Abilene Christian University Center for Conflict Resolution

Distinct Impressions > Volume Four, Nos. 31-45 > 4-32 Unconfirmed Sources

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Unconfirmed Sources (Vol. 4, No. 32)

Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings rallied around their comrade-in-arms, Dan Rather, this past week.

You remember Dan, the news anchor who broke the story about President Bush’s military service record. You remember, the story based on false documents. You remember, the false documents supplied by a disgruntled former officer who has been a thorn in the side of the Texas National Guard for a good number of years.

CBS News didn’t confirm the source of the documents. And seemingly more important, Dan Rather didn’t confirm the sources. And now he’s embroiled in a scandal that many people say – or at least the many people who are reporters on Fox News – that this is the death of the news departments of the Big Three networks.

So it wasn’t surprising that the news anchors of the Big Three showed up together at a special event in New York. Dan Rather didn’t come to his own defense. CBS had asked him not to talk about the incident until an investigation has been completed. But Messrs. Brokaw and Jennings did.

Most of what these newsmen had to say was pretty predictable. Defense of a fellow industry worker. Defense of the network news organizations. Condemnation of conservative viewpoints. Condemnation of those who condemn them. Perhaps what they had to say was very predictable.

The most important thing shouldn’t have had to have been said. Basically, Tom and Peter expressed remorse that Dan is being castigated for one mistake in the midst of his sterling career.

They’re right.

It doesn’t matter whether you think Dan has had a sterling career or that this is his only mistake. The point is that, at this time in history, this is his biggest mistake and threatens to be the defining moment of his life. There is something disturbing about that. Common, yet disturbing. We tend to paper the walls of our history halls with events in the lives of others that were less than heroic.

Think not? What do you remember most about Richard M. Nixon? Or Howard Hughes? Or Benedict Arnold? Or Bill Clinton? Or Clyde Thompson?

Most of you don’t know about Clyde Thompson. A friend of mine, Don Umphrey, wrote the story of his life. Titled it the “Meanest Man in Texas” or something like that. Seems Clyde killed a man and went to prison. And while in prison he killed several more. He was so feared that they locked him in the prison morgue in solitary confinement for years. Not wanting to provide him with potential weapons, prison officials forced him to eat with his hands. He would wake at night to the tickling sensation of roaches and mice eating the crumbs and grease from his fingers.

But something happened to Clyde. He found Jesus in that morgue. Studied the Bible by correspondence. Even married the woman who dutifully sent those courses. And emerged from prison a changed man. When I met him, he was a minister to prisoners touching hundreds of hearts with the saving message of Christ.

I hope I’m standing close by when God judges Clyde. I want to see the expression on the faces of those around him when the story of his life is told. I want to feel the sense of justice and indignation rise as they hear of the men he killed. And I want to hear the incredible gasp that will escape their lips when pardon is granted.

For it’s not the way of our world to look past a single, glaring mistake and certainly not a multitude of errors. Yet, that’s what God will do for those who seek Him.

I sit with people on a regular basis who want to judge someone else based on a single act. It doesn’t seem to matter what good they have done or what amends have been made. One wrong is sufficient to condemn. And nothing will ever change that position.

The biggest barrier to getting along with others is the inability to forgive. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that consequences should follow our actions. Penalties and punishments are appropriate consequences. Withholding forgiveness is not.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’”

“Jesus answered …” Well, you know what Jesus answered. (Matthew 18: 21-22, NIV)

Shine On!

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