OK, I can’t keep it to myself any longer. Our world’s obsession with scandal is over the top.  I have heard enough!

Why are we so preoccupied with scandal, negativity, hatred and salaciousness? Why is the alcoholic telephone rage of Mel Gibson of interest to so many tabloids and “news” shows?  Why does heartache and break-up, divorce, adultery, and scandal intrigue us?

Why do we care about Briston Palin and her scandalous teen pregnancy and out-of-wedlock birth?  Why do we care about her boyfriend/Trigg’s father, Levi Johnson?

For the tabloids and “news” shows, it’s only about viewers and money.  They know that we’ll watch if there’s a raunchy headline.  They know we want to hear about people at their worst.

Why do we want to hear about people’s heartaches, bad-behavior and tragedies?  I think because it is cathartic to hear that other people are having hard lives, too.  Perhaps we get a sense of relief, or unity when we hear that others have it worse than us.  May be we feel a little better when others (may be like we do sometimes) make big mistakes, behave badly, and treat each other poorly.

Raging curses, public arguments and humiliations no longer interest me.  They are having a rebound effect on my attention and sensibilities: I feel profoundly sad about what Mel Gibson probably did and said.  I empathize with his girlfriend, but then feel great remorse that the telephone tapes have been shared publicly. It all seems so desperate, cheap and crude.  If Gibson was indeed abusive, that’s absolutely tragic.  It all makes me wonder what happened to him to have made him so beserk?  What happened to her to make her resort to such lengths?

I feel for Bristol Palin and Levi Johnson; the whole relationship mess is embarrassing and unfortunate, and I hope they’re doing the right thing by getting together and going through with the marriage.  I hope there’s true love there, for their sake, and especially for Trigg.

I will pray for all of them.  I will pray that we can all see the truth, and be our best, and treat each other with only love and kindness.