Friday, November 02, 2007

Hypocrites

"Hypocrite" comes from a Hebrew word, and means the "godless" or "profane." As most of us know, a hypocrite is "a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess." I got that from the Princeton dictionary.

Well, I was in the car yesterday, and there was a show on that I had not heard in years, "Dr. Laura." I actually enjoyed listening to her a long time ago.

Anyway, I started Googling to find a good Dr. Laura story, and I found this one.

SHOCK JOCK VOTED BEST BABYSITTER
Strip jock Dr. Laura and liar Prez considered untrustworthy in Internet poll

NEW YORK, New York — In an online poll in the Velocity NYC e-zine, 1,375 respondents were asked “Who would you trust as a babysitter?” The choices were President Clinton, Dr. Laura and Howard Stern.

The majority of Americans polled chose Stern as the person they’d trust most with their children, as he captured the popular vote with 54%. Scandal plagued Dr. Laura followed close behind with 42% of the vote, and President Clinton tallied an appalling 4%.

“I voted for Howard Stern because, while his show is raunchy, he’s a good dad and devoted husband,” said Anthoula Vokolos of Astoria, Queens. “And above all, (he) is always honest to his listeners, his critics, and his supporters.”

While Dr. Laura has been embroiled in her nude photo scandal and the President has taken hits for his lack of character and integrity, the resounding choice for America was Howard Stern. Some people still care about family values and morality.


Well, I was going to look up the particulars, but frankly, I don't want to get too frustrated. This happened a long time ago. From what I remembered, someone was interviewed concerning Dr. Laura, said that he had an affair with her (he was married, or she was, or both were, again, not sure of the particulars). His statement was in some magazine, and Dr. Laura called him a liar. The only problem for Dr. Laura is that she let him take pictures of her naked. And, I guess she might have thought he lost the photos. Not only did he not lose the pictures, but he actually sold them to a magazine, which published them.

I remember listening to her after the pics came out, and you know, she sort of backpedaled. At that point, I stopped listening to her. She could have come clean originally, but instead, she called someone who told the truth a liar.

I remember listening to her and her advice sometimes did not fix things. She told people not to admit to their infidelity because most people only did so to ease their own pain. Now I am not saying to anyone to come clean, but if there is something that is wrong with the marriage, perhaps the infidelity is not the real issue. It is a mere symptom.

I know. I know. All she really is doing is selling books and promoting her radio program. And the difference between her and Howard Stern, it would seem, is that more people would trust their children with Mr. Stern than with Dr. Laura. Oh, and Dr. Laura is not a medical doctor. Most PhDs that I know don't call themselves doctor. Sort of weak.

14 comments:

Advizor54 said...

Am I really first? Cool.

I've never been a big fan of Dr. Laura even though my wife gets a kick out of her. After listening to her radio show for a while, you realize that she rarely listens to her callers real question, instead, she picks up on something in the background to the questions and berates the caller for getting themselves into what ever mess they are calling about.

She is angry and harsh, and though she usually backs the husband in a conflict situation, I find that that has very little sympathy or even good advice for the women who call.

And as for admitting your infidelity, i had to have that conversation with my wife this summer and she doesn't want to know any of the details, though, I believe, if she knew the details, she would see that it wasn't as bad (or as intimate) as she imagines.

And would I let Howard Stern baby-sit my kids? I certainly would, the ugly mug of his would scare my kids into obeying everything he said, the he might give them nightmares. Now, if his girlfriend Beth is available, she can tuck me in anytime...

http://images.google.com/images?q=%22Beth+Ostrosky%22&gbv=2&ndsp=18&svnum=10&hl=en&start=0&sa=N

Leesa said...

advizor: if I had kids, I don't think anyone would meet the standards associated with babysitting. Weird, really, but I think I would be a neurotic mess.

Leesa said...

advizor: oh, and when I heard Dr. Laura the other day, a woman was asking if she should go through an invitro procedure because she wanted kids. She said adoption was out, because of the father (he was against it). She did not want to try because of the disappointment associated with failure. Dr. Laura's advice: flip a coin. I think she said it to point out that the woman's reasons were sort of random, but she insisted that the woman flip the coin on air and do what the coin said. Weak.

Anonymous said...

I think the origin of the word "hypocrite" is ironic since the worst hypocrites I see are most of the so-called xtians I meet. I have a lot of respect for people who believe and actually make an attempt to follow those beliefs, but most vocal xtians I've met just use their religion as a platform from which to judge others. I don't blame the religion, it just happens to be what is in vogue in this time and place.

- Grant

Prata said...

Grant: Word.

As for Beth? She looks like the Cheshire Cat. I wouldn't let her near me, but then I have that weird anti-yellow hair anti-gaping maw thing going on. ;)

I'd let Clinton or Stern watch my kids, but Dr. Laura wouldn't be my first or third choice (or anything in betwee). Dr. Laura is a person, and like anyone else she's prone to failure of morals and failure of right thought. I consider a hypocrite (in the bad sense) anyone that would see that they are being hypocritcal and continue willfully in that behavior. Anyone can from the outside looking in say one should or should not do something, but when you're caught up in your own mental mess and hysteria of course seeing what is and is not reality is sometimes (especially with behavior) blurry and difficult to see.

But we get the luxury to point it out anyway.

Leesa said...

grant: you know, after I fell from grace, I started better understanding my own religion. Weird, huh?

prata: yellow hair. I love it. Seems to disparage those with blonde hair, as was your intent. Not sure what a maw is, but if you are talking about her smile, it seems a little too large.

Anonymous said...

Dr. Laura is the fast food of therapy. There's no way you can fix this stuff in 30 seconds. Her advice has some sound logic to it, but in essence, she has no time to know her "clients". And people ... really, do you really think you can call up with her and get a good answer in 30 seconds?

On the nudes. I found them. She's kind of hot ... and young. I'm sure the dude sold them for a load of money. It looks like a long time ago. She needs a trim. Sorry had to say it.

I don't know if I would want either to watch my kid. I would take her with me. She's pretty well behaved.

~Jef

Anonymous said...

Forgot to check follow up.

Prata said...

maw == The mouth, stomach, jaws, or gullet of a voracious animal, especially a carnivore. ^_^

You're welcome. ;)

Actually...it wasn't meant to disparage all blondes, it's what certain asian people call blonde hair. They don't have a word for blonde, so yellow is the best approximation. I think it's a cute term lol

Southern (in)Sanity said...

I wonder if the folks contacted for that survey would say the same thing now about Howard Stern - being that he is divorced and all.

Deb said...

Hrmm...I think trust has many meanings to it. Why don't you trust him or her, or what's the cause of the lack of trust.

Trust, being faithful to your significant other?

Trust, being that you would let them watch your kids?

Trust, being that you would feel comfortable with them in office.

Many aspects of the word. I would trust Clinton to watch my kids, but not watch my girlfriend. We all know where that leads...straight into the oval office! ;)

Cigar anyone?

Advizor54 said...

Ah crap. I just closed the wrong tab and deleted a wonderfully eloquent statement on hypocrisy that would bring anyone to tears of joy and sadness, the perfect post. But now it's gone and I'm at work, and don't have time to start again.

Suffice it to say that....

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, well, now the fun's gone out of it. So I'll summarize:

Hypocrisy = bad
Working together to improve = good

Remembering good advice = good

And here is some good advice on the topic, John 8: 1-11

And early in the morning Jesus came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

He didn't condemn her, but He did tell her to stop it.

Prata said...

Equally good advice (without giving our children the concept of whores and being stoned to death...I mean really...let's think of the children!)

Upon the oxen of a mind free from doubt I put the yoke and plow of skillful means and wisdom. Steadfastly I hold the reins without distraction. Cracking the whip of effort, I break up the clods of the five poisons.
I cast away the stones of a defiled heart,
And weed out all hypocrisy.
I cut the stalks and reap the fruit of action
Leading to liberation...
Realization does not arise out of words.
Understanding does not come from mere suggestions.
I urge all those who work for Enlightenment
To meditate with perseverance and effort.
Endurance and effort overcome the greatest of difficulties.
May there be no obstacles for those who seek Enlightenment.

Teach the children something useful like farming rather than stoning to death. ;)

I am of course teasing. =-P

Buddha actually said, "Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good."

Leesa said...

edge: yeah, when the story came out, I saw the nudes too. I wanted to see if the nudes looked like they were taken without her knowledge. They were not.

prata: I just like the term "yellow hair."

~deb: I am not sure I would trust Clinton with my kids either. Or any politician. They seem too busy to do a good job on watching children.

advisor: I feel your pain. And good point.

prata: wise sayings.