Anthony Weiner and Bathsheba

Anthony Weiner and Bathsheba

On Friday, June 26, 2009 South Caroline governor Mark Sanford apologized to his cabinet for his extramarital affair.  The reporter from Good Morning America, John Hendren, who reported on the governor's apology introduced the governor saying, "comparing himself to the biblical king who gave into the temptress Bathsheba…"  It happened again this morning with the Anthony Weiner mess.  The commentator attempted to excuse Anthony Weiner's behavior, using a comparison to David and Bathsheba.  Let's be clear David was a powerful man who spied on a young powerless woman, had her taken from her home, had sex with her, sent her home and when he found out she was pregnant had her husband killed.  Sounds more like rape than giving into a temptress.  

Anthony Weiner

The commentator then went on to compare Mr. Weiner to Presidents Kennedy and Clinton and to explain that we have set the bar very low and do not expect much from our political leaders.    There is no excuse.  Forgiveness, yes, but making excuses for powerful men who abuse their power with sexual misconduct, no.  

Bathsheba

Bathsheba did not ask for what happened to her.  The prophet Nathan is reported to be her ally.  It hardly seems likely that he would have been an ally to the temptress of the king. Stop scapegoating Bathsheba and other women.  Let Mark Sanford and Anthony Weiner take responsibility for their own bad behavior and choices.  

Defining My Passion

Religion, Feminism, Justice, Human Trafficking

I have not posted for many days.  One reason is the wonderful time I spent with my great-niece, family and friends.  Another reason was deciding the direction I want to take with this blog.  I have gotten lots of advice.  I spent thirty years flying under the radar, so to speak.  Now I have a blog, a twitter account, a Facebook page, and am working on creating an author's Facebook page.  The initial reason for this social media campaign was to promote my book, Prostitutes, Virgins and Mothers: Questioning Teachings About Biblical Women.  That is still important but I cannot stay silent about some of the things I have learned on social media.

Human Trafficking

I am working with the Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force.  One of the questions I ask groups to whom I am presenting human trafficking information is, "True or False, a woman's love for her pimp means that she is willingly choosing prostitution?"  Today I read the new Dreamworks movie Turbo uses the term "pimp your shell" to equate improving or making better.  Do the pimps who sell the bodies of others for profit make anything better? 

Religion

I am a Christian.  It is the faith path to which I have been called.  I am a member of the Mid-Valley Interfaith Council in the Coachella Valley.  We are Roman Catholic, Muslim, Latter Day Saint, Independent Catholic, Christ Science, Jewish and more. I am inspired by the ways God has revealed God's self to the others in the group and I always learn something from each meeting.  Yet I read so much snipping about other faith tradition.  If I think I know all the ways God reveals God's Self the
God I think I know is very small.  Is God so small that God only speaks to your religious group?  I do not use pronouns for God.  God does not have genitalia.      

Feminism

I am delighted there are so many thoughtful feminist sisters and brothers taking a stand on human justice issues.  I am also shocked at some of the reactions I read to that work.  Such fear it seems to me but of what exactly?

Justice, Religion, Feminism, Human Trafficking

So I said all that to clarify for myself the work before me, my passions.  They are interpretation of the stories of biblical women from a woman's perspective, Christian Feminism, the end of Human Trafficking/Slavery, Liberty and Justice for all.