Bigot of the week: Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton reveals himself as a bigot (no surprise there) implying in a comment this week that Mormons don't believe in God. Sharpton seems to have forgotten that while he was waggling his fat, accusatory finger at Washington over FEMA's slow response to "his people's suffering" Mormons were already on the ground delivering food and clearing debris. According to last week's PBS special, The Mormons, trucks filled with food and emergency supplies were en route to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast from the LDS church before Katrina even made landfall.
Hmmm. Cutting trees with chainsaws, scrubbing moldy homes and serving meals to displaced gulf coast residents or browbeating the government in front of television cameras to hype your own image as a civil rights leader... which of those actions seems more godly to you? Yeah, me, too.
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Personally I have had enough of double standards.
Comment by Barry G.— 2007/05/08 @ 06:30 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Elmers Brother— 2007/05/08 @ 07:40 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Ernie Els— 2007/05/08 @ 08:06 PM — (Reply)
Actually, it's ironic that you would post this excerpt, Cate, because it came from a larger debate between Sharpton and Christopher Hitchens on the topic "Is God great?" Sharpton was defending belief in God against Hitchens secularistic view.
The fact that the Mormons (and indeed many other Christian faiths) once endorsed racial segregation using Biblical justification was one of Hitchens' arguments that a belief in God can actually cause evil actions.
Doesn't make Sharpton any less of a big-mouthed self-promoter... mind you. Oh- heck, why try and give context anyway? It's not like any of you are going to TRY and like the guy. I don't like the guy, but at least I prefer to have more context than just an audio clip (where it's obvious from the laughter that it was intended, and received, as a joke at a Republican candidate's expense, and not a major religion).
Comment by Michael— 2007/05/09 @ 09:58 AM — (Reply)
There are decades of context for Sharpton's bigotry. But I'll leave that accounting to his biographer.
What is most despicable here is that Sharpton (like many on the right) claim to know who the "real believers of God" are and how they vote. You may remember I had the same reaction to James Dobson's remark about Fred Thompson.
On the face of it, this comment is ugly anti-Mormonism, but even below the surface, it is a slap at any believer who doesn't vote with Sharpton - apparently, none of us are true to the faith lest we stand with the Reverend Al. Apparently, Al is the truth the light and the way.
There is no excusing this man who has made his career on the backs of victims, legitimate or invented. He is quite simply, an ass.
Comment by Cate— 2007/05/09 @ 01:39 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Ernie Els— 2007/05/09 @ 02:46 PM — (Reply)
Cate's got it about right- Sharpton's not a whole lot different from the nut cases on the right who suggest that Thompson's not a true Christian. However, Dobson v. Thompson was ( R ) vs. ( R ), which makes it more than just a battle of faith, it makes it a battle for primacy in the Republican party. There is not a whole lot of overlap between Sharpton's supporters and Romney's.
But in supposedly blasting Sharpton, you all are guilty of the same sin that Sharpton is: having a thin skin and no sense of humor. No, let me clarify that- your lack of humor only applies to people you've already decided you don't like.
Cate, you're right- there is decades of items to pick on from Sharpton's past, if you're looking for reasons to dislike him. This side comment barely rates in comparison, IMHO, once you look at the context it was made.
I will freely admit this, Cate. You are, in general, almost as quick to bombast those on the right for hypocracy as you are those on the left. That distinguishes you from most of the right-wing nut jobs, and is one of the reasons I come back to this joint.
Comment by Michael— 2007/05/10 @ 07:27 AM — (Reply)
Guess big Al and I aren't that much alike after all.
Comment by Cate— 2007/05/10 @ 09:05 AM — (Reply)
Comment by the shalana— 2007/05/19 @ 09:04 PM — (Reply)
Comment by Ernie Els— 2007/05/19 @ 08:45 PM — (Reply)
Comment by aza spade— 2007/05/09 @ 12:51 PM — (Reply)
Comment by aza spade— 2007/05/09 @ 12:51 PM — (Reply)