Conservative/Christian Media: “Funny” Crosses Over the Line 

Sometimes I think Christians just don’t think.  We are passionate but we don’t always Engage Our Brains. Especially when it comes to using or discussing media. Our heart can and often does lead our head and we don’t always count the cost of using the words we choose.

THIS… is where our story begins.

This past week I came across a TWEET stream ignited by indignation and outrage.

A friend from a past production life, Star Jones (the former Prosecutor, Network News legal analyst, and co-host of The View) posted the following thoughts on Twitter:

@starjonesesq  i’m done…i mean…just go ahead a stick a fork in me because I’m done with this latest attack on the First Lady.

Let me pause the Tweet stream here and explain what she was talking about:

A conservative writer posted a very non-flattering and offensive article skewering Left Wingers, Celebrities, and First Lady Michelle Obama.

From a political standpoint the columnist took the “liberal politicians” & “Hollywood Celebs” to task for identifying with the plight of poor people when in fact, he claimed, they don’t know any.  Quote: “Those two groups are made up entirely of narcissists. Who else would want or need to exist entirely in the spotlight? They’re like moths. The irony is that, physically, the two groups couldn’t be more different and, yet, on a per capita basis, they probably spend the same amount on Botox, collagen and plastic surgery. When it comes to nips, tucks and hair transplants, alone, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, have spent enough money to keep several poor families in vittles for years to come.” I’m not going to vouch for his accuracy… but, this IS what he wrote.

But wait, there’s more…

“Take Michelle Obama…please.” (special thanks to Henny Youngman)

“After all, in spite of the fact that affirmative action got her an Ivy League degree and a $7,000-a-week salary and, moreover, has sent billions of dollars for no particularly good reason to Africa, she insists this is a mean country.”

“The left-wing media is now trying to convince us that this James Brown-look-alike has all the allure”

“The burning question in my circle is: if the First Family gets a female dog, will she be the First *?!#@ or will she have to settle for second place?” (word is spelled out in the actual column)

NOTE:  The last line appears to have been removed from the post since original publication.

Star’s continued Twitter feed:

@starjonesesq Please God let this be an exaggeration…please let this be a joke someone sent me just to get me to lose it and forget that I’m “positive.”

I understand Ms. Jones’ indignation and outrage.  I may not come from the same place she does nor empathize with all of her concerns.  But, I do see a couple of things that embarrass me as a believer.

1.    Bad Comedy is just Bad.
2.    Hurtful speech is wrong regardless of the attempt at a joke.

COMEDY:
The writer has some impressive writing credits to be sure. But, I would think that a man with his experience could to do more than resort to calling someone U-G-L-Y and using denigrating swear words.  A cheap joke is just that… CHEAP.  It’s the easy laugh.  And in this case it’s just NOT funny.  It’s offensive.

HURTFUL:
Calling the Fist Lady names is disrespectful.  It’s on par with liberals calling George W. Bush stupid.  Both claims are ridiculous.  And both are elementary school playground tactics.  Lets face facts folks:  We are a politically polarized nation that is controlled by the radicals on both sides when in fact most of us are moderates of one kind or another.  Or at the very least, we are right or left and share some views with the other side, and several in the middle.

Star then turned her concern to the company behind the website where the column was posted:
@starjonesesq We can’t stop people from using their “freedom of speech”, but we can stop buying the products of those who support hate speech.

More points:
3.    When we publish something, and profess that we are Christians, we need to be sure we are not violating the principles and examples we say we are espousing.
4.    Christian Values and Conservative Politics are NOT the same thing.

CHRISTIAN PLATFORM:
Talking politics is one thing.  Talking beliefs or Christian beliefs is another.

From the book of James:
Chapter 3 / Verses 9-12

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Then there is:

Ephesians 5:4

4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

To the Christians reading this:

We could debate all day long what foolish talk or coarse joking is.  But this much is true regardless:  Calling the First Lady  a *?!#@ is certainly out of line and violating this scripture.  Not to mention the James scripture certainly applies here.

I don’t know whether the writer is a Christian or not.  I DO know that the parent company of the website’s goal, at least in part,  is to reach and serve the Christian Community.

I will defend the attention seeking writer’s right to write and publish whatever he wants.  The same precepts that protect my right to express my views protect his.  BUT, the parent company should really consider whether this OP-ED or Feature Column should be published by THEM.  They CAN do it (and did)… but SHOULD they?

1 Corinthians 10:23

23″Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.

POLITICS:
Christians and Conservatives are NOT the same thing.  Most times Christians definitely lean conservative… and many ARE conservative.  But I didn’t become a believer because I like the American political views that are associated with that title.  Nor are the terms Fundamentalist or Evangelical political terms.  We have so slaughtered what those words mean… that it requires dissecting the users mind to even understand what is being said.

Or… for that matter what does CHRISTIAN mean?   (Don’t worry, I’m not going there).

In short: What the writer said was POLITICAL but it was published by an entity that professes to be both political and CHRISTIAN.

I want Christian voices to be as excellent, professional and talented as any in mainstream media.   I’m all for being funny, witty and engaging.  But this wasn’t and isn’t FUNNY!  It’s offensive.  And… I’m personally tired of Christians being portrayed or portraying themselves as loud-mouthed lame-o’s.

Star’s suggestion to boycott may be in order.  Who can blame her?

For years the voices of Christian activism have been those who protest, point fingers and call for boycotts.  There are a few CHRISTIANS out there who try to use the structure of our culture and government, like Mike Ferris of the Home School Legal Defense Association or Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law & Justice  (no you don’t have to agree with that they stand for… but you have to admit they’re smart, educated and thought out about their approaches).  But… those few are VERY FEW.

Christians ARE thinkers.  Not lemmings.  Christians are not brainless.  But, we CAN make brainless decisions like anyone else.

Like it or not when you apply the title: CHRISTIAN to your voice it comes with existing perceptions and responsibility.  Like professional athletes you don’t get to opt out of being a role model.  Let’s accept the responsibility and quit fouling up the perceptions people have about us.



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