Reese,
Reese, Reese.
So
have you ever wished to get rich? I know
those sweepstakes forms keep claiming my name is in the running, but I’m
beginning to think they are just feeding me a line. Ya think?
By now I can’t imagine you haven’t seen the news about Reese Witherspoon, and her arrest, and their whole Atlanta fiasco. They are playing the video of the arrest
now. Her comments were first that he couldn't arrest her, she was an American citizen….which, of course, the officer
was as well, serving a city filled with American citizens. And then she went out into the whole, do you
know my name sequence….because, after all, if he knew it was REESE WITHERSPOON
he was arresting, he surely wouldn't do that.
And then, she went on the news and made a public apology….more or
less. If you don’t mind reading one more
story, I’d like to throw in a few comments for your consideration.
First,
let me say that we should give credit to Reese, because at least she had the
integrity and courage to make the apology, and to stand up for the officers
after the fact. A LOT of people in her
shoes would do neither one, so let’s appreciate that she did so. Although she fell into a trap that I think far
too many people make when she made her apology.
In her statement, she indicated they had one glass of wine too many
(really? Sure it was only one?). And then she said that as her husband was
arrested, she panicked and didn't even know what she was saying. Really?
Do you see the trap, the fault?
It is one that is very common in our culture…in fact, in any culture it
would seem. “It’s kind of like the old,
“It was that WOMAN you gave me who made me eat the forbidden fruit!” “It was that snake who tricked me into eating
that forbidden fruit!” Funny, the snake
in that story is the only one who didn't pass the buck. So Reese tells us it wasn't her fault, she
had one too many glasses of wine, and she was in a panic, therefore, she isn't really responsible for any of it. As a
person who has lost friends to drunk drivers and known spouses battered by a
drunk husband or wife (yes, or wife!),
I would point out that the odds are very good that nobody held the glass to
Reese’s lips and forced her to drink it.
She IS responsible, she made the choice that led to the subsequent
choices, whether she was not thinking clearly or not, her choices are what got
her there. And if she did get in such a
panic and lost control for a bit, instead of writing off with a claim to not
even know what she was saying, how about saying something more like, “I let my
emotions get the best of me and lost control.
The things I said were very inappropriate and I apologize for having
said any of them.” No excuses. No passing of the blame. Just a simple statement. At the same time, as far as public apologies
go, hers was actually one of the better ones, I thought, so I’m not going to knock her for that.
But
there did surface in the video something I do think is worth noting, especially
if you are one who keeps sending in those sweepstakes forms or buying those
lottery tickets. What surfaced was not
merely a Reese Witherspoon issue, but one that is extremely common if you pay
close attention to the world around you, and one that is extremely sad. It was in her discussion with the officer in
her outrage, as she asked if he knew who she was, as if the fact that she is a
wealthy, famous or beautiful actress somehow made her better than any other
person the officer might arrest, or would exclude her from being subject to the
same laws. It is THAT attitude that I
think is dangerously prevalent in our culture, but also in many cultures around
the world. We see it in Washington ad
nauseum. We hear it almost every time a Hollywood red carpet is rolled out. This, I believe, is one of a multitude of
issues that Paul writes about in 1 Timothy 6:9:
“But those who desire to be
rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful
desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (ESV) The temptation to think oneself superior to
another. (Remember, it was CAIN who
asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”) The
temptation to think one is not subject to the same laws as others. The temptation to think one can buy their way
out of difficult situations (a number of those come to mind!). The temptation to expect others to treat you
as special or important. The temptation
to pride. Or, which I don’t hear in the
Witherspoon case, the temptation to do anything and everything to get that
wealth, power or fame, regardless of who it hurts or what moral lines must be
crossed (and which of us can’t put names into that one?).
I
do appreciate that old saying about the ground being level at the cross…..there
is no rank, no privilege, no wealth and no power that makes one of us have any
higher standing before God than another.
Grace is administered to each of us the same way, through the mediation
of the cross and the willingness to confess our sins as we turn to God for
forgiveness. God isn't any more
impressed with Warren Buffet’s or Bill Gate’s billions than with the quarter in
the pocket of the New York
homeless man. God isn't any more
impressed that Bush or Clinton spent 8 years living in the White House than he
is with the suffering widow who spent 8 years in a nursing home. If anything, it is US who ought to be the
ones being IMPRESSED with GOD’S riches, prestige, power and glory.
The
catch? Well, the catch is, it isn't only
the wealthy, famous, powerful or privileged who suffer from the dangers of
pride. It resides among even among the
most poverty stricken homes. It’s just
that the opportunities for the temptations to arise are far more abundant for
people in those other positions. We do
them no favor treating them as if they are special; in fact, we may be helping
create the problems they have. I hope
Reese has learned a good lesson, she seems to be a pretty decent person, but I
don’t really know. I know there are many
in her shoes who haven’t learned a thing, and go from one bad incident to
another in a never ending downward spiral.
Maybe the attempt to apologize is more reflective of the kind of person
she is. If I were cynical, I’d say she
just didn't want to lose her career and fans.
But I am hopeful. Just next time,
Reese, accept the responsibility when you apologize. That would be a good example to set for your
colleagues among the rich, famous and powerful.
And it would be a good example for each of US to set in our own homes as
well, don’t you think?
TL:dr Reese Witherspoon’s arrest and apology reveal
the dangers of fame and fortune, and the tendancy to pass the buck.
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