Of course, by now everyone knows about Brit Hume's statement about Tiger Woods' religion and possible conversion. Well, I didn't get too upset about the original statement because I have NO expectations of Fox News -- or Brit Hume --- so I can't be disappointed.
But the next night (as I'm crawling home on the Washington Beltway), I 'm listening to the news station (WTOP) to find the reason for the latest stoppage. Instead, on comes Brit Hume. The WTOP news readers interview him like he's Queen Elizabeth, allowing him to filibuster for what seems like an eternity. Now THIS makes me mad! WTOP has always been a straight news network without Fox bias --- until recently. I've noticed their "experts" are starting to be from Fox. Hmm...
Below I provide the exchange:
Sirs,
I don't expect Brit Hume to be rational. He is clearly a Christian fanatic, doing everything he can to proselytize --- to convert others to Christianity. He (like Bush) is a crusader --- and can't be cured.
What I DO expect is that WTOP will not compound the problem by giving Hume a softball interview, letting him make his argument over & over without contrary viewpoint.
There is a 1000 year history of this, and the results are clear: when Christians proselytize, they get unhappy when others don't agree to convert -- and shortly thereafter dead bodies result.
From the 1st Crusade to the Holocaust, we've seen 50 generations of Christian murder.
But WTOP apparently seeks to become the Christian News Service. I'm getting sick and tired of the right-wing spin at WTOP. If you think we don't notice you are wrong. Keep on promoting the Brit Humes of the world, and the blood will be on your hands too.
The radio station manager (to his credit) responded:
Were we listening to the same interview? Hillary and Dimitri brought up the hard slams against Brit from The Post yesterday. They asked some hard questions. Then we opened up the phone lines and invited all listeners to comment. There was some pretty harsh criticism. Hard to be fairer or more balanced than that, imho....I'd love to share with you the many e-mails we get from listeners complaining of our left-wing bias and our anti-Christian attitude. When the complaints come pretty evenly from both sides, I think it says something.
Thanks for writing and thanks for listening to WTOP even when you disagree with what's on.
Well, it was a respectful response, even if he stretched the truth....But I decided to get the last word...
Sir,
Here's the bottom line: you never thought to put someone who OPPOSED Brit Hume's view on the air.
Yes, I listened to the same interview: the one that should have never been aired. The one that should have been aired will never happen. Is this just a lack of imagination on your part? Or did you think you would get better ratings, because (after all) you wouldn't want to offend the majority Christians?
Here are some question you should have asked yourself about Hume's statement:
If Christianity offers such wonderful "redemption":
- [Religious Hatred]: Why didn't it prevent 99% Christian Europe from persecuting/murdering the Jews, Gypsies and other undesirables for a thousand years?
- [Racism]: Why didn't it prevent Christian America from enslaving blacks for 400 years, and persecuting them for another 100?
- [Power Madness]: Why didn't it prevent Christian America from annihilating Native Americans? I know, it wasn't personal, it was just business...
- [Sexual Misconduct]: Why didn't it prevent David Vitter from going to prostitutes? Why didn't it prevent Larry Craig from soliciting in Men's bathrooms? Why didn't it prevent Mark Sanford from violating his marriage vows? Or John Ensign (a "Promise Keeper")? Remember the Priests sodomizing little children (with the Church aiding and abetting?) Can you honestly say that Christians are "better" in this regard?
- [Corruption]: Why didn't it prevent Bob Ney from taking Jack Abramoff's bribes? Why didn't it prevent Duke Cunningham from taking a free million dollar home? Haven't Christians proven themselves to be every bit as corrupt as any group of people?
Oh, I know the drill --- we're all sinners, and Christianity offers a sinning Get-out-of-Jail-Free card. So it becomes okay to do all of the things I listed --- as long as you "repent" --- thereby encouraging the next generation of Christians to do the same. Persecute people all you want, and then ask for forgiveness. Wink, wink...
Hey wait, I have a good idea: let Hume sell indulgences to Tiger to wipe away his sins. Maybe he can do it better than the corrupt Catholic Church did in the middle ages. Maybe he'll propose it to the Republicans as a deficit reduction mechanism {:-0).
The notion that Christianity offers anything but suffering to non-Christians is unsupported by history.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that all of the wonderful redemption that Christianity offers --- didn't prevent Brit Hume's son from becoming an alcoholic and committing suicide...Is that mean? Well, I wasn't the one who claimed that my religion was superior. Hume did, and when you make a claim like that it must be scrutinized & debunked as thoroughly as possible.
Look, the radio business has never been worse; I understand that. You have to do a lot of unpleasant things. But when you make your bed with Christo-Fanatic Fox News bigots, don't be surprised if you wake up with fleas.
I sure wish I had a chance to interview Brit, eh? It would have been memorable radio...