In the news today I read that a California religious group is demanding the Terminator "come clean and fully repent" of his past peccadillos, which have been widely reported and discussed in the news in the past few days. My question is "why?" Why have they latched so resolutely onto this stray article of dirty laundry? This, from my admittedly detatched vantage point, seems a stupid request.
What’s the point? First of all, it was nearly 30 years ago that he supposedly did the things he claimed to have done. I can't get worked up about the things our politicians did 30 years ago, especially if they don't really reveal anything telling about the person. So he was wild. He did some terrible things, but what bearing does it have? The real question is, “what kind of person is he now?” Christians, of all people, should have some concept of ‘redemption’ or a ‘putting behind’ of sin.
Secondly, Ahnold made the admissions in a ‘men’s magazine’. These are the sort of publications that fish for suggestive or euphemistic material. Now Ahnold was very explicit in his interview, but I know two things to be true:
1) Men exaggerate about their parties and sex lives.
2) Men’s magazines aren’t exactly good sources of reliable journalism. They are primarily for titillation, not information.
Thirdly, Ahnold is, by his own admission, not a Christian. He's an actor running for governator. So what sort of comment do they hope to get from him? A sincere and trembling recognition of his falling short of the Holy Perfection of God Almighty? Barring divine intervention, this seems a little unlikely. No, wait, it’s impossible. I think what they seem to want, and what they will probably get, is an empty, canned, buzzword-rich politi-statement about how he ‘has regrets about youthful indiscretions’ or some such nonsense. It’s not clear how this will make him a better governor.
As a follower of Christ who has wrestled with sin and confession, I can certainly appreciate the power of repentance. That 'coming clean' and exposing of sin can be harrowing but is ultimately rewarding beyond our imaginations, I think. Hawthorne was wise in his portrayal. But sincere repentance is NOT something you can demand. Especially not in the political arena. Especially not from a candidate who is in full spin mode. Especially in the absence real human relationship.
Most of all, their demand seems pointless because there is no basis for appeal either legally or spiritually. By this I mean he didn’t demonstrably transgress while in office. Moreover, he’s not a holy-spirit-filled Christian striving to become more like Christ. So what is his apology/confession/repentance other than another campaign tactic?
This is not to say the interview in Oui magazine doesn’t reflect poorly on the man. But let’s pray for him, rather than encourage meaningless lip service. Lord knows we got too much of that already.
I've just read Levy's entry on the Ugliest Car of 2003 award. While I agree that the Element violates some very 'elemental' rules of design, I also find it remarkable that the award goes to a Honda this year. Normally, the Japanese car makers thrive at making consistently unoffensive econoboxes and family sedans. Some would call it 'tasteful design', which is code for 'bland'. How would you describe the Accord's appearance? Racy? No. Ugly? No. Sleek? Not really. But having worked alongside the Japanese for 4 years now, it seems like a good time to list up a few of the things I love about them...
1) Neatness. They make Americans look like slobs. While in Tokyo I noticed that THERE WAS NO TRASH. This is not exaggeration. Even at the train station, there was nary a cigarette on the train tracks. This is even more amazing when you consider their population density which is about a million people per square mile. (some of you may point out that they wear what appears to be the same outfit 5 days in a row, but this merits further investigation before i can address these accusations.)
2) Boring cars. For discussion sake, we will define 'boring' as 'doesn't ever break'. Contrast the Japanese with a more exotic and stylish model such as the British-made Jaguar (pronounced 'Zhagoowar'), which, as Dave Barry duly noted, cannot make it across the a mall parking lot without major engine failure. Meanwhile, my 97 Subie (pronounced, 'lesbaru') has had no problems after nearly 130,000 miles. Levy, don't gloat. Your transport was voted "gayest car". Not that there's anything wrong with that.
3) Manners. Even though they can be sexist sometimes, the Japanese are some of the most polite people you will ever meet. To my jaded American eyes, it looks like butt-kissing, but it's just in their culture to take care of superiors and guests. If you go to eat with them, they make sure your Sake glass stays full. And all that bowing. I thought it was a hollywood stereotype, but no, they really bow when they meet you. Sometimes it's like a contest to see who can bow the most or go the lowest. I usually lose these contests. Dumb American.
4) Karate. Yes, it's true. They are all blackbelts by age 12 and practice during lunch hour in the break room.
That's all for now, but I may post some more in the near future. As I see my career at JP winding down, I feel the urge to pay tribute.