v. blushed, blush-ing, blush-es
.to become red in the face, especially from modesty, embarrassment, or shame; flush.
. to become red or rosy.
. to feel embarrassed or ashamed: blushed at his own audacity.
Dennis Miller, on his radio show, uses the phrase "losing our blush" for our reaction to bad behavior.
I think most of society would still like to pass under the radar when they screw up, but it does make you wonder about some of the scandals going on in Washington, or the implausible excuses given by our elected officials when they are caught doing stupid things.
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Of course I'm talking about Anthony Weiner, who resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives after mistakenly tweeting a photo of his penis to Twitter followers (it was intended as a private gift to just one young woman -- and it wasn't his wife). A few months after resigning, he was back at it again, allegedly sending photos to as many as 10 other women.
The people of New York City pride themselves on being the ultimate "melting pot," culturally sophisticated and on society's cutting edge. That must apply to very few of its nearly 9 million citizens, because there is no way Weiner should still be in the running to replace Mayor Bloomberg.
So have the people of New York City lost their ability to recognize bad behavior or what?
Have we become so desensitized to this kind of behavior that it just doesn't matter any more? Have we reached the point where we have genetically removed the blush gene? If so, it might explain why we don't hold politicians, athletes and movie stars to higher standards, and why the people violating our sense of right and wrong never back down.
They mutter a half-hearted apology and hope we don't catch them at it again.
Earlier this month, the baseball world was rocked with the suspension of Ryan Braun. As a member of the 2011 Milwaukee Brewers, Braun was an All Star, won the National League MVP and the Silver Slugger award. During that time, he came under scrutiny for a disputed testosterone test that he failed, and then was linked in 2012 to the Biogenesis of America Clinic that allegedly provided performance-enhancing drugs to professional baseball players.
After denying repeatedly that he had done anything wrong, Braun was defended by other sports figures, his teammates and fans of the Milwaukee Brewers. In July, the hammer came down -- Braun was suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2013 season. His response? "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions." (Doesn't even sound like an apology does it?)
How is it possible Braun had fooled so many, including those who knew him best? How could he look into the camera and lie so convincingly about his involvement in PEDs? Where was the shame? And why were we so willing to believe his lies?
Sometimes the shame comes from the perpetrator taking a position that harms other people. Anthony Weiner is certainly doing no favors to his wife, Huma Abedin, who must endure her own embarrassment by being linked to a creep who should be thrown in jail, not just out of public office.
For some, the salve used for those hurt by such lewd behavior is applied by the media. Take Hillary Clinton who has suffered repeatedly at the hands of former President Bill Clinton. The biased media portrayed Hillary as someone who stuck by her man despite affairs with Monica Lewinskly, Jennifer Flowers and Elizabeth Ward Gracen. We all know she was in it for the political power associated with Bill Clinton, but because she was a Democrat (and married to the President of the United States), she was given a pass -- no, even better, she was lifted up as someone who overlooked her husband's lewd behavior, and was better for it. She became a role model for future political wives, and as a result, society lost a little bit more of their ability to blush at such embarrassing behavior.
Sometimes it's hard for people to know that their behavior is embarrassing. Take hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons who continues to defend the black community despite evidence to the contrary. Simmons was quick to criticize the Zimmerman verdict, claiming that it was further proof of white racism. In response, people like Bill O'Riley pointed to the abhorrent statistics of crime, family structure and unemployment that are destroying black families. When CNN's Don Lemon, comedian Bill Cosby and columnist Thomas Sowell (all black) sited similar statistics, Russell called them "uncle Toms," "slaves," "dangerous talking heads," and a "disservice to the black community."
How embarrassing it must be to a black mother, father or child -- faced with the realities of the black community -- to hear someone like Russell criticize others for telling the truth. Shame on Russell for perpetrating such lies and shame on others who work the racial injustice system for power and money.
But then again, do you think Sharpton, Jackson and Russell feel shame with their expensive clothes, numerous houses and back room meetings with national labor unions?I doubt it, and another blush gets wiped away.
Attacks to the Constitution by members of Congress continue unabated -- and without consequences. Earlier this year, the IRS, Benghazi and wiretapping scandals threatened to bring down President Obama (not really, but that's what certain emails -- asking for my donations -- keep telling me).
It is truly astounding how our constitutional rights are being violated by these people and they show no shame or remorse. I've written before about these scandals, and unfortunately, months later we are no closer to finding out who's responsible. Bureaucrats in Washington are content to blame this bad behavior on minor players and promise to "get to the bottom of things." Really? This September marks a year since the Benghazi attacks -- and the killers are still walking the streets of Libya. But that's ok, because the people responsible are sorry.
The fact that the IRS is deciding presidential elections is denied, then forgotten. Despite the left's ardent attempts to convince voters that the IRS delayed applications by both conservative and liberal groups, the facts say otherwise. Does the media care? Of course not. Instead we devote hours of prime time television to Prince Harry and Princess Kate giving birth to a newborn son who is third in line to the Royal Crown. No one is really interested in a little bad behavior...
Thanks to the Democrat Party, political correctness and our cultural "elite," criticizing bad behavior is off limits. Discussions, whether online, on television or radio are becoming expressions of hate speech. "Abnormal," "immoral," and "sin" have become words that need to be banned and exterminated from our cultural discussions, as teachers, politicians and the media tell us to be more understanding.
Unless you're a Christian who believes in the Bible. Then you need to change with the times...
"Progress" is the new word for shame today. When we see abnormal behavior, we need to view it as an expression of something to be understood. We are told -- as children in school, and now as adults at home -- to grow in our understanding of what causes their behavior and see things from their perspective.
Lying, adultery and illegal drugs? They are things of the past. Just like our ability to blush at those committing them.
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