Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Irreverin

Home
Progressive Christian
Not Our Own People: What We’re Missing About The (Latest) Sean Spicer Gaffe

Not Our Own People: What We’re Missing About The (Latest) Sean Spicer Gaffe

Last updated on: April 12, 2017 at 12:51 pm by Erin Wathen

Not Our Own People: What We’re Missing About The (Latest) Sean Spicer Gaffe 2017-04-12T12:51:49-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

For the love, America. Can we not keep it together for A MINUTE? Me and my people have stuff to do this week.

I’ll be quick. When Sean Spicer said, out loud and on real tv, that Hitler never used chemical weapons, that was bad. Deplorable. Inexcusably ignorant, tone-deaf, and revealing the depths of this administration’s ignorance in regards to history. And diplomacy. And the history of diplomacy.

He was wrong, and he apologized. Which is, whatever, I guess better than nothing? But we seem to be missing the fact that he backpedaled, saying that, yes, on second thought, Hitler DID in fact use chemical weapons–but only 1) at the Holocaust centers and 2) not on his own people.

Not on his. own. people.

Which is to say, a) that the Jewish people were not the real, actual people of Germany (and elsewhere). They were just, you know, those other people. And furthermore, the “Holocaust Centers?” That sounds like something you’d scope out on TripAdvisor. Like for a class field trip or a family getaway over the long weekend. He makes it sound like these set apart areas were pre-approved for acts of atrocity. That crimes against humanity were excusable in these safe zones because the people –Hitler’s OWN people, that is–had agreed ahead of time that this is the way to go about exterminating millions (and millions) of their neighbors.

Jesus.

In the midst of this holy week, our Jewish brothers and sisters observe the feast of the Passover; they gather to celebrate the story of their freedom from slavery, and their identity as the people of God. Meanwhile, Christians remember the story of Jesus’ betrayal, suffering and death. We are called to turn inward, to reflect on the nature of our own sin, and the ways in which we are complicit in the darker parts of the human story.

So I guess, in some backward, twisted way: thank you, Sean Spicer? for the life lesson in all of the above.

We are so deaf to the death knell of history, to the cries of humanity in our own time, that we scarcely blink when our own government continues this arc of destruction. When the spokesperson for the highest office in the land edits the darkest chapter of our recent history, dehumanizing the victims and–in some darker, more twisted reality still–making apologies for the one who enacted this evil. “That Hitler, he wasn’t such a bad guy, really.”

Lord, in your mercy… Do we not see how readily we still do what the dictators and the privileged classes have done forever? How easily we cordon off large segments of the population into “thems” and “others” and “not our own people?” We do it every day. We build a wall to keep them out; we turn a blind eye to their hunger, while we enjoy plenty; we bomb their leaders, while refusing to offer any real aid of our own; we let them rot in prison cells by the millions, or we let our law enforcement gun them down in the streets–for crimes that we get by with every day, or for crimes not committed at all.

Because in some way we cannot name, deep down, we think they are not “our people.” Those fleeing the drug cartel; those enduring the horrors of famine; those who seek sanctuary from the violence of their own government; people of color–or another sexual identity, or another faith tradition–within our own geographical borders. They’re not OUR people. Not really.

They are somehow not us. So we make peace with them dying– because they are dying over there somewhere. In some pre-approved location.

Like the Middle East, or the developing world. Or the prisons. Or the Holocaust Centers.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Hear our words of contrition, and our liturgies of confession, and our lament for all the ways we let this stand. Every single day.

And may our Jewish brothers and sisters forgive us, too: for the ways we are gradually letting the memory of their suffering fade from our shared narrative. For the ways we skim over our country’s own complicity in those crimes; and for the ways we forget the role that Christians played in demonizing the Jewish people in the first place. As they gather at their tables this week, may they extend a measure of grace towards us…not that we deserve it. But now’s the time to speak our sins. And so, speak them we will.

Or rather, Sean Spicer spoke them for us.

And as we move through this Holy Week, may we also be mindful of the ways we talk about “the Jews” when it comes to the story of killing Jesus. They are not other people. They are our own.

They are all our own people.

Meanwhile, let’s not forget that, no matter how appalling the (latest) flub from Spicer, he is still just the front guy. The spokesperson, mouthpiece, talking head, whatever you want to call it. No matter how many times he sticks his foot in his mouth, he is still not the one writing this story. I’m not saying to give him a pass or anything. He needs to go. But when he does get the boot, let’s not forget the larger machine moving behind his words; the larger play unfolding on the global stage, from which Spicer and his counterparts only offer brief distraction.

Ok, carry on. I’m getting back to my Easter sermon. Because I need to be done with it by 10:30 Saturday night. So I can watch Melissa McCarthy burn this thing to the ground.

spicer

progressive christianity

Sean Spicer

SNL

Previous Post

April 10, 2017

The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Holy Week Clergy Burnout

Next Post

April 13, 2017 For 30 Pieces of Silver, and a Piece of Chocolate Cake

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did the prodigal son ask his father for?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A wife A new home A sword His inheritance