THE DUMBOSITY HASN’T GONE AWAY. GOOD THING I’M BACK OR WE WOULD BE OVERRUN!
Posted on September 5, 2008 at 7:36 pm by Dr. Jim
Once again, the Lethbridge Herald has admirably supported a free and open democracy in which everyone has the right to embarrass themselves by saying stupid things in public.
In a mercifully short letter in today’s paper, someone complains of the “idolatry” behind the Canadian Idol talent contest in which local boy, Theo Tams, is one of the final two contestants. Needless to say, there is a lot of hype in the local media about it, and the paper headlined an article a while ago with the following: “Only one more step to Idol worship”. Aris Slingerland reminds the Herald’s readers of the Bible’s injunctions against worshipping any other deity.
To which I responded thusly in my own epistle:
Aris Slingerland equates the hype around Theo Tams’ progress in the Canadian Idol contest with the biblical injunctions about the worship of deities through the use of statues, images characterized as ³idols². Surely people should realize that words and expressions can carry many, non-literal meanings. Someone “preaching to the choir” is not necessarily delivering a sermon to a group of singers. Likewise, we should not interpret the biblical advice to “cast your bread upon the waters” as suggesting we heave dinner rolls into the Oldman River. Celine Dion is often called a “diva” without implying that she is literally a Hindu goddess, but that is the origin of our term for popular female singers. No one at the Herald (or elsewhere) is trying to turn Mr. Tams into a deity by calling him an “idol”. And why should I suppose that the worship of deities other than the one advocated in the Bible is a bad thing? Just because the Bible says so? Not very convincing.
Anyway, no idea if they will publish it. If I could do it all again, of course, I would add a comment on the irony of Mr. Tams’ first name which means “god”. Why shouldn’t he win?
Now, with all the stupidity running around, aren’t you glad I’m glad I’m back fighting the good fight?
September 6, 2008 at 4:07 am
Ha ha! Fantastic. I am so tempted to fling my stale bagels off the Whoop-Up drive bridge.
September 6, 2008 at 7:36 am
YAY!!!! Mary writes the first comment! SHE WINS!!!!
(prize to be decided a little later).
Bet you other folks didn’t even know there was contest, did you?
September 8, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Ah, it’s nice to see the Internet incarnation of the Thinking Shoppe back in business!
And I hope the Lethbridge Herald publishes your piece, partly because they’re in sore need of good writing in that rag, but mainly because your response to Aris Slingerland is hilariously spot-on. Theo Tams as Baal: now that’s a creative bit of casting.
I will pitch a baguette into the St. Lawrence River this week in honour of the resurrection of the Thinking Shoppe:)
September 10, 2008 at 11:27 am
Hey Dr. Jim,
Your spot on reply is hilarious. I hear that it’s published – those last two sentences are wonderful to see in print. I’ll go pick up a copy of the Lethbridge Herald, thereby increasing their circulation by about 12%.
- Matt
September 10, 2008 at 11:34 am
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11899.php
September 23, 2008 at 7:43 pm
And would truckers please stop spilling their seed! There are too many wild canola plants along the highway already.