Throwing Rock(s)

There’s been much ado regarding rocker (rapper?) Kid Rock’s possible dis-invitation to the upcoming Inaugural festivities. Michelle M., Jeff G. and their respective readers have both sides of the issue well-covered.

What do I think? This:

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such [an adultress] should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 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.

7 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.

(John 8:5-7)

And you know that when the odious Donald Wildmon is for something, you’ve just got to be against it.

Kid Rock is no saint; far from it. Many of the lyrics of his songs are ugly and disgusting. But the man loves his country and has gone further out on a limb than many, save for the people he has been entertaining of late.

It’s interesting that some conservative Christians would rather bar this man, as if he were a leper, rather than teach him, lead him and embrace him. It’s almost as though he’s been asking to be embraced by his countrymen—especially including those of us who are justified by faith--by celebrating things American rather than spitting on them as well as all things Christian.

The guy has long been reaching out. Somebody ought to grab his hand, rather than slap it away. Besides, I doubt that he’ll sing “F*ck You Blind” at the ceremony.

Sometimes it’s a useful thing to have converted to Christianity well into adulthood. That way one has a clear memory of all of the ugly things one has done prior to that and, yes, after that. Not perfect, but forgiven, indeed.

All seriousness aside, here’s the best line I’ve read on the matter, from one of Jeff’s readers.

I know when to get my panties in a bunch and when to throw them on the stage.

Timing is indeed everything. (Hey, I'm no saint either.)

Comments

[og]

Indeed. I hope someone gets their priorities rearranged before the big event.

[Eric Sivula]

My problem with Mr. Rock is not his profanity, nor is it his clear love of the more libertine pleasures of our society. My problem is that enshrines misogyny and the sexual exploitation of women in his speech FOR MONEY. He does this *specifically* to make money. Now while I understand the economic rationale for this - giving the market what they want is the path to economic success - I should not be expected to embrace him. I have heard of no comment from Mr. Rock denoucing sexaul assaults of women or engaging in sexual bondage of them for profit.

If he had made efforts to demonstrate that this is *not* how he thinks - I would be willing to have him at Inaguration Ball. However, I have heard of no such efforts.

I am not asking the man to be a teatotaller (sp?), or a engage in celibacy, or forbear swearing. I am asking him to show me that he does not see women as objects.

He is clearly a patriotic man which is good, but he also *appears* to be a misogynistic one, which is not good at all.

As I said in Jeff's comments, if the committee that disinvited him did so because they discovered *after* issuing the invitation that he appears to be an unreconstructed misogynist - that I can understand. If they did so only because of the grief that some religious groups are giving them, well that is just plain spineless - politically and personally.

[Justthisguy]

Hey, living in a glass house, I'm careful (mostly) not to throw first stones.

If that makes any sense.

[Justin Katz]

There's a difference between extending a hand in forgiving acceptance and extending a hand to help somebody up onto a hugely symbolic stage. When a performer such as Kid Rock takes responsibility for the damage that he has done to the culture (and most especially the children being raised in it), then full acceptance as a performer is called for.

Without that responsibility-taking, holding him up above the crowds is merely affirmation. We've all done "ugly things," and they should not forever be barriers to our desire to change for the better. But Kid Rock's ugly things were done as part of his being a performer, and that is the context in which he would appear. He would not be a candidate to perform � he would not be a star � if not for those ugly things. And if he's ever repudiated that beginning, I've never heard tell of it.