First comes the video of Pat Robertson's ugly and idiotic rant blaming the earthquake in Haiti on God's vengeance for the pact with the devil that the slaves in Haiti made long ago to succeed in their revolt. Then comes convicted drug addict Rush Limbaugh's rant saying that "We've already donated to Haiti. It's called the U.S. income tax."
The despicable words of the two men have absorbed much of the oxygen on major cable news shows and in the blogosphere. I could not bring myself to post Robertson's video, nor did I post on Limbaugh's words until now. What if sensible people ignored the ravings of the likes of Rush and Pat? It seems that even as we protest their vicious and ignorant commentary, we give them loads of free publicity and attention which possibly send more viewers and listeners their way. We make them appear to be serious people, who are worthy of our taking note.
But if you remained silent it could be interpreted with agreement. In all other debates we keep imploring the silent majority to speak up and not let the extremists win the day.
ReplyDeleteI think that statements like those from Robertson and Limbaugh need to be addressed. There are people out there who believe them and they need to be given the truth. But I don't think we need do it by flashing what they said all over the place. You're right - it gives them a sort of legitimacy that just isn't there.
ReplyDeleteInstead - we need to come out with statements that don't point to these people or their words but do address the content of the words. I think we need to freely - without referencing anything to contary - reinforce the idea that God is indeed present in the midst in this tragedy, holding the people in God's loving care. I have seen a few good things out there already - Mark Harris has a wonderful poem on his blog. I think Episcopal Cafe had a reference to someone who pointed out that when one looks at Jesus' ministry it was one of healing and restoration rather than one of punishment and therefore the disaster would not be the will of God to punish the people but rather God's presence would be reaching out in the disaster assistance and the people on the ground present and helping each other.
I have learned not to argue or directly point out the faults in specific statements because I seem to get the backs of the very people who need to hear different up and they close me out. Rather, I present my thoughts with the legitimacy that is theirs without contrasting. To contrast appears to lend credibility to the effect of the damaging statements.
Love and Prayers,
Ann Marie
My mind always goes back to "The Emperor's New Clothes". I think we need to speak up. However, the over-exposure in the media is the main problem. My dad listened to Rush. (My mom wouldn't allow him to listen in the house, so he got a small pocket radio and would list in the garage.) Negative media coverage only serves to reinforce the persecution complex of the extreme right. From a news perspective, both Pat and Rush are too big to ignore.
ReplyDeleteErika, yes. I quote Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Abp. Oscar Romero on my sidebar on silence, which may be viewed as complicity. However, leaving out those who listen to folks like Robertson and Limbaugh only to mock them, the true believers are, for the most part, not rational and will not be convinced no matter what logic is presented to them.
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie, I very much like the idea of the counter-message, without showing the video or playing the recording, only giving brief quotes and then a positive message, as is being done by many in the blogosphere whom I follow.
Sara, I meant to include the caution about too much negative attention feeding the persecution complexes of already paranoid followers of the men, but I forgot.
To me, the big media and parts of the blogosphere got it wrong by showing or playing the ugly words over and over ad nauseam, until I could not bear to add to the repetition and never talked about the matter at all until now, which was probably not a good choice.
I blogged on this issue as well.
ReplyDeletehttp://simplemassingpriest.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti-unlike-pat-robertson-do-something.html
I don't know, Mimi... in the environment I grew up in, Pat's words and men like him were gospel because we never heard an alternative viewpoint. Can you name me one, just one left wing Christian outlet on TV or Radio? Part of the reason so many people are turned off on Christianity is because these blowhards are all they hear.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't speak up in response to things like this it's worse than agreeing. If it weren't for folks like you and the Episcopal Church, I would never have returned to Christ, precisely because I thought blowhards like Pat WERE the voice of Christianity. Their angry Jesus was the only picture of God I had ever heard of.
We have to speak up, loudly, if we want folks to stop putting all Christians in the same category as these wolves and snakes.
Malcolm, I like your post. Yours is just the kind of commentary I like to see.
ReplyDeleteHillbilly, I can't name one left-wing Christian outlet with the clout of a Robertson or a Falwell. The reason there are none is because the moderate and left-wing folks won't listen and won't support such outlets. For Pat and for Rush, too, it's all about money - Pat with enough listeners to support his "ministry" and Rush with enough listeners to make the sponsors of his show believe their money is well-spent.
Thank God for the blogosphere, for I believe that change will result from moderate voices having a forum in which to speak out.
I may have failed in my duty in not speaking out before now, but I was simply sick of hearing their words over and over again.
Mimi, I have just listened to Fr. Frank Logue's response to Robertson on Margaret's blog. See if you think it shouldn't have its own heading on Wounded Bird, too. The more exposure the greater the possibility that intelligence might prevail. At least that's my prayer.....
ReplyDeleteVerif. word is sneeri.... hmmmm....
DoFW, welcome. You've given me an idea. Perhaps I'll do a post linking to bloggers and other outlets who have treated the matter in a manner which I think is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what kind of a cruel heart it must take to make such statements when people are suffering.
ReplyDeleteJim, there are positives and negatives which result from both approaches. I worry about reinforcing the paranoia of the folks who follow Limbaugh and Robertson and see the two men and themselves as persecuted. Violent words sometimes incite violent actions. Having said that, you're probably right, although I could not bring myself to give their words an airing.
ReplyDelete