My first observation about the Eliot Spitzer affair is that compulsive sexual activity is a human disease like compulsive gambling or compulsive drinking. It should be treated psychologically, but human beings seem to enjoy making moral judgments, especially when compulsive behavior appears in the political arena. Watching the mighty fall is viewed as a popular sport.
Second, the Eliot Spitzer situation says that in this day of electronic eavesdropping behavior that once was private now quickly and easily becomes public. In 950 B.C. King Solomon, a powerful king, had a thousand wives. Is that much different? Presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, William McKinley, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Kennedy and Bill Clinton have all participated in illicit sexual relationships. Elliot Spitzer is no different.
Is it admirable? No! Does it make him a bad governor? No! Does this behavior among powerful male figures have anything to do with sexism that is so deep in western civilization which has been fed so constantly by the Christian faith? Of course! Eliot Spitzer is simply the latest example of a rampant sexism that treats women as objects who are less than human. People will quickly forget Governor Spitzer and his high priced prostitute will not even be a footnote in history. I do wish we could some day realize that humanity is fully expressed in both males and females.
Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
