Pastoral Ponderings| Pastoral Ponderings | [printer version] |
As I am writing this,the big story is the resignation of New York governor Eliot Spitzer as a result of allegations that he used the services of a high-priced prostitution ring. I have read a number of articles rehashing this event with personal opinions interjected in abundance. What is interesting is the number of questions which come out of this one event. Questions that I don't hear being asked. Eliot's Spitzer's actions are condemnable, but is there a deeper problem here? Many people are of the opinion that Spitzer made his way to the governorship of New York with the popularity he gained as state attorney general. And what, you may ask, did he do as the state's top crime fighter? Bring down the mob? Reduce violent crime in the streets of New York? Spitzer's most notable cases as DA were against corporations and their executives. One such case was to bring charges against the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange for receiving excessive compensation. In other words, the guy made too much money. The US Chamber of Commerce president described Spitzer's approach as "the most egregious and unacceptable form of intimidation we've seen in this country in modern times." Even though his tactics were called into question more than once, Spitzer went on to win the governorship in New York by a landslide. Apparently, voters are willing to justify certain ethics if the end is to their liking. Is there a deeper problem here? I wonder how this would have played out if | Spitzer would have been paying for a prostitute who was male or black or least not high-priced? Would he have had to resign or could he have claimed to be the victim? Could the issue be clouded enough by claims of prejudice, bigotry and lack of opportunities so that it no longer was about sex? Is there a deeper problem here? Spitzer made the mistake of acting on his lust. That is wrong, but is there any connection with the number of sexual references which make up our favorite TV shows? What about the sex which is put on the covers of magazines found at the checkout lane giving added meaning to the phrase “checkout lane.” Even the conservative web site I used to read up on this scandal has an advertisement which uses a seductive young female to sell political t-shirts. Is there a deeper problem here? Some who defend Spitzer want to act as if no crime has been committed at all. Spitzer's brother is quoted as saying, "If men never succumbed to the attractions of women, then the human species would have died out a long time ago." Others want to call it a victimless crime between two consenting adults. Has anyone asked Spitzer's wife or three young daughters if they consented to this? Is there a deeper problem here? These are certainly questions that need to be asked of our culture. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” Is there more here than just a commentary about Eliot Spitzer? Is there a commentary here about our American culture? What about the high percentage of Americans who consider themselves to be Christian. Is there a deeper problem here? By the time you read this, Eliot Spitzer will be long forgotten. Forgotten as well will be the broader questions which his indiscretion surfaced. Is there a deeper problem here?  |