David's Harp: Owed to Anthony

We gawked and stalked. We punned and had fun. In shock, we asked “how?” and then acted holier than thou.

Some didn’t care, others pointed with indignation, while colleagues joined with foes demanding resignation.

A week of comparisons as to which of the tumbled politicians were cleaner. It was a time of jokes and headlines where the double entendre was always Weiner.

Nevertheless, what should follow the ludeness, the rudeness, the transgress, the scantiness, the undress, the paparazzi press, the craziness, the sadness, the personal stress, the second guess, the twitter mess and the false witness? Perhaps the next verse is forgiveness.

We talk a big talk and pray a good prayer and sing a sweet psalm. There’s no harm, it’s so easy when all is calm.

Absolve our sin oh our Father our King. I am guilty and I have trespassed; we supplicate and fast. As we plead before our Judge for a kind advocate, our arbitration of others should also be compassionate.

Humanity is only human; and mankind rests on the kindness of man. We are so quick to toss out our fellow and step on the fallen. We’re present for the admonishment and absent when the atoner comes calling.

Even if we disagree with the way his politics ticks or a mile from his side of the aisle, we should preach what we teach and stop the scolding for a while.

We excuse the movie star and pardon the football player; certainly we can afford a sincere moment of concern for a civil servant and wannabe mayor.

Can our world change? Can one man change? Do we give more consideration to the stock exchange?

Was there such a breach of trust with fraudulent intent? Was this a dramatic event? Unequalled discontent? Unparalleled descent? Incomparable torment? To what extent? To what percent? When do we turn our back on one who laments? And when do we accept the words of the sinner who repents? He certainly suffered embarrassment.

“It’s his own fault, he has himself to blame. He brought shame on his fame and his name.” We say as we join in and play “who is the guilty one” game.

When a sojourner wears the scarlet letter, let’s be honest, it makes each of us feel and look a little better.

Sure, our first reaction is to knee jerk. Forget the election and he should never work.

Who should have his job? Some other men? What do we know of them? At least we can bet he won’t do it again.

“No sin is so light that it may be overlooked,” said the sage Ibn Ezra with love. He added. “No sin is so heavy that it may not be repented of.”

At the end of the day, it’s either a character flaw we often see, or an unfortunate fleeting anomaly. Timing is everything and now he’s having a family. And so with dignity and sympathy and without cruelty, we should accept the penitent from the man we will now simply call Anthony.