American Idolatry

by Gabe Berman

Gabe is a freelance writer for the Miami Herald and author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

No, for the 20^th time today, I didn’t watch the American Idol finale.  But the family of five sitting near me at a restaurant last night definitely did.  They rudely rushed their server to hurry up with their check because they didn’t want to miss the opening of Idol.

God forbid.

Please know I’m not here to judge the millions who religiously tune in every week.  The show is incredibly entertaining, provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance for unknown musicians and, as it was once said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

I’m only pointing to the bigger picture: we are a country of idolaters.  And although politicians, usually on the right, claim America was founded on Judeo-Christian values, they need you to break one of the Ten Commandments – You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me.

They need you to rush home to watch Idol.  They need you to discuss it for weeks after.  They need you to stay uninterested and uniformed about the real issues.  So when someone like Senator John McCain says, “I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation,” you’re unsure if you should question it.

But question it you should.  Because if we are in fact a country founded on Judeo-Christian values, we surely have lost the connection to our roots.

The sage Hillel is one of the most important figures in Jewish history and said, “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.  That is the whole Torah; the rest is explanation…”

And Jesus, who needs no introduction, stated, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Neither of these quotes sounds very American, but Palin, McCain, Bachmann, Limbaugh, Rove, Giuliani, Bush, Cheney, Steele, Jindal, Vitter and the rest of the hypocrites don’t want you dwelling on what was actually said by the people they claim to admire.

They’d rather you focus on what comes out of the mouth of American Idol judge Randy Jackson:  What up dawg?

By: Gabe Berman

Gabe Berman is a native New Yorker who settled in South Florida after graduating from the University of Miami. An epiphany, a passion, and a trail of breadcrumbs led him out of Corporate America and into the career he was meant for. After eight years of writing columns for the Miami Herald, his book - Live Like A Fruit Fly - was published by HCI Books and subsequently endorsed by Deepak Chopra. His second book, The Complete B.S. Free and Totally Tested Writing Guide, helps artists find their voice and his latest work, Where Is God When Our Loved Ones Get Sick?, uncovers the answer to this haunting question.