Richard Land, Plagiarist

[Bruce Gourley]

Congratulations to our own Aaron Weaver for catching Richard Land red-handed as a serial plagiarist. At least one of Land's plagiarized presentations was from the Moonie-owned Washington Times.

I would not be surprised if more plagiarism surfaces on Land.

[Dave Roberts]

For a man in charge of ethics, that should be a death knell since it marks him as a thief--unless the SBC wants a thief running the ethics shop.

[Haruo]

Ah, but plagiarism (the concept, not just the word) is not biblical. Biblical writers freely plagiarized and no one in the Sanhedrin or the Church thought there was anything amiss. Now we have "intellectual property" notions that simply weren't available when the prophets and apostles were writing.

[Gene Scarborough]

The picture of Richard Land show jowls and eyes that, I suspect are dancing, = he be crazy!

Perhaps his Republican suspenders are cutting off blood flow to his brain these days. I fail to see much ethics in his partisan rants---especially when they taste of racism. He is hardly following the steps of men who served in his position with admiration (and sometimes hate) because they were Prophets in their time and not appreciated.

[Tim Dahl]

BDW's story over Land has made the Washington Post. Good job, BDW!!!

Tim

[Dave Roberts]

BDW's story over Land has made the Washington Post. Good job, BDW!!!

Tim

This seems to be a growing story, and all Land's friends and defenders suddenly seem very silent.

[William Thornton]

Land apologizes, here.

The link is a Baptist Press article. A quote:

Richard Land

"On occasion I have failed to provide appropriate verbal attributions on my radio broadcast, Richard Land Live!, and for that I sincerely apologize," Land said in the statement, which also was posted on the show's website. "I regret if anyone feels they were deceived or misled. That was not my intent nor has it ever been."

A Baptist saying things without verbal attribution? Shocking?

Land's act is a little old to me, even before this, a bit too shrill and partisan for my erlc taste. To be honest, he looks unwell to me.

But my mod/lib friends here deserve a break today, have at it. I figure I'll get in a lick or two after the CBF sexuality conference.

[Gene Scarborough]

Speaking of the Conference on Sexuality, William---have you changed you mind and gotten up the courage to see it first hand???

If Land is lurking in the corners, keep your back to the wall

[KeithE]

Land apologizes, here.

The link is a Baptist Press article. A quote:

Richard Land

"On occasion I have failed to provide appropriate verbal attributions on my radio broadcast, Richard Land Live!, and for that I sincerely apologize," Land said in the statement, which also was posted on the show's website. "I regret if anyone feels they were deceived or misled. That was not my intent nor has it ever been."

A Baptist saying things without verbal attribution? Shocking?

Land's act is a little old to me, even before this, a bit too shrill and partisan for my erlc taste. To be honest, he looks unwell to me.

But my mod/lib friends here deserve a break today, have at it. I figure I'll get in a lick or two after the CBF sexuality conference.

Yap, licking at the chops.

[Big Daddy Weaver]

I'm exhausted from checking Twitter all day, responding to emails and talking with reporters (the latter of which is more stressful than I ever imagined).

All in all, I'm sure my day was much better than Richard Land's.

The plagiarism stuff is a side issue, in my opinion. He's done serious damage with his race commentary. I sense that Bryant Wright recognizes that his sincere efforts at increasing ethnic diversity have been harmed greatly thanks to Land.

My understanding - based on a report from an African-American talk radio host - is that Bryant Wright plans on releasing a statement tomorrow regarding Land's race comments.

We'll see what happens.

[Gene Scarborough]

"The higher the monkey climbs the tree---the more you see his tail!"

[Jerry_B]

As I was reading the articles, I couldn't stop thinking "Hey, I know that guy!". I'm not sure if congratulations are in order for catching someone one plagiarizing, but good job none the less.

Concerning Land, William is right, his holier then though mentality and have grown very, very stale. In fact it wouldn't surprise me to hear that he has decided to "spend more time with the family" in the near future.

[Ed Pettibone]

"The higher the monkey climbs the tree---the more you see his tail!" Says the only professional tree climber on these boards

[Gene Scarborough]

ED---I don't climb them anymore.

I certainly know a Baptist monkey / Pharisee when I see one so I will pass a "Yankee comment" and be nicer than you

[Ed Pettibone]

ED---I don't climb them anymore.

I certainly know a Baptist monkey / Pharisee when I see one so I will pass a "Yankee comment" and be nicer than you

Ed: Gene i have no idea what that comment is supposed to mean.

[Gene Scarborough]

My check of Baptists Today religious posts shows 4 yesterday from BP to Washington Post to USA Today.

All show our Baptist Chief Ethical Monkey, Land, showing more tail than he might survive. All trees get smaller limbs as you get further from the ground and some of his might be sending him to a hard landing and the mental hospital!!!

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2012/04/baptist-richard-land-ethics-obama-plagiarism/1

[Stephen Fox]

See my post in Baptist History for larger picture in this matter.

I posted on Weaver's blogsite, also on the latest reports today at abpnews.com

[Gene Scarborough]

I found it = where Richard Land gets some of his ideas:

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/906162/awful%3A_gop_rep._wants_tax_hikes_for_the_poor%2C_says_they_%E2%80%98don%E2%80%99t_have_skin_in_the_game%E2%80%99/#paragraph2

Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, defended the House Republican budget at a tax policy summit yesterday — as well as the broader idea that taxes on the wealthy need to be cut while taxes on lower-income Americans should be raised. When asked by ThinkProgress’ Scott Keyes to square the GOP’s explicit desire to cut taxes for the rich with the fact that it’s budget would raise taxes on low-income working Americans, Tiberi responded by saying that to do otherwise would be to “beat up on people who are trying to be successful.” He then made the case for raising taxes on the poor by lamenting that they don’t have any “skin in the game”:

The compassion for the poor simply drips from Republicans these days---NOT!!!

[Gene Scarborough]

BP reports the seriousness of Richard Land's problems = enough for a formal investigation:

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37630

My reading comes up with "non-committal" on what they might do. They have a hot potatoe and a man living more on ego than wisdom.

During my College and Seminary days, plagerism was grounds for dismissal as a student and it would certainly go to an "F" by the grader catching you. What should they do with Richard Land?

At Emory, it would put you before the Student Council and Dean of Students for possible dismissal! They believed more in education than intercollegent athletics---and demanded a level of integrity in thinking which certainly challenged me.

The full text of the ERLC trustee executive committee statement follows:

FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE ETHICS AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION
OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

On Monday, April 16, 2012, Dr. Richard Land informed the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission that he had become embroiled in a controversy involving his criticism of the actions of certain community and political leaders in the wake of the tragic death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. He requested a meeting with the Executive Committee to inform us of the controversy and answer any questions we might have. Dr. Land has been very candid and forthcoming with us, and he has apologized to us and to the entire Board of Trustees for creating this controversy.

We recognize that Dr. Land's comments, substantively, have angered many and opened wounds from the past. Moreover, Dr. Land has admitted that he quoted sections of articles related to the Trayvon Martin matter in his Richard Land Live! radio broadcast without giving clear and proper credit to the authors of those articles. We understand that additional instances of this kind in connection with the Richard Land Live! program may come to light.

The Executive Committee is very saddened that this controversy has erupted, and is very concerned about how these events may damage the work of the ERLC in support of Southern Baptists and in furtherance of the Kingdom of our Lord.

(more follows)

[Stephen Fox]

The SBC Executive Committee has a lot of work to do.

Bishop TuTu was willing to forgive, but he was resolute about truth telling

[Gene Scarborough]

This "Land thing" is now reaching the Huffington Post via Johnathan Merritt, son of one of the "big boys" of CR:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-merritt/richard-land-and-the-southern-baptist-race-problem_b_1430019.html?ref=fb

In the last 30 years or so, however, the SBC has made progress. Criswell apologized for his position before he died, and the convention passed a Johnny-come-lately "Resolution on Racism" in 1989 stating, "Southern Baptists have not always clearly stood for racial justice and equality." Better late than never.

Additionally, the denomination is expected to elect their first African-American President in Fred Luter at the upcoming annual convention in June. And a top-level task force will recommend an alternate name, "Great Commission Baptists," in part because of the racial baggage their historic name holds.

But below the surface, the largest Protestant denomination in North America still has serious race problems, proving once again that old paradigms die hard.

A few years ago, the publishing arm of the SBC released Vacation Bible School curriculum largely thought to be racist toward Asians. Titled "Far-out Far East Rickshaw Rally," the resources drew heavily on Asian stereotypes. The materials included chopsticks, karate uniforms, takeout boxes and images of rickshaws, a recognized symbol of injustice. Despite passionate outcries from Asian-American Christians, the curriculum was distributed to an estimated 20,000 American churches.

Seeing such racial insensitivity from Christians in the 21st century -- an era that was supposed to usher in a post-racial reality, according to some -- is maddening. It is, in the words of Anne Lamott, "enough to make Jesus drink gin straight out of the cat dish."

Tweets are flying like s*** hitting a fan (sorry Ed, it is "tree talk"). This thing is becoming more and more viral and I have a hunch Land it either "officially done" or is fading fast no matter what he says of does into the future. The Ethics monkey may well have climbed his last tree before breaking his neck in a fall!

[Stephen Fox]

I submitted this comment to Merritt's blog

Jonathan:
Do engage the conversation on this matter in the History and Heritage forum of www.baptistlife.com/forums
It is a simple registration; and one step confirmation.
Adrian Rogers son David has participated on occasion.
As Time allows would love to have an ongoing public conversation with you on these matters; broadening to wider conversation with children of the SBC Takeover, including Harry Dent's daughter of ginnybrant.com
Do get in touch.
Would love to explore this further in the framework I outline at Bl.com
Stephen Fox
Collinsville, Al

[Gene Scarborough]

The criticism is growing and heading toward "he should go:"

http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/7324/53/

ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) – An influential black pastor says the Southern Baptist Convention should repudiate remarks about race by the head of its ethics commission, and if Richard Land does not repent he should be fired.

Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, said in an April 18 blog that comments on the March 31 Richard Land Live! radio program about race and politics surrounding the Trayvon Martin death were the “most damaging, alienating and offensive words about race” by an SBC leader in the 28 years he has served as a Southern Baptist pastor and church planter.

================================================================================================

McKissic said he found even more troubling comments attributed to Land in an Associated Press story justifying racial profiling and saying that he believes most Southern Baptists agree with him. “If he is accurate in his assessment, it confirms the suspicion that many black Baptists have held for years regarding Southern Baptists; and that is many Southern Baptists, if not the majority, inherently and instinctively don’t honestly respect, relate to or view blacks with a mindset of mutual respect, equality and understanding,” McKissic said. “Blacks are primarily viewed as mission projects, not as mission partners. Inadvertently, Dr. Land opened to us the window of his heart and showed us this painful reality.”

McKissic said Land’s rationale that a person is more likely to be harmed by a black than white male would make him a suspect if a crime occurred at an SBC annual meeting while he was attending. “Now that I know how Dr. Land feels about profiling, I no longer feel welcome at an SBC gathering, especially if the majority of the SBC agrees,” he said.

Why would a man of retirement age not see the wisdom of gracefully resigning? It is just one more example of how things have changed in the SBC from days of "separation of church and state" to White Republican hate---and that focused on a half-white President duely elected. Now the words are even plagerized!

[Ed Pettibone]

Gene ask

Why would a man of retirement age not see the wisdom of gracefully resigning? It is just one more example of how things have changed in the SBC from days of "separation of church and state" to White Republican hate---and that focused on a half-white President duely elected. Now the words are even plagerized!

Ed: At this point how would he get out "gracefully"? That option seems to be closed.

[Gene Scarborough]

The only grace available, it seems to me, is to resign and hope time takes away the stigma of stupidity and arrogance.

He now knows how David felt when confronted with his sin. None of us is perfect----just forgiven.