Link to Isaiah Washington Apologizes for Gay Slur | Isaiah Washington : People.com
First off, I've never watched one episode of Grey's Anatomy. If someone were to refer to "McDreamy" or whatever, I'd think it was a new McDonald's foodish thing.
That being said, I saw the mentioned moment where actor Isaiah Washington made a crack about calling a fellow actor a 'faggot' at the Golden Globes earlier this week. This only a month after Michael Richards exploded on stage at the Laugh-in using terrible language towards some African-American hecklers in the crowd.
I am really saddened by all of this. What has happened to our decency? Regardless of your own views on homosexuality, it does not give anyone free license to publicly "out" anyone, especially while calling them a degrading name. This was the subject of the Office's season premier this fall when Michael Scott accidentally outs Oscar in the office.
To be honest, I have used the word "fag" or "faggot" when I was a young punk growing up...but never really thought about the words derogatory meaning. This transcends political correctness. It represents something under the skin of America. It brings to light the rampant prejudice which still lives within us. It brings to light the sad way that many people in the country judge others without meeting them, knowing their stories or anything. I know how it feels. I have had some experience with people taking something I've written, or said out of context and have slandered me publicly (either in front of me, or most often behind my back), and while I've learned to let it roll off my back it simply isn't a healthy way to live.
This all brings me back to Miroslov's book "Exclusion and Embrace" where he talks about us becoming 'embraciant" rather than 'protestant' as the root of the word 'protestant' partly comes from the word 'protest.' So, as a modern faith structure, we've built it upon what we are against rather than what we are for. We need to reexamine our intentions to work, live and behave in this world as image bearers of our Creator. Wouldn't it be nice for people to be known as "embracients?" Wouldn't it be nice for people to worry less about how God judges (or perhaps deep down how we speculate how God judges and take it upon ourselves to take his place) and more about how God calls us to love. Not to say that people shouldn't be called out for destructive behavior, nor to say that we can't see the fruit that one bears...only to say that our core should be love.
My prayer for the US is that we can move beyond the name calling and the tearing down and move toward a "building up" and "one another" life.
peace
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