It is sad to me to hear about the “unnamed sources” from the McCain campaign trashing Sarah Palin. Personally, I think unnamed sources are a joke. In the book “Game of Shadows”, the authors used unnamed sources who illegally leaked grand jury testimony involving baseball superstar Barry Bonds alleged steroid use. The authors were hailed as heroes when they refused to name their sources even under the threat of jail time. Dude, I totally think I’ve blogged on that before. Anyway, there is name for unnamed sources: cowards. This isn’t just a problem in the media. “Unnamed sources” have been causing havoc in churches since halfway through the book of Acts. We sometimes call them “gossips” if we’re lucky enough to know who they are. I remember sitting in a meeting sometime where one of the members said,”Several people have asked me to speak on their behalf concerning this issue.” Those people would have been welcome to share their opinions for themselves at the meeting but that would’ve required courage. What would’ve required even more courage was for the member to tell the “unnamed sources” that their names would be mentioned. Thankfully, I have met a pastor or two who refuse to play the game and tell anyone bringing “concerns” to them that their name will be used when the “concerns” are addressed. How many pastors, churches, marriages and laypeople have been hurt because of gossip from “unnamed sources?” How many could have been protected if people had stood up and said,”We don’t use or listen to unnamed sources here”? Now, there are times when lives are at stake and their identity should be protected for theirs and their family’s sake. That’s rarely the case in church’s though. I know I have requested that my name not be used in the relaying of a story, but that stops today. If I can’t finish a story or comment with the phrase,”and you can use my name, Claude Heath Mullikin, if you need to” then I will keep my mouth shut. Better yet, we could all go straight to the person to begin with.
Now, with that said, my friend Alan told me that an unnamed source told him that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has contacted Clemson about the head coaching job.
I’m reading a book called “The Dark Side of Camelot” that investigates some of the shadiness behind the Kennedy legacy. So far, there have been a few unnamed sources in the book and they’ve all been alleged mistresses of the JFK. Their identities are withheld to protect their privacy, careers, and families. It would’ve been a lot easier to just say no in the first place. One indiscretion always leads to another.
I was going to comment on something else, but am reserving judgement on the subject. It’s the kind of thing where I feel that if I write a blog about it then I must also send a letter to the people I’m blogging about. So, it’s going to be a week or so before I’m able to do that. Hope everyone has a great weekend.