NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--It seems almost trite to say, “Rosie O’Donnell has done it again.”
She’s insulted the collective intelligence of Americans a number of times (at least four) since she emerged as a co-host on ABC's "The View," and it seems the public has developed something akin to “Rosie fatigue.” While her previous outlandishness garnered wide press coverage, her latest tirade barely raised a fuss.
What did she say this time?
In a Nov. 9 exchange on "The View," O’Donnell chided one of her co-hosts not to be alarmed by terrorists, saying the choice was between faith or fear (she clarified that by faith she meant in humanity and equality, not Christianity).
“You can walk through life believing in the goodness of the world, or walk through life afraid of anyone who thinks different than you and trying to convert them to your way of thinking," she said.
Co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck rebutted, “Well, I’m a person of faith, but I also believe ..." when O’Donnell cut her off.
“Well, then, get away from the fear,” O’Donnell admonished. “Don't fear the terrorists. They’re mothers and fathers.”
It seems we have an about-face from O'Donnell's Sept. 12 declaration when she charged, “Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state.”
Conveniently, on the one hand she uses terrorists to create a negative caricature of Christians. But just as conveniently, on the other hand she uses the imagery of American mothers and fathers to suggest that terrorists are no threat.
The irony is that research shows evangelical moms and dads, those committed to their faith and not just nominally affiliated with a faith tradition, make the best parents and that children thrive in these Christian homes. A snapshot of the research shows:
-- Christian couples who regularly attend church and actively practice their faith in the home are happier and experience divorce 32 percent less than secular couples.
-- Evangelical mothers hug and praise their children more than other mothers. Meanwhile, evangelical fathers, more than any other group of men, are affectionate to their wives and children and are more involved in their children’s lives.
-- Children in homes of faithful Christian parents score better scholastically, enjoy better physical and mental health and participate less in risky behavior than their peers.
Unfortunately, critics like O’Donnell don’t want to make an honest comparison between "radical" Christianity and radical Islam. The contrast is too stark in favor of those sold out for Christ -– those who live their faith by active participation in church and by exampling Christ-like behavior in the home. Instead, naysayers about Christianity like O’Donnell would rather ignore the facts and argue the exceptions or the margins as the rule.
The reality is that radical Christianity has the potential of wonderfully transforming America and the world (moms and dads and all), not bringing either to its knees in fear.
Regrettably, O’Donnell’s only brushes with transformation have been superficial, the product of marketing herself for her career: She hid her homosexuality to become Mary Tyler Moore-like, the "queen of nice" who was in love with Tom Cruise ... but only as long as she hosted her own television show and worked in feature films; after ending her talk show stint, she morphed into a raunchy standup comedienne, drastically changing her looks (complete with a masculine haircut) and personality (marked by foul-mouthed routines); now, she’s back again to the presentable look (new hairdo and wardrobe) of a talk show host, although she’s more of a bully than in her past daytime role.
O’Donnell is the adoptive parent of three children. Not much is public about her home life, except she lives with a lesbian partner. What is clear, though, is that if she wants to be the mom in a loving home that fosters the best of health and growth for her children, what she needs most is the radical Christianity she so abhors.
But that’s just my view.
--30--
Will Hall is the executive editor of Baptist Press.
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