Vetting Cultural/Media Elites: 9th Commandment, Truth, Journalists, MSNBC and Ann Romney

Vetting Cultural/Media Elites
9^th Commandment and MSNBC, But What Would They Know About That?

         
         Thank God for the Bible; thank God for the old Catechisms of the Reformation.  It's the way this scribe was reared.  We addressed the Westminster Larger Catechism this morning at:  http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2012/05/westminster-larger-catechism-141-150.html. 

          Two things are offered.  First, we post an article about MSNBC and the outrageous, un-rebutted, unchecked, gratuitous and manifestly stupid comments about Ann Romney…comparing her to Hitler and Stalin.  Are there no standards of pursuit of factual patterns?  After we cite the news article for your review, we post the 9^th commandment from the Westminster Larger Catechism, 143-145. 

          I’ve been noticing this more intensely of recent.  I’ve been asking questions about this.  Is it me?  My dear wife, Sharon, am I just getting older and more aware? I've always known about leftward leaning journalists, academics and Churchmen.  But, is it getting worse?   Or, is the cable “noise networks” getting worse? 

          As for MSNBC, I’ve come to dubbing them “marionettes, ventriloquists, salesmen, dictationists, press secretaries, and advocates” of Obamaites.  As to the 9^th commandment, it warrants review and reassertion.

          In re training.  My theological training has sensitized me here, no thanks to Presbyterian or Episcopal Professors.  Unfortunately, I had to teach myself.  Assuredly, my English literature and Law Professors insists on facts, good thesis sentences, good definitions, weighty arguments, careful deliberations, and justifiable conclusions.  That’s the stuff of scholarship.  Yet, such things like this from MSNBC occurs without rebuttal?  Ann Romney akin to Stalin and Hitler?

          Scholar-Pastor-Brothers, let the 9^th commandment have visibility with our children and grandchildren.  If they rely on current centres of information and training, they will never have the tools to vet these folks.  Notably, the old 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) contained the 10 commandments.  So did the 1873 BCP.  However, the 1928 and 1979 BPCs saw fit to minimize and mitigate the 10 commandments, horrible setbacks in Anglicanism.  Fortunately, Confessional Reformed Churchmen never tossed the 10 commandments.   As we speak, vast hordes of American Pastors and their followers have “small to no” views in re the 10 commandments.

          Again, two things are offered.  First, the MSNBC article that freely compares Ann Romney to infamous 20^th century fascists followed by the second article from the Westminster Larger Catechism. 

          Here’s the precipitating article.

http://times247.com/articles/ann-romney-compared-to-hitler-on-msnbc

Ann Romney compared to Hitler, Stalin on MSNBC

by: Noel Sheppard

MSNBC hosts Eve Ensler and
and Michelle Goldberg
wonder aloud about the value of motherhood on
Sunday, May 13.
Photo Credit:MSNBC

Photo Credit:  MSNBC

MSNBC hosts Eve Ensler and and Michelle Goldberg wonder aloud about the value of motherhood on Sunday, May 13.

As NewsBusters reported Sunday, Newsweek/Daily Beast senior contributor Michelle Goldberg called Ann Romney "insufferable" on MSNBC this morning.

Seconds later, she also compared the wife of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.   "You know, yes, motherhood is beautiful," Goldberg continued. "I found that phrase 'the crown of motherhood' really kind of creepy, not just because of its, like, somewhat you know, I mean, it’s kind of usually really authoritarian societies that give out like The Cross of Motherhood, that give awards for big families. You know, Stalin did it, Hitler did it."

Here's what Mrs. Romney wrote at USA Today Thursday that somehow reminded Goldberg of Hitler and Stalin: "Cherish your mothers. The ones who wiped your tears, who were at every ball game or ballet recital. The ones who believed in you, even when nobody else did, even when maybe you didn't believe in yourself. Women wear many hats in their lives. Daughter, sister, student, breadwinner. But no matter where we are or what we're doing, one hat that moms never take off is the crown of motherhood. There is no crown more glorious."

Related:
Washington Post's hit piece on Romney 'implodes'
Read about more media bias at times247.com/mainstream-media Read the original article at Newsbusters
Read more:  http://times247.com/articles/ann-romney-compared-to-hitler-on-msnbc#ixzz1utNkb9Sc

Here is the thoughtful, deliberative and scholarly Westminster Larger Catechism.  Imagine practicing this in news analysis?

Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.

Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of the truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any; endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.