Posted on 03/02/2004 9:32:54 AM PST by mhking
People don't write letters much anymore. Too bad. A personal letter from a friend is one of the good things in life.
In the last few days I've received hundreds of letters that were not from friends and weren't so good. In response to a statement I read about Pat Robertson saying he'd heard from God, I said on "60 Minutes" that God had called me, too. According to Pat, God told him that President Bush was going to be re-elected "in a walk."
I quoted what God had said to me about both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson. For some reason, people who were willing to believe that God had spoken to Pat Robertson were unwilling to believe he had talked to me. I also said that God had told me Mel Gibson, the producer of the movie "The Passion of the Christ," was a nut case. It evoked mail. For example:
"There is a line between satire and ridicule and you crossed it. - Disrespectfully, Gary Kunkle, Brownstone, Pa."
"You are a smug old man not far from being lowered six feet under who will find yourself bowing before the Throne of God. - Mrs. G. Joyce Stark, Portland, Tenn."
I was surprised at how many people, including Bill O'Reilly on television, attacked me for being old. I don't like it any better than they do, but it doesn't seem like anything I should be accused of. I didn't get that way on purpose.
Alex Schwarzkopf wrote from Temecula, Calif.: "I doubt if your rhetoric would have been so vitriolic . . . had the producer been a fat homosexual named "Mel Gibstein' . . . "
That's not nice, Alex. By the way, how do you feel about same-sex marriage?
I'm always silently amused by the fact that the grammar and spelling in the congratulatory letters is better than the spelling in the nasty letters.
Amanda Young and Katrina Hollis of Dry Ridge, Ky., said: "I think your comments about Mel Gibson was (sic) completely uncalled for."
Mac Renfro, Lake Wales, Fla.: "I was shocked to hear with all the researching you have dun (sic), you have failed to see and hear from the Creator. He will give you another chance - that is the hole (sic) point."
The funniest mean letter was from Richard Provost, of Midlothian, Va.: "May you end up watching reruns of "The 700 Club' for eternity," he said.
I don't know why it's considered out of bounds to comment about someone else's religion. We comment freely about everything else. Religion is so important in the world that we should talk about it, inspect its strengths and weaknesses, look at what's good and what's bad about it. Burning people at the stake was once a religious exercise.
Christians should know more about Islam, Hindu ism, Buddhism and other religions. Followers of those religions should know more about Christianity. All religion should be a subject open to debate and sometimes, when it doesn't make sense, the object of satire. When Pat Robertson said God had told him George W. Bush would be re-elected "in a walk," I thought he was fair game to be poked fun at.
Now, about Mel Gibson. Let me just say, from what I've heard about his movie, I don't plan to pay $9 just for a few good laughs.
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
And atheists, Andy, should know more about all of the above.
So why not write an editorial calling on Muslims, Hindus and Buddists to see this movie?
Andy admits that he slandered Mel Gibson in the name of God. Andy may have a bigger problem, on his hands, than he admits because he is tangling with God and God doesn't take lightly people speaking in his name falsely.
Yes, I know he is trying to be humorous, but again, here he has crossed the line. CBS crossed the line with Janet Jackson, why shouldn't Andy?
Already did, and will continue. You are giving good advice here. One of the tools in the media-man's tool-box is to make controversy.
No Andy, you were not attacked for being old, just stupid. Let us pray this man has a conversion before it is too late.
Sneering contempt does not look good on you, Andy.
Exactly what is this supposed to mean? Christ's suffering and dieing for all our sins would give Andy "a few good laughs"?
surely thats not what he meant, right?
Is merely describing someone as "old" considered hate speech now?
Andy just might be paranoid, if he thinks being called "old" is the same thing as an "attack."
Maybe Andy's suffering from Effordent poisoning...
True. However that doesn't mean to agree with them. People who see the world as a fuzzy grey area see no difference between the National Socialists and the Republicans. This makes them "tolerant" and "open minded". For some reason these are supposed to be good things.
Hell will freeze over before I tolerate or am openminded about pedophilia.
Why do Andy Rooney's ramblings alwys make me think of pedophilia? Weird, huh?
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