It seems that my remarks about Duane Chapman have ruffled a few feathers. Nine emails this morning critical of my remarks. Every single one of them seems to take offense that I chose to say something about a so called "Christian". Now I have no idea of Mr. Chapman is a Christian or not, that was not the premise of my comments.
I take issue with his being licensed as a bounty hunter with a first degree murder conviction, and that was pretty much the only issue I raised, aside from the fact I do not care for his tactics of lying, threatening people, etc.
I never even raised the issue of his so called religious conversion, the emails did, and apparently one commenter as well. So let us take a look at this a little closer.
Fact one: Is Duane Chapman a convicted murderer? Yes, in the State of Texas he was convicted of murder and that conviction was not pardoned nor was his verdict overturned, so that fact remains unrefuted.
Fact Two: Are there certain jobs that due to a felony conviction preclude you from working? Yes, plenty of them. Now, as it stands right now Hawaii does not preclude convicted felons from operating as bail bondsmen or as bounty hunters and I made that clear in my original comments; I have a problem with that, but that is the law so be it.
Fact Three: Did I make any comment either in support of or in opposition to his religious belief? No.....that was and is not a concern of mine.
Fact Four: I was accused of casting stones. Did I cast any stones directly at him? No, I simply stated that I have a problem with Mr. Chapman being allowed to work as a bounty hunter with a felony conviction. It is not him, its the type of work that he is doing that I have a problem with. He can flip all the burgers he wants and I could not care less. What I found extremely funny about this issue was I was accused of attacking him (and then received some rather unflattering remarks about my being Jewish and attacking a so called Christian) yet I see many of the same people attacking so called liberals. So which is it? Is it ok for the so called Christians to attack or question someone who they do not agree with but nobody can do the same to them?
Personally, I really have no interest in his religious beliefs or practices, however, I have seen him use tactics (such as lying to witnesses, families, etc.; threatening people with arrest when he well knew he has no authority to arrest them, presenting himself as a law enforcement officer, etc.) which I believe are illegal but because of his celebrity status he is allowed a free pass.
Maybe some of the remarks have to do with the fact that as I have aged over the past several years, I have become less and less a fan of capital punishment which has raised the ire of many of my friends on the far right. They seem to ignore the fact that there have been countless mistakes made with capital punishment and unless we can be sure that we have the right person for the offense they were convicted of, we should not be exacting a punishment from which there is no return.
Bringing this back to my remarks on Duane Chapman, had he been sentenced to death, I would have readily opposed it being carried out, for the same reasons I just stated above.
On a final note, as a Jew, quoting New Testament passages to me does not elevate your standing in my eyes and it will not cause me to change my opinions. You see, I come from a very strict conservative family and although I still hold many of those principles I have come to the conclusion that nothing is ever just black and white when it comes to American Society.
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11 comments:
You were dealt with accordingly where you commented on someone else's blog. You want to attack Christians but you can't handle it when they call you on it. You're such a victim here. Boo hoo. Christians aren't worried about being "elevated" by the likes of you. When judgement day somes, they'll look around for you, but your ignorance will make it impossible for them to find you. Just let em know how hot it is down there, fuckboy
What language from a so called Christian.
I hope you do not eat with that same mouth little boy.
Apparently I ruffled your feathers to which I can only respond with "Oh Well".
If using that language makes you feel better or Christlike then I suppose you should go back and re-think your thought process my son.
Duane Chapman is what he is and I really could care less what his religious preference is, but you seem to miss that point.
If you feel the necessity to criticize me, then by all means do so, but unfortunately for you it will not change the facts.
I find it amazing that so many so called Christians talk the talk but when it comes to walking the walk (as in your particular case) you fail miserably.
I am a convicted felon as well. In 1980 I sold an ounce of pot to an undercover narcotics officer who was introduced to me by a "friend". I was 19 years old. It's nice to know that there are fine people in this world who would give me a chance at "flippin' burgers" for a living. With a job that has such a future why would I consider doing anything else. Gee whiz if I get a little Jesus in my life maybe I could get that really great job at the car wash! Then in about another 20 years or so maybe my debt to society will almost be paid.
In fact Duane Capman was convicted of accesory to Murder not Murder as well as multiple robbery convictions, there is a huge difference. You claim to not know of his religious conviction, I personally find this hard to believe, as you have said you have witnessed him lie and threaten people with arrest, yet you some how missed the often repeated becoming a born again Christian on his show. I as a christian believe in forgiveness of past sins, you may not. Say what you will but it comes down to a person of Jewish Faith bashing someone of Christian faith, are you so ignorant of the fact that when a person of one faith bashes one from another that the outcome will be exactly what is going on here? It is very obvious to me that you are anti Christian with your comments,"Christlike" and others, you are shameful and I hope other's of Jewish faith see you for what you truely are. A hate filled person. Dog Keep fighting the good fight Brah. I don't want to join your Blog but I do not want this Post to be anonymous either so here ya go
Post By
Jason Kennedy Jame Clarke
Aslo is a fact that Duane Chapman has received a pardon for the 1977 accesory to murder conviction.
Also form Jason Kennedy James Clarke
I am not hate filled at all, some of my best friends are Christian and happen to also believe as I do as it pertains to Duane Chapman.
I find it ironic that so many of those "Christians" hold him up as an example of being "Christlike" when there are individuals who would be far better role models.
The other issue that seems to surface here is this - I have for the most part, taken exception with his profession and how I do believe, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION which I have stated previously, that he should not be permitted to engage as a bounty hunter; yet, because he calls himself a Christian many of you immediately start the attack mode.
If Duane Chapman wants to call himself a Christian, that is entirely his business and frankly matters little to me; I do take exception of a convicted murderer working as a bounty hunter who has also violated international law by crossing into a foreign country for the purpose of capturing someone without following the proper procedures and channels.
oh my gosh, I am not judging you all for having fun with debating, if that is what you are doing... but it appears to me that people are taking the comments here to heart. I am going to agree, that no one can dispute a person having concerns about a 'convicted felon' getting certain types of jobs. If a 'convicted felon' that was a child molester (raped YOUR child) and had 'refound' himself, would you be so forgiving as to think that he should be allowed to now work as a public school teacher? How about if his past child molesting convictions had nothing to do with you personally, but you were aware of them and it was going to be YOUR childs teacher? ahhh see, make things more serious and everyone's red flags start going up. The point is, as sort of stated above, we probably wouldn't mind the convicted dope dealer (that dealt one gram at age 19) teaching our children nearly as much as the child molester. Even if his 'sins' were 10 years ago, and there was no EVIDENCE that he was still doing, or would do it again. So in these types of things, it is hard to tell what should be allowed. I do agree, that is I was charged with stealing a candy bar at the age of 20 that I would be unhappy with being treated the same as people that had murdered/raped/molested someone... but I also think that I would not want, say, a man who was convicted of beating his wife to death--no matter how much forgiveness he had asked for--dating my daughter or sister. I do not believe this would be considered a "judgement" though, more a concern for someones safety. In this case, I believe that the concern was that it may not be the safest choice (for society) to allow someone convicted of murder to do what he is doing. Now, before you all freak out, I do not totally agree... I think things like this ideally would be handled on a case to case basis. (Unfortunately in our society, we never have funds for this kind of thing, and usually have to make general rules..) I actually do not think "dog" presents a large threat. Is he completely moral or good in everything he does? maybe not, I dont think I've formed a solid opinion on that. I definitly understand the concern though. Not "dog" specific, but I do agree that no one should be abusing the law in that job-imitating a police officer, whatever. Another point that I would like to make is, that is I did have an opinion about "Dog" it would only be that-- an opinion. And I would agree with you that it is no more right than anothers who is equally backed up with proof for his or her thought. Lastly, I am not sure if there was a blog that this originated from... but I see no bash of catholicism in the talk of "dog". I do not believe that voicing concern about letting a convicted felon doing certain jobs is "unforgiving".... I refer you back to "would you let your child be taught by a convicted child molester" or go to a daycare where one worked etc. In addition, I would like to say, based on the statements made on this page, my opinion would be that the one that used the term "fuckboy" would be the only candidate for any and all versions of "hell" that any religon believes in. Unless the catholics, after sending their children off to school with the man who molests children, choose to forgive him...
sorry, one more. I do not believe the use of "Christlike" was particularly insulting the the Christian faith (nor do I beleive it was meant to be). It may have been meant to be, not so much insulting, but mocking of the previous comment in that the previous commenter was spouting about religon etc and was acting as if he had no morals whatsoever, not to mention appears to be a 'not nice' person by an unreligious societal point of view. But back to "Christlike", maybe saying "Christian like" would have been better? although I dont see a lot of difference, but maybe that would have offended people less? However, I am assuming if anyone had of used the term "that doesn't sound very Jewishlike" that the writer of this blog would not have been offended, only chalked it up to you either not knowing (or just not using) a perfectly correct way to call something done or said contrary to religious beliefs.
If you don't like Duane Chapman why not just say that and explain why. Why bring Christianity into it, because he is a born again Christian. If you truely were simply offended at the thought of a bail bondsman / bounty hunter having a criminal record that would be one thing but slamming Chapman and throwing a little jab or dig about his faith, this is where the problem for me exists.
You know what don't watch his show boycott A&E write a letter to the A&E Execs. Heck write your congressman and start a petition regarding licensing and criminal records. But dont say how much you dislike someone and in the same sentence talk about his faith, unless it's a faith you follow you are out of line. Again I am gonna repeat my self here for you and any one else that reads your blog, Duane Chapman was not convicted of Murder but accesory to Murder there is a difference.
I wonder do you have the same contempt and dislike for those of the Jewish faith that have criminal records and are Bankers or maybe aquired there fortunes through less than legal ways to start businesses, because the reality here is that Chapman is a banker, when you need bail and a loan to pay it you don't run off to a bank for the loan you go to a bail bondsman, when a bank feels there is no way to recoup their money they forclose, well Dog Chapman is just forclosing on them so he doesn't lose the posted bond. Simply put he is a business man who obviously blessed with charisma and character landed himself a television show that millions tune into every week. Don't like it don't watch and maybe stay away from Crown Royal we all know where that money came from and I'm sure with such high morals you will be sure and find out which companies may have started with less than legal backrounds.
Jason Clarke
PS as far as nabbing Lustre cudos to the Chapmans, The MExicans knew where he was and weren't about to do a damn thing about it, so no matter what you think of Chapman. He did a service for the US legal system.
PS: For Anonymous poster
I do not hold myself up to the un-attainable standards of perfection. However there is in my opinion a huge difference between a Rapist, A Pedophile and some one convicted of Accesory to Murder. Pedophiles and Rapists are in a category all their own, less than human. Where do you draw the line, I don't know but pedophiles and rapists are my line. I just don't agree with someone bashing anothers faith and using a celebrity figure to do it. My opinion is that Doug is nothing more than an ignorant person who believes he is better than all,and his faith is above all others.
It is the rants of the ignorant that cause the most reaction.
I never got the impression that he thinks he's above everyone else (the blogger that is) or that his faith is above everyone elses. I think he was calling a spade a spade and the fact of the matter is Duane Chapman ruined a lot of lives with his drug dealing and was convicted of murder. He should have served life for that.
Frankly I don't give a shit, and wouldn't give him ten seconds to watch his self serving program.
If you truly watch the show in an unbiased fashion, you will find that Duane believes that we all make mistakes. Not once in our lives, but over and over. No one is going to ever live perfectly. That being said, I agree that he messes up sometimes, using profane language and the like. But the bottom line is that he changes himself from being a total detriment of society to a positive person, making a difference every single day. You will see that he sacrifices his business many times over, to give someone else the second chance that someone once gave him. He performs a service for the community when the courts will not. He recovers criminals that the justice system ignores, and then tells him that he used to be just like them. He counsels them and tries to help him, even if it means risking a loss for his business. We all make mistakes, and we learn from them. We gradually learn and change over time. He is living proof of that. I think he will continue to improve, and he will take some of those that no one else will help with him on that journey to becoming positive, productive members of society.
As for his conviction, yes, even he has admitted he was wrong, as are other former gang members that have cleaned up their act. If we persecute them for the rest of their lives, what is the point of living right? If they continue in that lifestyle, then yes, by all means they should be very limited in their jobs. But if they have the courage to change their lives and even decide to fight the gang lifestyle and even change the paths that others like them would choose? I say make them President if they want. We need more forgiveness and love in this world, and more understanding. We all have things we are ashamed of. Some of us wear it on our sleeve for all to see, and others are secrets that we hope will never get out. Imagine if yours was out in the open. Would you be forgiven? Would you be trusted? GO DOG!
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