Unappointed leaders

Today in this country, as a result of politics and the news media, there are individuals who, by default, lead large groups of people. I've never completely understood why this happens. While it's often a good thing, what happens when these unappointed leaders are misrepresenting the specific group of people they claim to represent?

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, for example, have for some time been the unelected representatives to the media for black people in America. Another example of such representation is the National Education Association, which claims to work for the education of every child, but has long since been an outlet for liberal talking points.

In another aspect of this, for some groups, like Christians, there is a commonly held, yet flawed perception on the part of the media and elitist policy makers that Christians are widely ignorant and most have no real view of reality. I've often wondered why that is the case, but with the help of Pat Robertson, I think I have found one of the reasons.

Pat Robertson is the head of the Christian Broadcasting System, host of the "700 Club," writer of many books and is frequently a guest on many cable news programs. He might as well be a reflection of the persona, mind and beliefs that many Christians might have. That perception is the problem.

Earlier this month, Robertson was on "Buchanan and Press" on MSNBC, and Pat Buchanan asked him about the California election: "Let me take another prominent candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is pro abortion, he is pro gay rights, he's got a lifestyle we could call a bodybuilder lifestyle that you've been reading about. Pat Robertson, should Christians in good conscience, can they vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger?"

"Well, you know," Robertson said, "I'm a body builder. I do some pretty heavy weightlifting, so I think the weightlifters of the world need to unite. I tell you what – those guys in California could use a big bruiser to knock some heads together ... what are they gonna do? I mean, you gonna have Bustamante who is sort of the Gov. Gray Davis-lite? They don't want anymore Davis, so who else you gonna put in?"

I don't know which is more ridiculous: the way he said it or the fact that he's looking to Arnold as the prime candidate. From what I've seen, aren't principled leaders supposed to take stands and endorse principled candidates, whether they're picked to win or not? Robertson is settling for mediocrity – the very thing that's killing America.

This definitely isn't the first time he's lost touch with reality on national television. In early 2001, Robertson was on CNN and Wolf Blitzer asked him about China's one-child policy.

Robertson said, "I don't agree with it, but at the same time, they've got 1.2 billion people, and they don't know what to do ... if every family over there was allowed to have three or four children, the population would be completely unsustainable." He added, "I think that right now, they're doing what they have to do."

Pat Robertson may have started out in tune with the rest of Christian America, and he may have had a sharp mind, but he's changed. He's losing touch. He's promoting a different view than what Christian conservatives are thinking.

The perception by the media, politicians and most of society's elite that conservatives – and, particularly, Christians – are widely ignorant can be, at least partly, laid at the feet of "Christian leaders."

I don't know Pat Robertson, but I'm sure he's a fine teacher and a great man. Still, it's come to the point where his representation of the Christian conservative community has gotten out of touch with the overall thinking of that constituency.

  P. Robertson may be to blame for some of the bad reputation Christianity has been given. But the buck cannot stop there.

  The media has had much, much more to do with it, IMO. The elitist (Follywood and other media) depiction of Christianity is one of nigh cultism comprised of a bunch of backwoods hicks like Jerry Falwell and (sorry) President Bush. "True Christianity" is not "socially advanced" enough for today's ~~upper~~ snob class. It is something the conservative extremists cling to. They refer to true Christians with terms like "right-wing wackos" and "the religious right". All the while, they promote frauds like Je$$e Jack$on and Al "Sheister" $harpton as true "reverends" and representatives of today's modern [...ahem...] Christianity.
When was the last time we could watch a good, wholesome family TV series (on a major network) that had a strong foundation in Christian family values (something like "Little House On The Prairie", for example)? Today's prime-time TV shows would rather promote "gay equality", sex/lust, violence/crime, and power so much more than family values.
  Beside the liberal media's strategy to establish true Christianity as socially unacceptable, those people in the public eye who claimed to be Christians - but succumbed to the temptation their own vices (Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggart for example) - have tarnished the public (the world's?) view of Christianity beyond repair, in several ways. And how could we forget the much-publicized pedophile scandal that is rocking the Catholic Church. The media, of course, licks its proverbial chops at these opportunities to enlighten their serfs as to the faults of true Christianity.

Ummm... sorry. Didn't mean to make a rant out of that. :)

The media, of course, licks its proverbial chops at these opportunities to enlighten their serfs as to the faults of true Christianity.

I can understand your rant. I don't adhere to any religion, organized or spiritual so I feel I can be objective in my opinions.

I have been reading up on Islam over the past 3 years. It's so much easier to find books written with honest discussions about the contradictions, historical context and interpretations of all of the major religions, except Islam.

So far I have yet to find where Islam, consistantly teaches tolerance and respect for those with differing opinions.

Our media appears to be trying to get ignorant people to equate trully faithful Christians and really adherent Jews with full practicing Muslims.

They keep bringing up the Crusades but never mention Christians themselves not only outlawed crusading they have never denied this part of their history. For some odd reason Muslim's try to deny that non-muslims have never lived equal and safe and free in a Islamic controlled culture.

IMO the muslim's "prophet" was just a really bloody crusader and they don't admit to all the conquering that went on in the past and continues today because it is still the major tenant of their religion. They must get the world to submit to their god and their "devine" laws as they don't believe man can make laws outside the Koran.

Ok, that's my rant.

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