1. Most people remember Patrick Swayze dancing vs. Chris Farley on Saturday Night Live. That’s one of my favorite episodes of all time. From start to finish each sketch was great. When he and Dana Carvey did the dueling Latin singers’ infomercial. Please tell me that’s on youtube. He wasn’t in a lot of movies, but several stand out over time. I’ve never seen the Outsiders, but now that’s on my to see list. I still think of Red Dawn when a strange plane flies overhead.
2. Excuse me Mr. West, but do you know how to tell if an apology is sincere? If you don’t pull a stunt like that again. This is not the first time he’s brought an awards show to a stop. It’s may be hard to spell Kanye, but not D-I-V-A.
3. What Joe Wilson did was wrong? Dude, you cannot shout down the President of the United States in the Capital. Are you serious? Whether you agree with his sentiment or not, the behavior can’t be excused. The good thing that has come out of the 2 previously mentioned events is this mashup video. I’ve heard many on the right come to Wilson’s defense because of the way George W. Bush was treated many times. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. However, anyone who uses Wilson’s outburst and this weekend’s Tax Reform March on Washington as examples that American civility has reached an all-time low don’t know a lot about American history. Ever heard of the Burr-Hamilton duel?
4. The fact is that, at it’s very core, politics is devisive. Too many times, legislative victory is impossible without compromise and there are some values that must always be uncompromising. Politics forces you to pick sides. Independent? Then you’re on a side. Politics puts people in categories and voting blocks which somehow seems to go against the concept of all men being created equal. There will always be a need for policy, but not for the manuvering and back room deals that too often accompany it. As long as there are politicians and talking heads seeking to divide us into these groups then this will always be a divided country.
5. Sadly, churches have tended to pick sides in these political battles. While there a values and principles that we must not waver on we have been to quick to attach our status and stature with one party or the other. Instead, the church should be about showing people what we have in common. Mainly, that we’re all lost without a Savior. Whether you’re rich or poor, black or white, English or Spanish speaking, Yankee or Southerner, prep or redneck, employed or unemployed there is a God sized hole in the soul that can only be filled and satisfied by knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Both men have apologized and seem to be sincere. Hopefully, Kanye will learn to walk how “Jesus Walks” instead of storming onto and off a stage and Joe Wilson will learn to speak the truth in love instead of shouting, “You Lie!” at the president.
Perhaps you are right that Joe Wilson should have not yelled out the truth. Although there is another tradition that has been usurped that the Dems continue to ignore, which is being silent. In the past clapping for the President was not a tradition. Now however it seems the Dems can show approval, but the Reps can not show disapproval. Check it out.
I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t clapping, but the booing and junk didn’t start until W was president. Oh, there’s a def a double standard, but it works both ways sometimes. Thanks for reading.