Words for Lusty Larry

The next time you're in a public place and some politician peers into your eyes, broadens his stance, taps for your attention, and begins spouting "family values" rhetoric, run for the nearest exit.

Since Larry Craig was once a co-worker of mine in the U.S. Senate, I feel compelled to comment on his undoing.

I found it a strange cosmic coincidence that caused Larry Craig and Mother Teresa to occupy the same news cycle. This week we were astounded by Sen. Craig's attraction for airport restrooms and by more evidence of Mother Teresa's long and painful struggle with faith.

Now, I hesitate to mention both their names in the same sentence, but hear me out...I'm going somewhere with this.

Both had everything going for them in terms of public esteem: Craig a long-time U.S. Senator and Republican leader up for re-election and, she, a much-revered, compassionate nun on the verge of sainthood.

Yet personal revelations put both their futures at risk. Mother Teresa apparently suffered from a spiritual condition endured by many who seek to lead a holy life. She told of the "dark night of the soul" in which God seemed distant and unavailable, even non-existent.

Few in high ecclesiastical circles would ever admit to such personal feelings, either to themselves or others, much less write about them, as she did. But, the elderly nun offered us an unsolicited, heart-revealing confession -- one that made her seem all the more human. From her writings, we learn of the agony her troubled thoughts caused during the later years of her life.

Now back to Larry. Here's a sorry, mixed-up soul torn by allegiance to a political party and his yearning for a potty party.

When literally caught with his pants down, does Larry come forth and tell us his torrid tale, though it might threaten his Senate-hood?

No.

Instead, Larry sends us mixed messages: first, with a signed confession, then with the current version of "I'm NOT a crook" and "I DIDN'T have sex with that woman!" Larry gives us a new and memorable battle cry in today's War on Hypocrisy: "I am NOT gay. I have never been gay!"

What's needed here is a little more contrition and a little less contradiction.

In the pursuit of truth, Mother Teresa was willing to risk sainthood as she bared her troubled soul to God and man.

There was obviously something more she desired than being venerated for piety. Maybe she simple wanted truth, no matter what the awful cost might be.

If that was, indeed, the case, she has a lot to teach both saints and sinners alike.

 

 

Comments

[descartes]

I worry more about people that are absolutely certain in their beliefs, than those that have doubts. Many of the worst atrocities have been committed by those who are absolutely certain that they are right. This applies to both individuals and societies. This extends to the inquisitions, crusades, the 100 years war, Hitler, and any government that is absolutely convinced of its moral superiority. Show me an individual or society that has no doubts, is absolutely convinced of the certainty of their position, and I see a danger to us all.

Regardless of our personal convictions, we are at our best as individuals when we embrace universal values of love, generosity, courage, and kindness. I hope that both believers and non-believers can agree on this, and be tolerant of each other. If we did most of the problems we currently face would not exist.

[eugenegerard]

Please Jean RUN against BOND Missouri needs you.

[Writeonwater]

You adduced your point to [Mother Teresa] who, assuming her letters are real, had two faces that could not be further apart. This is folly.
*You say: “There was obviously something more she [Mother Teresa] desired than being venerated for piety. Maybe she simple wanted truth, no matter what the awful cost might be.”*
Misleading others and presuming to give away what one does not possess may indeed be imitable - to criminals – and if you said so I could understand the logic. Many criminals have despaired their lives too, but that does not deny the dishonesty.
*You propose: “If that was, indeed, the case, she has a lot to teach both saints and sinners alike.”*
Apparently, you say that people should, with their life’s will, advocate for others, that which they cannot confirm and, in fact, what they themselves doubt. If Mother Teresa wanted truth she would have spoken it while she was alive publicly. Is it your idea of courage to admit truth only when one is beyond any effect of the consequences? What are your inferences on bearing false witness? Is not pride one of the seven deadly sins? Your argument could be used to defend Larry Craig.
Consider a man pretending to love a woman; is it a betrayal, of him and the woman? Was her time spent without love and in the shadow of a lie? Were he to confess this only after death in writing when, having sucked the utmost from her, would you call this courage? Similarly, suffering another to languish in prison for a crime only to confess after death. Yes, it is worthwhile to know the truth, but how would you expect such a victim to feel? Do you hold this kind of action to be love of truth? Even the most unthinking and credulous person should hold that conclusion in check.
You have not only condoned hypocrisy but you have advocated it to be imitated. You may have an interest in this mater but, to my view, you cannot lay claim as truth to as being your interest.

[weddedgay]

I wish you were still in the senate!

[Crozier]

Senator, I am happy that your Senate seat is held by another Democrat. I just wish that the Democratic lady in the Senate were still you.

[TLV]

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
- Mother Teresa

[janmB]

Who is really to blame for Craig's downfall?. Obviously, he was brought up in an era with a view that a gay lifestyle is by choice and a sin, so he married a gal trying to hide his true nature.
Can't blame him---he'd never have been a Senator at all and probably suffered for more years than he will suffer now.
So his kind of hypocrisy is shared by many people even today who stand up and judge other's and condemn them instead of letting the GOD they believe in take care of that.

[Swift2]

I've got to say, I'm with Christopher Hitchens on the Mother Teresa thing, to some extent. She had doubts about the existence of God, and this itself, this "lack of faith" caused her agony. Well, if this was not simple depression we're talking about -- take some Paxil, Teresa -- then to my mind we're talking about the terrible pains that ensue when you try to deny rationality.

I had a depression, but mine was caused by the fact that my marriage was disintegrating and I couldn't accept that. Once I did, the depression lifted.

When you must believe in a blue Easter bunny or go to hell, or have your whole life devoted to the blue Easter bunny made into a joke, the power of denial itself becomes the engine of depression -- and repression.

This woman seems to have been drawn to doing very generous things for people in need. Good for her. I'm not sure why otherwise good people put themselves through hell because they can't profess their love for a blue Easter bunny.

[hilow64]

Just wanted you to know that there are a lot of Missourians who miss you.

[lovethesinner]

"It takes a strong man to admitt he's weak," and a saint to admitt she's only human.

Humility is what happens when one is honest enough to discover and accept one's human frailty.

We are, who we are.

Those who have it know peace, and the rest discover that the only alternative to being one's self, is being miserable.

Sorry about your crappy summer, Larry. You can change it anytime you're ready.

[lisakaz]

Yes, truth -- whatever the cost may be. We'd like that on Iraq. Stop enabling the spin by letting 'em get away with it and continuing to throw more money at an unresolvable problem. Time to pull the plug and do something more worthwhile with the money.

[outnow]

There is a certain degree of hubris, masochism, and ego to both of these individuals.

Did Jesus ordain that a cross be used as the symbol of his teachings. Did he found a church? Does he bless Republicans?

No to all three questions.

[jakeflip]

We should not even bother whether or not Larry Craig is gay. What is important is that with others he led the fight for the right wing version of "family values" *e.g., Anti-gay marriage and anti-choice, but little to help welfare families).

No matter what your politics or sexual orientation, there is no excuse for the kind of vulgar (not to mention extremely risky) behavior he pled guilty to. This was not the action of anyone who really believes in family - even his own.

THAT is where the hypocrisy lies, not in a question about gay or straight.

[HuffPoFan]

There were many of stories circulating about Larry Craig being gay and even he had to realize that the 24 hour news monster would one day unmask him. Craig, Vitter etc are dizzy with power and invincibility but it only takes one incident to deflate their airbags.

Mother Teresa's period of spiritual desert has been experienced by other religious and can be interpreted in different ways. It's not a fatal flaw that will keep her sainthood, though many will argue about her motivation during those spiritually dry years.

[Yukon Jack]

Larry Craig's big mistake was his denial. He should have declared: "I AM GAY AND PROUD OF IT!!!" and he would have been invited to join the Democratic Party and live happily ever after with Barney Franks.

Or any of the other gay Democrats who are considered heroes, while gay Republicans are declared hypocrites.