Introduction

Tiger Woods has rocked the golf world this week by his transgressions.  Frankly, I'm tired of all the Tiger jokes and news reporting surrounding these events.  The fallout from this event will no doubt be great.  I feel bad for the man and his family. I hope they all find healing soon. Having said all this, I find reaction in different circles quite illuminating. 

Zipper Gate Bill Clinton

Another similar scandal rocked the nation in our distant past.  I was a mere PhD student in Sheffield, England when Ken Starr's investigation of Clintons' zipper gate was in full swing.  Everyday, I watched endless news clips of the same issue of whether Clinton did indeed have sexual relation with Miss Lewinsky.  The news gave Clinton's exploits so much press that one of my British friends asked me whether Americans only cared about sexual matters.

We can hardly blame the media. After all, if we do not watch the news, they would not report on that matter.  No matter what, the media was meant to do one thing only, whether it claimed otherwise or not; media is meant to entertain, not inform.  Sex is enormously entertaining.  More important were the reactions of Americans to Bill's misdeeds.  Some were quite eager to forget while others were quick to condemn.  Many were willing to forgive as long as Bill finally came clean about his misdeeds.  Who has not committed some shameful indiscretion in his or her life time?  So the argument goes.  Yet, so many (especially evangelical Christians) still question, "Can ole' Bill stay good?"

Tiger Hunting

The media interest about Tiger Woods' situation is no less vigorous than the Clinton affair.  In fact, the news would even report on the new house Tiger's wife Elin Nordegren bought in Sweden which has nothing to do with the situation.  Comedians and talk show hosts like Letterman lampooned Tiger mercilessly.  Shouldn't we find it just a bit curious that Letterman was involved in not a few allegations of marital indiscretions and sexual harrassment cases himself?  How can someone who lives in a glass house throw rocks, so the question goes? 

Instead of being contrite, Letterman actually took a poll on Dec. 7th from his audience between his indiscretion and Tiger's.  Some clap for Letterman while others clap for Tiger.  I would say that this tasteless act of Letterman certainly made my all-time "top-ten list", top-ten least favorite TV moments that is.

I'm certainly not in any position to judge all the circumstances surrounding either Letterman or the Tiger.  Yet, the reactions between Clinton and Letterman are so vastly different that I think there is something deeper going on in our society here.  Clinton at least acted contrite.  Letterman compared notes.  Yet, so many cried out against Clinton AFTER he made his confession while hardly anyone faults Letterman for his hypocritical and tasteless humor on the expense of other people's suffering.

Shifting Paradigm?

Some may think that there is a double standard between reactions towards Tiger and towards Bill.  Others may think that Christians still worship celebrity with a squeaky clean image while heaping disdain on those whose views are radically different from evangelical politcial interest.  All these claims may be true. To all these problems, I have the same reaction, "The poor families of these flawed men." I think the issue is still larger.

The very fact Letterman's jokes are accepted as part of our entertainment shows something about a shifting moral paradigm in our society.  In the time of Clinton around mid to late 90's, people (even Christians) were so willing to forgive if the sinner confessed.  Now, people are not only willing to forgive but are also willing to endorse someone who is hypocritical IF the transgression is not done "this minute." So, the latest sinner gets the greatest shame.

Conclusion

Many think that the electronic age gives our next generation a short attention span. I'm unsure if this is true.  I am however quite sure that the speed of electronic media gives us short moral memories. A serious and hurtful transgression can become not only the butt of late-night joke, but the comedian can justify his own shortfalls (as if a few "hahahah" will solve the complex societal problem of marriage and family) by showing that HE is not the LATEST and therefore not the GREATEST sinner.  Letterman's acceptance is more a commentary on our society than on either Bill Clinton or Tiger Woods or David Letterman.