Taken from Dennison Forum on Truth and Culture
Presidential handshake makes global headlines
Should President Obama have shaken hands with a rapper who called for the killing of "Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives" in 2004? Here's the story.
South Korean Internet rapper Psy has the most-watched YouTube video of all time. "Gangnam Style" has captured more than 926 million views since appearing on July 15.
Since the explosion of "Gangnam Style," he has performed with Madonna and MC Hammer. Last Sunday evening Psy was onstage for "Christmas in Washington," an annual televised charity concert that will air on December 21.
However, just two days earlier it was revealed that he sang a graphic, anti-American songat a 2004 protest concert. His lyrics called for killing U.S. soldiers and their families "slowly and painfully." Two years earlier, he smashed a model of an American tank on stage, responding to an accident in which a U.S. military vehicle killed two teenage girls outside of Seoul.
Since that time, Psy has become a husband and father of twin girls, and served in the South Korean military. He now apologizes for these songs and actions: "I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world." He adds, "If it's gonna hurt my career or not, that's not important. The most important thing is that as a human being, I really, fully regret the using of [those] kinds of words."
When the president spoke to the audience at Sunday night's concert, he acknowledged several of the artists who performed but did not mention Psy. Nor did the White House choose the entertainment of the evening. However, Mr. Obama did shake hands publicly with the rapper. Was this the right way to respond to him? What does biblical forgiveness look like?
It is not excusing behavior, or pretending it did not occur, or trying to forget that it happened. God's word defines forgiveness as pardon—deciding not to punish, as when a governor chooses not to punish a criminal. Consistent with this definition, the president did not prosecute Psy for his earlier actions or bar him from performing in America. However, I believe it was wrong for our nation's leader to shake his hand publicly, as such a gesture conveys a sense of acceptance or even endorsement.
Do you agree or disagree? Please share your thoughts in our website comments section. On a more practical level, is forgiveness a relevant subject for your family this Christmas? Does someone need your pardon (Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15)? Do you need theirs?
4 comments:
I don't agree with you that by our President shaking his hand that it conveys a sense of acceptance or endorsement....
I believe it conveys forgiveness.
Psy's past actions were immature and it seems he has since grown up and more importantly apologized and shown remorse.
I didn't say whether I did or not. I copied and pasted the article, and it asked the question.
Yep, forgive and go on. the idiot apologized publicly for his errors and so we should accept that. Shaking hands is no big deal but booking him in the first place was an example of either poor judgement; or an 'in your face, I don't care action.'
There are probably hundreds of better entertainers that would have been tickled to perform at that venue.
Serving in the military may have had an enlightening influence on him. Lets hope so.
Meh. As others who read my blog delight in reminding me, most of the talented entertainers I admire are dead.
While I'm not terribly impressed by Mr.Psy, I'm inclined to take his apology and explanation at face value.
I really don't care much for the current resident of 1600 Penn, but for reasons of much larger importance than whether he does or doesn't shake the hand of some dude getting his 15 seconds of fame, so I see it as a nothingburger issue.
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