Christian Love versus Christian Superstition

Keith Olbermann had a great "special comment" on the passage of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry:



Note how Keith asks this question:

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not... understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you?

Here is the typical answer you might get from church officials:

“Alternatives to the legal and loving marriage between a man and a woman are helping to unravel the fabric of human society. I am sure this is pleasing to the devil. The fabric I refer to is the family. These so-called alternative life-styles must not be accepted as right, because they frustrate God’s commandment for a life-giving union of male and female within a legal marriage as stated in Genesis. If practiced by all adults, these life-styles would mean the end of the human family.”
-- President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Pope Benedict had said: "Christians must defend traditional heterosexual marriage as a 'pillar of humanity' benefiting Christians and non-Christians." A couple other examples of answers:

Marriage is supposed to be a sacred bond between man and woman in a one–to–one ratio. I want to see that bond protected. -- Jamie Edgerly

And...

...because homosexual sex - the underlying basis for such unions - causes harm to those engaged in such activities. Doctors have indicated the physical harm it causes and psychologists have pointed out the emotional and psychological harm that ensues. But over and above these very serious considerations is the spiritual harm that results from this sexual behaviour.
-- John-Henry Westen

So, do you think that if Keith Olbermann had heard those explanations for opposing gay marriage that he wouldn't have a question any more? Do those explanations make sense for you?

If they do, please leave a comment and explain them to me. I might pick up on this later if someone can explain them. In the mean time I'll leave you with this:

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Ben Affleck as Keith Olbermann on Saturday Night Live

Compare to the real thing:





Ben Affleck got the manufactured hyper shock-to-outrage-to-anger that goes with a Keith Olbermann performance down fairly well. And it must be a performance because no one can be shocked and outraged everyday on demand without it being a performance. However, the writers missed some great opportunities, like Olbermann’s constant, almost every show, obsession with “Bill Oh Really” and his more obscure taste in Twilight Zone metaphors.

The key to Keith Olbermann's act is the movie "Network" and the character of Howard Beale (Peter Finch), "the mad prophet of the airways":



And it's explicit and openly so:



When Olbermann channels Howard Beale he is already exploiting that touch of madness; a man almost driven mad by an insane world. What the writers pulled from the SNL version of Olbermann's performance is the world that drives a credible shock, outrage and anger. Another phony aspect of the skit is the way the guests disagree with Olbermann. That almost never happens on Olbermann's show. Often the guests point out that things are actually worse than Olbermann previously thought.

Yea, they crunched down on Olbermann's self-conscious style, but they couldn't really touch his substance without lying.