[Right Wing Professor]

In his instance, he is asking for more kindness and understanding than he was willing to extend to others.

I agree with you on many issues, but I think you're going too far on this. All he asked for in his statement was prayers; not kindness, and not understanding. And if people were forbidden to propose ethical ideas they themselves don't live by, then ethics would be impossible. We're all entitled to propose goals we ourselves can't live up to.

[Sabertooth]

if people were forbidden to propose ethical ideas they themselves don't live by, then ethics would be impossible.

This reminds me of something...

I remember once plowing through Kierkegaard ("Fear and Trembling," I think), and he talked about the positive aspects of hypocrisy. The ability to sense hypocrisy in oneself was a necessary precursor to ethical self-correction.

I've always thought that was a pretty good insight.