Comments on: on plagiarism and faith

By: Songbird

Songbird — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:27:32 +0000

This is a very interesting angle. Preaching is all about the sharing of ideas, giving our own gloss on some combination of scholarship, experience and what’s in the air this week. Political speech at its best is the same and therefore not unique but rather organic.
It wasn’t brilliant in this video-obsessed age to use someone else’s words exactly and not credit them, not because it was plagiarism but because it stirred up a preventable storm.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:41:05 +0000

I think Obama is such a preacher. And while churches need good administration and such, they rarely thrive without inspiring, challenging, hope-filled preaching. Given the scant policy differences b/w O and C, I decided to go with the preacher.

Appreciate your thoughts on the plagiarism issue, for sure.

By: jledmiston

jledmiston — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:46:19 +0000

Very interesting. I’ve often thought that Obama sounds like a preacher (even when he’s politicking.) Great post.

By: Rev Dr Mom

Rev Dr Mom — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:40:08 +0000

Very interesting an compelling argument you’ve made here.

And really, don’t we all internalize phrases and cadences and ways of saying things that work? Not the same as plagiarizing in a written document. Not really plagiarizing at all.

By: recovering baptist

recovering baptist — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:01:26 +0000

Very interesting. During a speech following the Challenger disaster Reagan used the line “reached out my hand and touched the face of God.” He was familiar with the poem and used the line in a moving speech. I don’t remember any clamor then about plaguerism. I think one of the problems today is society is not used to gifted oration. When we think of great orators we think of Churchill or MLK. Both reflected and used phrases that meant something to their audiences in the way you explained. That Obama and his campaign manager/assistant use same or similar phrases shouldn’t surprise since they have a unified message and words convey message.

Along the same lines, several years ago I attended a Christmas fellowship of an Iranian christian congregation in Houston. (we lived in Iran for several years) I found it interesting that devotionals, testimonies and praises were give in a form of verse. Poetry and verse is loved and a part of Iranian culture and used frequently. These christians still identified with their culture even in a foreign land and even their christian speech reflected that. I hope my mention of part of the “axis of evil” doesn’t offend your readers.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:54:42 +0000

I realize this is my third comment, but everything that drips from my brain is a diamond.

One of the things you’re told to do on a job interview is demonstrate doing the job, not just talk about how you could do it if given a chance. If the job is unifying people, Obama’s demonstrating an ability to do that before we’re even to the election.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:51:26 +0000

What interested me about her is that I’d managed to absorb some vague idea about her being “shrill” without ever having actually seen her in a debate. My boys are both sick right now, so they fell asleep early enough for me to watch this one.

I no longer think she’s shrill, and I realize I accepted that characterization unconsciously. My conscious reassessment of her is that she makes sense, but she takes cheap shots and won’t let go of them.

By: Mamala

Mamala — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:44:30 +0000

I agree with Patrick Appel at the Daily Dish…

There is a lot of talk this morning about Hillary allegedly plagiarizing John Edward’s or Bill Clinton’s lines. I don’t buy it for exactly the same reasons I didn’t buy the idea that Obama plagiarized lines. Political rhetoric isn’t subject to copyright. If those standards apply to Obama, then they also apply to Clinton. The difference is I don’t expect the Obama campaign to jump all over her for allegedly lifting lines.

By: Preacher Mom

Preacher Mom — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:43:44 +0000

Thank you.

You know, I think it’s just this very lack of understanding of different cultures that is at the root of so many of our problems, in church and in the public arena. Your explanation here is helpful.

I’ve tried to like Hillary. Really, I have. But last night’s “hope you can xerox” comment just confirmed my gut feelings about her. She’s just too bitchy to bring about any form of unity.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:32:25 +0000

If you’re right, the accusation of plagiarism is racist.

Putting that aside, originality of expression is not the point of a political speech. Clear expression of an idea is. Criticizing a politician for using words he’s heard express his idea well is like criticizing a poet for merely using different words when expressing an idea other poets have tackled before.

It just isn’t the point.