"...I'LL TRY "TACT" FOR $300, ALEX"
A ground rule is in order up front. This week's Pulitzerious ramble is NOT about religion. It may appear to be, but it's not. I know, it looks like a duck. It
quacks like a duck. But it AIN'T NO AFLAC, OK? This is NOT about religion. (Father Meyer always said, "...Billy, don't talk about religion, sex, or politics." Well, I violate the
politics rule all the time ... sex is ancient history, and THIS is NOT about religion!) Have I made my point? Good. I proceed.
Jerry Falwell. God Bless You! I owe you, along with many on this earth, a huge apology for missing the memo appointing you the leader of the World Moral Court ... the
Master Fact Finder of who and what is good and who and what is not ... the sort of 'Geo-Guru' (if I can use that term, Jerry) on what's happ-nin'. The memo
must've gotten shredded with Martha's stuff. Oh, Jerry, we're sorry!
What I'm talkin' about here is the Jerry Falwell interview on "60 Minutes", in which the Revered One says that "...Muhammad was a terrorist ... a violent man, a man
of war." Now, wait just a second, Rev. Genius - this is THE "Muhammad", you're talking about. Not Muhammad Ali as in Cassius Clay, mind you, but Muhammad - the 'Big Guy' to
about 1.3 BILLION people on earth. Jerry, Jerry, Jerry - get a grip ... find a 'keg-party', light a cigar, and lighten up. Aren't you supposed to provide reasons for folks to get
together, not tear them apart?
JERRY, YOU FAIL THE TACT TEST!!
"Tact" - n. - (takt) -- Acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without
offending. You flunk, Jer. Little ole' Miz Manners just lost her cookies over what you said. Not to mention, uhh Reverend Falwell, that you might just be way
off-base in your analysis. 1.3 BILLION good folks, Jerry. Folks, who along with most of the other BILLIONS of us, who don't see things exactly the same way YOU do, ...
thank God! But this isn't about religion, is it? No, it's about insensitivity, intolerance, bigotry, and, well, stupidity.
If I've ticked anyone off, I'm sorry, but I'm personally tired of apologizing to my Islamic friends, and I have a number of them, for the blind and narrow-minded comments
of a very few, who have absolutely NO TACT. Jerry Falwell, included. And even if some actually believe what the right reverend says, then at least have the common decency
to not 'broadcast' inflammatory statements to millions as if they were the feelings of us all. No, this isn't about religion. This is about plain old fashioned
irresponsibility.
"Jerry" is a shortened version of the Biblical "Jeremiah", isn't it? Well, rather than believe Muhammad was a terrorist, I think I'd rather believe that Jeremiah
was a bullfrog, but then again, I never discuss religion. Joy to the World!
HAVE A GOOD WEEK, EVERYONE...
O'C
