Advice to Dr. Dobson: Count to Ten Before You Say Something You Ought to Regret Later
I have long admired Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, for his gentle yet firm advice on parenting and on strengthening marriage and family relationships. His viewpoint is singularly Christian and he has time and again shown that the Biblical views of human nature (sinfully fallen) and God (merciful, forgiving, just and holy) are completely consistent with personal experience and common sense.
Recently, however, Dobson has taken to demonizing those who do not agree with his political views or who apply the law in ways he does not support.
A minor flurry of media excitement was recently fueled by Dr. Dobson's comments of concern over the media's use of popular cartoon characters to sneak homosexual propaganda into the unsullied minds of innocent children.
Granted that Dobson was, in this case, unfairly smeared and attacked for saying things that he never said or never even implied. But the incident only served as one more piece of evidence that the good Doctor might serve his cause best by either keeping such thoughts to himself or limited to his carefully edited radio show.
Dobson's latest stumbling attempt to speak intelligibly about political matters has not only diminished his already fading stature among many Americans (both Christian and non-Christian) but has confirmed the impression of many others that he has had his foot permanently grafted into his mouth.
In kindness, I would suggest that his age and his passion have conspired against him, leading him to say things in ways that he would have never permitted himself to do ten years ago. Surely, he should have anticipated that, by comparing black-robed Supreme Court Justices and other Federal and State Judges with the white-robed members of the KKK, he would be immediately charged with insensitivity, intolerance and racism. This was not the point he was trying to make, of course, but it is his own mischosen words that have turned around and bitten him this time. Even those who love and respect him have joined in the chorus of boos.
A summary of some of Dr. Dobson's misplaced comments and a link to the most recent in its full context have been compiled by "The Democrat" at Today's Desultory Diatribe. While I do not necessarily agree with everything said about Dobson at this website I do believe that the evidence for and the substance of the concern is clearly stated.
I only hope that those who are in close friendship with Dr. Dobson will "speak the truth in love" and gently correct him in regards to his misspoken hyperbole.
Recently, however, Dobson has taken to demonizing those who do not agree with his political views or who apply the law in ways he does not support.
A minor flurry of media excitement was recently fueled by Dr. Dobson's comments of concern over the media's use of popular cartoon characters to sneak homosexual propaganda into the unsullied minds of innocent children.
Granted that Dobson was, in this case, unfairly smeared and attacked for saying things that he never said or never even implied. But the incident only served as one more piece of evidence that the good Doctor might serve his cause best by either keeping such thoughts to himself or limited to his carefully edited radio show.
Dobson's latest stumbling attempt to speak intelligibly about political matters has not only diminished his already fading stature among many Americans (both Christian and non-Christian) but has confirmed the impression of many others that he has had his foot permanently grafted into his mouth.
In kindness, I would suggest that his age and his passion have conspired against him, leading him to say things in ways that he would have never permitted himself to do ten years ago. Surely, he should have anticipated that, by comparing black-robed Supreme Court Justices and other Federal and State Judges with the white-robed members of the KKK, he would be immediately charged with insensitivity, intolerance and racism. This was not the point he was trying to make, of course, but it is his own mischosen words that have turned around and bitten him this time. Even those who love and respect him have joined in the chorus of boos.
A summary of some of Dr. Dobson's misplaced comments and a link to the most recent in its full context have been compiled by "The Democrat" at Today's Desultory Diatribe. While I do not necessarily agree with everything said about Dobson at this website I do believe that the evidence for and the substance of the concern is clearly stated.
I only hope that those who are in close friendship with Dr. Dobson will "speak the truth in love" and gently correct him in regards to his misspoken hyperbole.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 11:36 PM
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