From: bdboyle@erenj.com (Bryan D. Boyle)
Subject: Re: sinead o'connor
Organization: NJ
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 12:56:55 GMT

In article <oneil.718422731@cwis> oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil) writes:
>bdboyle@erenj.com (Bryan D. Boyle) writes:
>
>>In article <CATHOLIC%92100608111294@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU> Jim McIntosh <JIM@AMERICAN.EDU> writes:
>
Lots of provocative stuff by author deleted...
>
>No one is saying that it is okay.  What _we_
 
I assume the pontifical use of this pronoun, ok?

>are saying is that it is wrong 
>to call Sinead O'Connor a harlot for what she has done.  Remember that 
>you must forgive your neighbor seventy times seven.  And obviously she
>has a lot of hurt within her because of the abuse she has suffered.  Are
>you going to help her any by condemning her?  

No, but it is no help to to coddle and make excuses for her, either.
Forgiveness doesn't mean allowing gratuitous attacks to continue to be
made on one's person or beliefs without some response.  This is not
the first time this entertainer has spewed her venom on a national,
social, or religious institution.  So, when do we (generic) tell the
mavens of popular culture that enough is enough?   Antisocial
behavior, unchecked, is uncontrolled behavior.  If she, as an
emancipated adult, can't control her behavior, then perhaps she doesn't
deserve the time we spend discussing what should or should not be our
response to her hate-filled remarks.  There are rules (or, there are
supposed to be, anyway...) for public behavior.  If you don't follow
them or treat others' beliefs in the way you yourself would want to be
treated, then you have NO EXCUSE for whining when a vitriolic comment
is met with the same in return.

>And is it your place to condemn her?

Not condemning her-that is not my place.  Condemning her ACTIONS and the
rush to "circle the wagons" around her by her appologists-Yes.  Guilty.

>Have you no sin yourself?  If you do, then I suppose you 
>can throw stones. 

The state of my soul is irrelevant to the discussion, as is the state of
yours.  Discussing the ACTIONS is different, unless proven otherwise,
than discussing the ACTOR.  If in fact she is doing this out of some 
reaction to an abusive childhood, then fine.  She needs help.  Serious
help.  More than we can give her.  But, if in fact, she is doing this
for 1) publicity, 2) noteriety, 3) self-aggrandisement, 4) promote the
sales of her records or whatever, then I maintain she is no better than
a harlot - we are talking about actions here, remember.  
>
>
>Have you any idea what it is like to be a victim of abuse?  

Yes-you want to see the police reports and x-rays  Pretty graphic.
I still haven't talked to my father, even after years of psychiatric
analysis. I know.  Do you?   But, after all this time and coming to 
grips with it, I am a relatively stable adult.  I forgave my
transgressor, but not the transgression.  But I will never allow
it to be done to me again.  
>
>So, who said you had to justify it?  I wasn't justifying her actions.  I
>think what she did was stupid.  But I don't think that gives us any excuse
>for calling her a harlot or condemning her.  Why not listen to her?  

Why listen to her?  Her blatant disregard for our standards of
behavior (imho) time and time again mean that she really doesn't care
what the rest of the world thinks.  And, just like a child throwing
a tantrum, you ignore it and eventally, they realize that perhaps 
they aren't going to get the reaction they desire...

>Even if she has misdirected anger, she does have anger.  Can we listen 
>and possibly channel that anger?

Perhaps like a mirror?  Sometimes, that is what it takes. Reflect
back the scorn she transmits to us?  Look, we all have things that
have shaped us for better or worse.  Some we don't mind exposing,
others we do.  But not continuously excuse and soft-peddle what our
response should be.  The maxim to turn the other cheek does not mean
to never defend what should be defended because the transgressor may or
may not need assistance.  It is a false act of charity to protect
from punishment or censure one who perfomed an act that needs a 
response.  

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