in the world views Bush as a Christian leader whether you may consider him that or not, and he calls nations and ye some large areas of the world an "Axis of Evil". Bush has damaged the view of the "Christian Right" as Nicole put it around the world. But, as any good church going Republican, we can't critize our president can we? But, Robertson, he's a target we can go after!! People are smarter than you give them credit for. If they weren't Robertson would have been president, and anyone who likes Pat to George is drawing imaginary lines. Robertson shares my belief, so far that we are Christians, but he isn't my belief, and people can separate people and beliefs. Or, at least I can. I know that not all Muslims are terrorists, like Bin Ladin. I know that not every Southerner during the civil war was pro-slavery. I know that not every Japanese person during World War II was a spy. People need to, and I believe are discerning. Here's to hoping you can be....
Chad,
Thanks for the comments. Very thought provoking! It is very important for people to be discerning. As for W...I am not his biggest cheerleader. In fact, I have been critical of his overspending and driving our country deeper into debt. I'm also no fan of No Child Left Behind. So, I'm not blindly following Bush.
The comments Robertson made were not just controversial, they were irresponsible. Calling three known terrorist nations bent on the destruction of America (whether through rhetoric or military means) an "Axis of Evil" is not irresponsible, though certainly controversial. But the fact of the matter is that many in the world view Pat Robertson as a spokesperson for the so-called Christian Right that includes conservative, evangelical Christians. Now, I believe there are many more qualified and respectable people out there to speak on behalf of a large majority of Christians (and these people are emerging and being recognized by the press, thankfully).
Sorry for the slight tangent. Anyway, Hugo Chavez has capitalized on this remark by Robertson. Why? Is Robertson just some person off of the street? No, in the mind of Chavez Robertson is very close to Bush because they share religious bliefs and Robertson's involved in politics. So he can now continue to brainwash his people and develop a martyrs complex. Is Robertson my convenient punching bag? Absolutely not. In fact, I used to defend him. But as I stated earlier, he has said one too many irresponsible things.
Furthermore, he is a Bible believing Christian calling for the assasination of a person. There is nothing Biblical or responsible about that.
In sum, Robertson was wrong. Thankfully he apologized. I continue to believe that he should stop making public comments, because he tends to say too many irresponsible phrases.
Has Bush made "similar irresponsible comments." No. As I stated above, his comments about and Axis of Evil may be controversial, but certianly not irresponsible. I do not think Bush has made any comments similar to Robertsons.
Checkout Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a well respected evangelical spokesperson (as well as one of Time magazine's Top 25 evangelicals) made a comment about the Robertson flap. Worth a quick read. http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=229
Let's not forget that Robertson himself made that list, if I'm not mistaken.
Yep, Robertson made the list. Which is why he needs to guard what he says even more.
Since everyone and their dogs have been commenting on this post, I thought I'd add this article about Mr. Robertson that I found this morning. I am, however, refraining from giving the legal explanation as far as freedom of speech goes and refraining from adding my commentary on Robertson's comments. Count yourselves very blesed :).
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