For the past couple of months, the news media has reported a number of disturbing episodes arising out of our society. None of these stories are related. All these stories seem to be tied together by a common social (or possibly spiritual) problem behind the joyous mask of our culture.
Episode #1 . . . Media mogul Harvey Weinstein has been ousted by his production company because of ongoing sexual harassment charges brought against him. Women have been coming forward in droves to report the abuse they’ve faced by this powerful man in an industry known for making women nothing more than sex objects for men. The indignation has set off a firestorm across Hollywood; they’re scrambling to figure out how an industry known for exploiting women could have an executive treating women as an object of his own lust. Others have been coming forward to make their voices heard. Ayssa Milano took to social media and began the #Me Too campaign raising awareness for women who have been sexually abused; her tweets have given women the courage to come forward to share their own story.
Episode #2 . . . University of Louisville officially fired head basketball coach Rick Pitino, who is embroiled in a scandal where the FBI has conducted a “sting” operation over the past two years. Simply, at least five NCAA basketball coaches, including an assistant coach at Louisville, have been indicted for bribery, wire fraud and mass corruption. These coaches, assisted by Adidas, operated a “pay for play” scheme where six digit figures were funneled to top recruits’ families promising to sign with Adidas once the player reached the NBA. The fear is this problem is systemic to the NCAA. For Pitino, innocent or not, his firing emerged because of a lack of “institutional control” as this corruption was operating under his watch. It’s not the worst scandal he’s found himself tied to, but it’s the latest in a string of scandals.
Episode #3 . . . Members of a now defunct Penn State fraternity are facing misdemeanor charges in a hazing incident where a 19 year old pledge, Tim Piazza, died (felony charges have been dismissed). The under-aged victim was forced to drink vodka, beer, and wine on an empty stomach. Intoxicated, he passed out and fell down the stairs of the fraternity house. He was carried to a couch where he was slammed and punched in the stomach. The fraternity men poured beer on him while he groaned and held his stomach. In the wee hours of the morning a decision was made to call 9-11. He was rushed to emergency surgery, but died of a ruptured spleen, brain injuries and internal bleeding.
The three episodes have very little to do with each other, except that the public outrage has been loud and clear. Stop men like Harvey Weinstein from making women objects of man’s desires! Stop the greed-driven organization that makes millions off of poor and vulnerable athletes. Stop turning our higher education system into one party after another!
The outrage is loud and clear, and people want justice (i.e. where individuals are treated fairly and with respect). But the outrage is a mask, for behind it lies an ugly, decaying truth. We’re outraged over the treatment of women, but we’ve supported the dehumanizing of women as sex objects. We’re outraged over the flow of money to our universities sports programs, but we want our teams to win (at all costs). We’re outraged over the death of an under-aged fraternity wanna-be, but we dismiss the parties as a normal part of the college experience. Yes, the outrage continues, if only as a way to mask our true selves.
On the Greek stage the actors wore masks to cover their faces as they pretended to be people other than themselves. The Greek word for actor is hypocrite. Jesus applied this word to those whose piety to God was motivated by applause of men (Mt. 6:1-18). The word may be used to describe America, outrage by the injustice, without admitting we’re the ones causing the injustice.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. Only God is Glorified!)