That Senator Harry Reid said some rather bizarre things – about then Candidate Senator Obama being “light skinned” and not speaking with a “Negro dialect” – does not especially upset me. Of course what he said was inappropriate ridiculous and offensive. But there are a few reasons why my first reaction is not to join the modest chorus of voices calling for his resignation (from what exactly – from the Senate or just from his position of leadership?).
First – he apologized and said apology was accepted. And yet therein lies what truly upsets me about this episode. Remember when Representative Joe Wilson yelled “you lie!” during a speech by President Obama? Whether or not you think Rep Wilson was actually correct – and one can make a strong case that he was – it was entirely inappropriate to shout that during the speech. Representative Wilson wisely apologized and President Obama graciously accepted the apology. End of incident.
But it was not. What many pundits and politicians continued to make of that moment of indecorum! Maureen Dowd and daily emails from the Democratic National Committee come to mind.
There is profound irony here because one has to ask “Is there no forgiveness? Is there no redemption? Is there no grace? Even and especially when someone (a) apologizes and (b) takes responsibility for his/her failure?”
How else are people going to learn? How else are people going to grow if we continue to judge them for past sins for which they have apologized and taken responsibility?
Second – because who really wants to live in a world where one mistake one sin one failure destroys your life (more specifically career) forever without any hope? I actually feel a little for Senator Reid. Who has never said or done something stupid? Consider how many persons in the Bible committed horrible offenses – or made stupid mistakes – and yet God continued to work with them and through them for the healing and saving of creation?
I concede there may be some sins and mistakes so egregious one has to say “I am sorry but we cannot continue to keep you in this position”. And yes there are a few characters in the Bible where God indeed said “that’s it – I am taking the priesthood/kingship from you and giving it to someone else”.
Third – because I cannot stand to see another human being suffer shame. Ask my family how often I have to leave the room during a television show or movie because someone is being subjected to public shame and humiliation. Not sure why this is one of my “raw spots”. Probably I have experienced it cannot stand it and would rather not do it to someone else even if I think they deserve it.
Fourth – because there is something dangerous and pernicious in how the Internet age magnifies our sins for all the world to see. Not trying to let Senator Reid off the hook. But think about it. How would you like it if you have one seriously bad moment and someone films it with their cell phone and posts it on YouTube where the video gets 2 million hits? Suddenly everyone is God – able to see and judge whatever other people say and do. But God is merciful and loves humankind. Not so sure about myself.
Fifth – and please note this – it is a cheap and unsatisfying way to defeat a political opponent. Do I want Senator Reid to get his way? Absolutely not. Do I want him to be crushed and defeated politically? Yes indeed – I admit it. But that is precisely the point. Defeat his ideas. Discredit his politics. By convincing the American electorate that your ideas and your policies are better. Who wants to win a Gold Medal not because you ran the best race but because the other athlete failed a drug test? This is why I hope conservatives and Republicans would restrain themselves in calling for Senator Reid to “resign” solely because of this one incident.
Is that really how you/we want to win?
Sixth – how we judge is how we shall be judged. Well – theoretically. This principle seems to apply more to Republicans than to Democrats. But all the same. If today we call for a political opponent to step down because of one bad or foolish moment – then what about tomorrow when a political ally makes a similar mistake?
Now – about that “mercurial” thing.
Many conservative commentators have noted – correctly – the breathtaking hypocrisy here. Senator Reid says something that nearly everyone would recognize as “racist” or at the very least racially insensitive. And yet look how many on the left defend him. “Hey he’s a great guy doing great things for America – we should cut him some slack” (so President Obama and Al Sharpton). Or even “Well actually there is a way to interpret what he said in a way that makes sense” (so Henry Louis Gates Jr – of all people).
I see. Okay. Fair enough I suppose.
So why is the same grace and generosity not extended toward conservatives and Republicans when they commit (often and arguably lesser) sins? George Allen uses the word “macaca” (apparently a racial slur) and his political career is over. Trent Lott makes some foolish comments and he is out. Rush Limbaugh admits to using a controlled substance and he is forever a “drug addict”.
I do not understand this “grace forgiveness and generosity for me (and my friends) but not for thee (and thy friends)”.
On the other hand and on a more positive note check out the exact opposite phenomenon – a political candidate says something so brilliant it may constitute one of those “defining moments” in an election.
It’s not the Kennedy’s seat and it’s not the Democrats’ seat. It’s the people’s seat.
H/T Gay Patriot.
