Posted on 02/08/2020 1:41:28 PM PST by conservative98
Can we come out now? Is it safe, yet, to speak or write the truth? Or is it still too soon?
Since the sudden, tragic death of Kobe Bryant two weeks ago, I’ve thought of the many men who, in just the past three years, have had their careers and reputations destroyed or seriously stained by allegations of sexual harassment or assault.
Among them: Actors Scott Baio, Gerard Depardieu, Morgan Freeman. In TV, Tavis Smiley, Les Moonves, Matt Lauer. Noted astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, famous chef Mario Batali, opera star Placido Domingo. Minnesota Senator/comedian Al Franken was forced to resign over harassment allegations.
Some accusations are of alleged acts decades old.
Guilty as alleged? Who knows? But the accusations will chase them the rest of their lives.
Thus I wonder what their thoughts are on the instant and continuing posthumous deification of Bryant.
Two weeks after Bryant’s death, it’s still considered outrageously inappropriate to publicly state what we do know: He had a flip side. In 2003 he was forced to essentially admit his actions were unwelcomed by the 19-year-old.
Already a seven-year-pro, Bryant, in Colorado for physical rehab, was arrested after a teenaged hotel/spa worker claimed he raped her. Bryant, married, admitted to having had sex with her but by mutual consent.
The criminal case was dropped by prosecutors, when the accuser chose not to testify. The civil case was settled out of court, as Bryant reached a financial agreement with his accuser. But Bryant was bound to make the following statement, which began with:
“First, I want to apologize to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and the consequences she has suffered in the last year.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I’m not saying he can’t be criticized but there is a time and place for that. His wife and kids had nothing to do with his “rape” of that girl. Let he and his daughter get buried and then if folks want to talk about it, fine.
she wasn’t after sex. She was after money. She initiated the encounter and then called rape and then bragged about what she was doing to her friends.
Excuse my cynicism.
Kobe: a winner at sports and a loser at life.
I know three people who went to Staples Center for the Kobe Memorial this week: three brain dead people. Why worship a basketball player who hogged the ball and scored 40 points a game? Why worship a father who cheated on all his girlfriends? Why worship a millionaire who never learned how to use excess wealth for schools and hospitals? Why worship a famous person who never learned how to use fame to cheer up children in hospitals or rescue kidnapped victims in other countries?
Glad he went to Church. The Lord loves to show mercy on anyone who feels embarrassed and remorseful.
I misunderstand easily and, based on your post, did you say you believe that Kobe Bryant was not born again? Thus not a real Christian?
That seems like a dangerous place to stand, if that’s what you are implying or saying, so, I was curious how would you know that?
I’m not defending him or what he did and eventually acknowledged doing and apparently paid for, more or less.
I’ve failed quite a few of the poverty tests and I am quite happy I’ve not had to take very many of the prosperity tests and none of the fame tests that he took, so I’m not fit to judge him for the ones he failed.
Truly not ‘there but for the Grace of God go I’... and thank You, God, for that! A man’s got to know his limitations.
Anyhoo, I don’t worry about him. I just worry about you.
Please forgive me if I have misunderstood what you posted.
If a man tried to strangle me a Yes would turn into a No pretty damn quick. .and if he continued it would be rape.
Did you miss the ‘Let God sort him out’? I do not know if Kobe was born again. Don’t jump to a conclusion so fast and miss the part about ONLY GOD knows, especially now!
This is just as inane as the “deification” of Kobe - he’s dead and can’t be hurt by anything anyone says but what remains of his family, who did nothing wrong, can be hurt.
Dems bring the dead back to life to vote for them and concerned “principled” folks bring them back to piss on their graves...insane.
See post #6 ... let’s let God sort him out. We can do nothing for him now, but his family is grieving and we can do something for them, by not trashing him now.
Other than watching NASCAR and the Super Bowl this year, I gave up on professional sports.
However, I think Kobe Bryant’s relationship with God is the one thing I didn’t know about him that would have interested me.
I know there is nothing, no force that’s ever been or ever will be, more powerful than God’s Love.
He Loves all of us with a Love that is beyond human understanding and He will forgive any sin we acknowledge and give to Him.
However, I have been long curious about and concerned about Jesus saying “I did not know you” about me or anyone else I know.
It looks like Kobe Bryant had that sort of relationship, whatever it was, with Jesus, so I’m not worried about him one way or another.
Instead, I have been thinking about the story of King David, his sins, their consequences, the way Nathan presented it and his final choices, as told in 2 Samuel, and how it applies to me and to the world in our times now.
Then what's with the word, "again"?
You are born from the water world, physically, and born again in the spiritual when God puts His Life in you, giving you that ‘born again’ eternal life. Read 1 John 3:9 ... the born agains have GOD’s Spirit abiding in them.
Jesus explained it to Nicodemus, as recorded in John 3
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh (the water world birth), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
I agree that a yes can be changed to a “NO” all the way through 50 shades of S&M.
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