Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Sections
Blog Section Banner
 
You are here: Home >> Blog >> Blogs by Marie Fortune (retired) >> “Weary: having one’s patience exhausted . . .”

“Weary: having one’s patience exhausted . . .”

Jun 09, 2011 — Categories:

These past few weeks of news of powerful men’s abuse of women culminating this week in the pathetic case of Anthony Weiner’s internet exploits just leaves me weary.

“Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from God. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. . . .  Blessed are those who trust in God . . . They shall be like a tree planted by water . . .“ Jeremiah 17.5-8

These past few weeks of news of powerful men’s abuse of women culminating this week in the pathetic case of Anthony Weiner’s internet exploits just leaves me weary.  It’s not that we don’t know that this stuff is going on all the time; it’s just hard to be reminded up front by this relentless parade of boys being boys [sic] and the consequences for the rest of us.

Add to this the clergy representative of the moment, Bishop Eddie Long, who settled out of court with his four young male accusers in a deal which, sadly, seems to come with a gag order.  This means that the young men cannot speak about their experiences or the settlement.  The result for Long is private consequences (financial) but no public accountability. For the survivors, some restitution but no justice; all of which makes healing for the survivors and for New Birth Missionary Baptist Church much more difficult.  It also makes the possibility of real repentance for Eddie Long more difficult.  This amounts to the “sweep it under the carpet” strategy or, in biblical terms, “healing the wound lightly, saying ‘peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.’” (Jeremiah 8:11)

What is it about powerful men and entitlement?  There is still an assumption in male culture of sexual access to women and youth, AND an assumption that there will be no consequences.  Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the French politician who was arrested as he boarded a plane to Paris after (allegedly) raping a hotel maid, was no doubt surprised that he was being called to account for his criminal behavior.  Anthony Weiner seems to have assumed that his juvenile sexting/tweeting fell under the category of “no harm, no foul” and that it was anonymous internet activity!  Entitlement plus arrogance equals stupidity.  And then you add “the rules don’t apply to me” attitude and you get very public boundary violations and betrayal of public trust. Here’s the thing I really don’t understand: each of these men has seen what has happened to their peers whose disgraces have preceded them.  Does this not register??  Not only do the rules not apply, but they think they won’t get caught!

Finally my question is: don’t these individuals have responsibilities to attend to? Each of these men in recent news stories is someone in a powerful and responsible position of leadership. They have taken on a role that supposedly involves service to their constituency.  They have been given the power they have in order to lead and act in the best interests of those they serve.  Not only have they betrayed the trust of their communities but they, it would appear, are also spending valuable time engaged in illegal and or unethical “recreational” activities.

Jeremiah is right, if we trust in mere mortals we will be like shrubs in the desert.  Our trust must be in God.  And yet we really do deserve better from these mere mortals.

Document Actions

Marie's commentary on Anthony Weiner and others

Posted by Christie Stephens at Jun 10, 2011 12:46 PM
Amen!

Weary indeed

Posted by Terri Colburn at Jun 10, 2011 12:46 PM
Thank you Marie for this statement--I commented at Religion Dispatches about the Weiner situation and I have to say that what wearies me at least as much as the man's behavior is the number of voices who seek to excuse it as entirely private behavior that would not be problematic but for the repressive attitudes we hold about sexual expression. I think they miss entirely the relational context(s) that were violated, and as I hear more about some of the women who allegedly received images from him, some were startled because they wanted to talk politics, not share photos. Sign me, "tired of being called a prude"

Boys wil be Boys

Posted by Georgiana Williams at Jun 10, 2011 12:46 PM
Your comments are so well-articulated. I am experiencing the same kind of weariness. For example, the fact that Bill Clinton diverted major energy from the duties of the presidency is one thing. But he destroyed trust, first with his wife and daughter and with the women he is alleged to have been involved with AND with the nation who have one more reason to write powerful people off as cads and scoundrels rather than working on their behalf.
I heard someone say that men are pigs, but first, it's an insult to pigs, and second, not every man has such lack of control or disrespect for women.
Keep telling it as it is, Marie. It's good to know there is someone who speaks out so articulately.

Rep. Weiner

Posted by Rev. Mark Nelson at Jun 10, 2011 12:47 PM
Great article Marie. Here in Spokane one of the news stations asked members to call or e-mail in if they thought that Rep. Weiner's was a problem or not. Of course some said, "no problem". What is interesting to me is that Mr. Weiner has admitted similar contacts with, what is it, six women. Hmmm, multiple victims. Isn't this characteristic of predatory behavior?

Faith Trust Institute

Posted by Rev. Dr. Gary Aven at Jun 10, 2011 12:47 PM
If you are not familiar with the Faith Trust Institute, I commend it to you. The newsletter is free and usually full of important information. The institute also offers opportunities for trainig.

Gary

sexual abuse from men in power

Posted by Debra Michels at Jun 10, 2011 12:47 PM
Patrick Carnes, Ph.D. is a psychologist who studied sexual addictions and compulsions - after being raped by 3 different priests growing up... He says one of the things sexual addicts (and others who violate boundaries) have in common is the idea that they can lie and get away with it. Part of the "stinkin' thinkin'" of addicts, I guess...


Weary: having one's patience exhausted....

Posted by Archie Stevenson at Jun 10, 2011 12:49 PM
We, my wife and I, noted on BBC World News in America on Thursday June 9 that teh "most powerful Woman" in France, regret do not have her name, said, basically that "The time has come for Women to stop taking the actions of M.Struas-Kahn as the norm."

"Weary"

Posted by Amanda Morgan at Jun 14, 2011 04:57 PM
Can we send this to all men who hold a position of "power" - probably would not sink in or they would think it did not apply to them!

I deal with DV victims and sorry to say that men somehow think it is a "right of passage" to treat and victimize women and children any way they wish.