Throwing Stones

I am tired of the Elliot Spitzer mess. Really! It was a big story and has important implications for the state of New York. It is an historic moment. It is a situation we could all learn from.

What gets me is the political posturing and finger pointing. People are actually gloating over the fall of the governor. Nobody likes their laundry aired in the public, and these folks are all in it! Like driving past a train wreck, we get caught up in the carnage.

I want to scream THIS IS A PERSON! He is hurting. His wife is hurting. His girls are hurting. Jesus stood up for a woman who was caught in adultery. The religious leaders had humilliated her and were going to throw rocks at her untill she bled to death. Jesus told them

Let he who has no sin cast the first stone

The news folks are wrong. The politicians are wrong. The commentators are wrong. Every one of us making judgements about this man's conduct are wrong. No one is perfect. No one deserves a lick of the blessings we enjoy.

Our words are the stones we throw and a person's spirit is the target. A man who has been caught in sin does not need condemnation, but restoration. Sure, we want o see justice and he deserves the punishment for his crimes. But Mr. Spitzer and his family need to know that they're no worse than any of us. Just broken people trying to make it in a messed up world.

Some of us happen to find the mercy of God in spite of it all.

Maybe we need a little revival

The Fourth Branch

Recently, Washington was turned on its head when The Washington Post reported a story in which the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital's outpatient unit were exposed. The article described neglected facilities and a "messy bureaucracy" that entangles and frustrates wounded soldiers and their families. The article unleashed a backlash within the news media, American homes, and the federal government.

The problems at Walter Reed were not unknown. Over recent years, congress has held hearings addressing the concerns of many regarding treatment of soldiers coming home from the Middle East. The hospital itself has had much praise. As the article points out, its treatment and surgical facilities are powerful. However, this corner of the hospital was neglected. After public outcry, the federal government -- the legislative and executive branches -- frantically responded. Now things are getting done. Now the people are enabled. Now it is a BIG deal.

These events illustrate the power of what has been called "the fourth branch of government". In short, our Constitution establishes three branches of government: the Legislative (which makes laws), Judicial (which interprets these laws in light of the Constitution), and Executive (which carries out and enforces these laws) branches. Unfortunately, even our transparent and democratically-appointed government has many areas of neglect and abuse.

In recent years the press has proven to be a tremendous asset to our country. As the proverb goes, "sunlight is the best of disinfectants". In our society, the press is sunlight that shines in the dark corners of government and communities, allowing "we the people" to communicate concerns, atrocities, and neglect in ways that hold those we elect accountable.