Ethics Daily has posted a report that castigates Richard Land, Director of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, for using a gutter Yiddish slur word to describe Jewish Senator Charles Schumer of New York in a lecture last week at Criswell College in Dallas, Texas.
This is yet another instance of the linguistic double standard that currently exists within the Southern Baptist Convention. Leaders like Land are free and unaccountable for publicly using racial slurs and gutter slang. Underlings, like SBC Outpost Blogger Ben Cole, can be terminated, without appeal, for daring to use mildly offensive slang in their blogs.
I would be interested in hearing Paige Patterson explain the propriety of Richard Land's use of the word "schmuck" to describe a United States Senator in comparison with the impropriety of Ben Cole's use of the word "crap" in a blog to describe something worthless. That, no doubt, would prick a lot of consciences.
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The use of the word "schmuck" is not too common around here, as far as I know. I had heard it and recognize it would be used to insult, but had no knowledge of its meaning or origin before reading this post. So, my knowledge of language has been advanced.
Not to particularly either defend Richard Land or Ben Cole -- a couple of observations.
Surely when Land chose to use the word, he knew it a derogatory one. Perhaps he did not know the full extent of its offense. 20-something years ago the term brownnose was in fairly common use among some of us young preachers until an older preacher objected and gave us a lesson on its origin. This just to say some people pick up words that don't mean the same to them as it does to their hearers. I can't speak for what Land knew, but I think there is a lesson to be careful to know what we mean when we are the speaker, and to give a little grace to the speaker when we are the hearer.
At my age, the use of the word "crap" comes across to me as offensive. But I have noticed that in my children's generation it (and a few other words I don't like) is a common word that does not approach being an expletive in their minds. Ben is a little older than my children, so this may or may not apply to him. Again, I think there is a lesson to be careful to know what we mean when we are the speaker, and to give a little grace to the speaker when we are the hearer.
And finally, it is my impression (for whatever it's worth) that Richard Land's speech is often like a loose cannon, while Ben Cole's is self-conscious. Whether you shoot what you intend or just hit whatever gets in the way, the injury to the one shot is just as real.
I'm not involved with the politics of this, but the idea that "schmuck" is some sort of unspeakable yiddish slur is just wrong. Whomever wrote that needs to learn something about Jewish culture. I've actually been congratulated for calling someone a "schmuck" by my Jewish in-laws because I was using Yiddish properly.
"Schmuck" is synonymous with "dick." The meaning is the same (both anatomically and colloquially) and it is on the same level of obscenity. Steve Allen and Mel Brooks have whole comedy routines using it that date back to the 1960s. And by "date back" I mean aired on network television at the time. If Lenny Bruce was arrested for it, it probably says more about Lenny Bruce than the word.
This whole thing smacks of people trying to score political points by trumping up non-existent outrage.
Jeff, you bring an interesting perspective that makes me wonder, Was Charles Schumer outraged or is it mainly just folks who don't like Richard Land? Anyone know?
Randall Balmer has called for Richard Land's resignation.
Here's a link.
Please. "Schmuck" is extremely common around here (in OK) and on TV. I didn't even know it was of Yiddish origin. I can think of at least 2 worse Yiddish-type slurs if Land wanted to be offensive.
I don't like Land all that much but this is pretty dumb.
Bruce,
This particular post proves that you have no objectivity when it comes to Richard Land or the ERLC. You are attempting to make a mountain out of a molehill. I think anyone who has read you blog knows of your disdain for Land and others of the Conservative Resurgence.
As for Randall Balmer calling for Land's resignation, who in the world is Randall Balmer? Give me a royal break! I find it interesting that Ethics Daily can slam Land for his choice of words, but has no problem with naming Al Gore "Baptist of the Year" with his support of same-sex marriage. Where is the outrage over Gore's heretical beliefs on same-sex marriage?
According to SBC Outpost, according to Baptist Press Richard Land has offered an apology.
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