Timing Is Everything
Labels: Arts & Media, Health & Science, Politics & Government, Trends
Swift_West
By Billy Atwell|Published Date: September 14, 2009

I hate to say it, but rapper Kanye West and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) have something in common. They do not seem to understand that there is a time and place for their comments.

Last night Kanye West delivered one of the most disgraceful rants of his career. While country music starlet Taylor Swift was giving her acceptance speech for Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, West took the microphone from Swift’s hands and said, "Taylor, I'm really happy for you. I'll let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time ... one of the best videos of all time!" He then shrugged his shoulders, as if he had no choice but to open his mouth and embarrass a 19-year-old girl in one of the finer moments of her already impressive career. West was then booed off the stage by the unimpressed crowd, followed by a standing ovation for a speechless Taylor Swift.

Sadly, politics seems to have experienced the same problem. While delivering his health care address to Congress, President Obama was interrupted by an angered Rep. Joe Wilson, who shouted, “You lie!” after President Obama stated that his health care plan would not provide free coverage for illegal immigrants. Since his statement, Wilson has raised $700,000 toward his political campaign.

The response towards the two outbursts has been somewhat different. Though both have apologized for their statements, Kanye West has been universally lashed by the media and bloggers, while Rep. Wilson has been both praised for reflecting the will of many in his constituency and ridiculed for the setting of his statement. Regardless of the public’s response, neither remark was in the appropriate context. West and Rep. Wilson should have kept their comments for the appropriate venue. By stating their beliefs in a public setting in which they were not the focus, they both look as though they are desperate for media attention.

Whether we agree or disagree with their comments, we must demand a certain amount of common sense from our peers, including the recognition that our thoughts are best expressed in certain settings, while in others they're just out of place. I doubt Rep. Wilson and West have a hard time getting the media attention they need, though it might not be the amount they wish.

(Image © Getty/Polk)
 

3 Comments

Feed

  1. Posted by Annie on 2009-09-16 14:24:44

    Yes I agree with you anger when not motivated by a reverent and fervent regard for God's Truth and Honesty but by self gain or feelings of being denied what we feel are our rights and privileges or motivated by bitterness and resentment is very wrong, but we also need to remember Righteous anger is acceptable as we can see in the Scriptures below. Perhaps people could say that Jesus and John the Baptist were are out of line and also Paul, they certainly were not politically correct by today's standards in fact they would have been condemned for their outspokenness because they indeed called a spade a spade or in other words you could say they called them as they saw them. God tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger, He does not say we will never experience anger but we are not to harbour it because Satan will then have a foothold, if we do, we are in fact holding onto bitterness and resentment but we can do this even if we don't verbally voice it and of course we will then justify it or blame someone else. I do agree with you slander is wrong but as I said there is a difference in calling a spade a spade or not mincing words and telling it as it is. Ridiculing and demoralising a persons character whether they are in authority over us or not is never acceptable with this I totally agree but is there a correct time and place when Righteous anger should be expressed. Perhaps as far as man is concerned who may indeed put limits or rules and regulations to prevent open and honest anger when it is needed but it will still happen, because it comes from the heart and is motivated by good not evil, so if it is to be prevented then those who it is aimed at better pull up their socks and get their act together by promoting Godly principles and Laws to govern the people that is their God given responsibility to rule over. Jn 2:15 -17 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!"His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." Mt 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Mt 23:33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Mt 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Ro 3:13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.""The poison of vipers is on their lips." Ro 3:13- 14 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.""The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

  2. Posted by Marco on 2009-09-15 12:04:08

    Add to these the verbal assault from the Women's US Open Tennis and one has to wonder what ever happened to old fashioned manners.

  3. Posted by becky on 2009-09-14 14:01:41

    This whole thing reminds me of a conversation I had at church just yesterday. It seems we have a very talented and godly young man who manages our contemporary service. (I attend traditional.) Anyway this fellow runs the service in bare feet, which, apparently puts off some people. I think we are living is a time where we are losing any sense of what is appropriate for, well, everything.

Add Comment



Click to get a new image.