I read an article yesterday regarding Alec Baldwin and his choice to retire from the public eye. It was a lengthy read; however, it held my interest because the media is/was so quick to highlight every negative comment or thought that he could ever conjure all the while so quickly able to bypass any good the man had ever done. Apparently, the latest accusation is that he is a homophobic and the world cannot see past that (albeit, there is no concrete evidence that proves the allegation). This is not a soapbox of whether Alec is right or wrong – in any capacity. This is about me looking at someone who has had an opinion and it is automatically labeled negative – regardless of its orientation or intent. And, it led me to think about how quick we, as a society, are to jump on a bandwagon that is headed straight into Negativityville at a rapid speed!
I don’t know about you but last I checked I was not perfect. While it is an ambition I (fictitiously) think I may one day achieve the reality is that I fail. And, I fail daily. And, so do those around me – no matter how much I love them. But, when I fail (and when they fail) why are we so quick to judge, label and mock?
While I can appreciate some of Alec’s early film work (I cannot attest to his sitcom fame as I have never watched an episode of 30 Rock) it is safe to say that he has bordered on the line of inappropriate more than not. Yet, in reading his article and swiftly conducting a Google search it is proven that he has probably provided as much benefit to the world (to the tune of $14M) as he has “harm”. In all the press I read about him I do not recall charitable and gracious as the headline - although Google begs to differ. What I do recall are all the times that he fell short.
Why do we condemn so quickly? God commanded that we love Him and love others – first and foremost – above all else. If we are to walk in these things why do we so easily falter outside of them?
Before we judge, can we take a step back? Look at the situation and the person as a whole and account for its totality? We have all lipped off in anger. We have all said things that will forever live in eternity. We have all been victims of infamy either by bad judgment or by misunderstanding. But, when are we going to make a stand by taking a moment and walk in love?
Jesus says, what you do to the least of these you do to me – Matthew 25:40 (paraphrasing, mine). Even if you are not one to turn a cheek because Christ instructed you to … can you turn a cheek in hopes that someday, someone will do the same for you?