Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Thanks, Mr. Weiner



We should be grateful for the Anthony Weiners of this world. They give us something to talk about. Comedians should actually be sending him royalties. Are we having fun yet?

Then there are those of us who are shocked, shaking our heads. Disgusting! How can this be? How can this slug have the audacity to present himself for public office? Here’s where we get to feel just a little superior. We’d never do anything like what he did.

Look -- of course he should know better than to seriously present himself for office with that kind of an admission.  But can’t we take a minute to feel sad for the waste of an otherwise talented individual who has been and might again have been an effective legislator, were it not for his little problem? This would be especially true if you’re a Democrat.

Remember that this isn’t the first public official to be in this kind of boat, though maybe this is the 21st century version of it. We allow sexual peccadilloes up to a point, but we are not a forgiving lot when it comes to this stuff, especially if it goes over the kink line.

Here’s the really hard one: Can we take another minute to say to ourselves, “There, but for the grace of God (or whatever force you choose) go I?” And be grateful, for just one nanosecond, that we are not subject to Anthony Weiner’s particular brand of compulsion?

Or at least be grateful that whatever compulsion we are subject to, it’s a socially acceptable one?

Just wondering…

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