Arnold’s Charity

Posted on August 14, 2003 in Gray Davis Recall Morals & Ethics

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s been putting out a lot of dough to show what a generous man he is. “What a good Christian he is to give the Archibishop of Los Angeles a $2.5 million home!”

We forget, however, the advice given to the “poor little rich man” who wanted to enter Heaven:

And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life? And He said to him: :Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which?” And Jesus said “You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. [Matthew Chapter 19: 16-22]

What impresses me about Arnold’s gifts is not that they witness to a love of God, but are dedicated to promoting his own name as an actor and as a gubenatorial candidate. When he gives everything he has to poor people, moves into a rental unit in Watts, and disappears from the press, then I will be impressed with his fear of his place in the life to come. Until then, he’s just a pretender to sainthood, a pusher for name recognition, another rich man who thinks that because he can buy big houses for big names that he has bought a ticket to heaven. Or maybe he knows that this pity potlach is only for hoodwinking believers, so he can serve his real masters the destitute oil millionaires?

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There is a good review of recall issues from Oregonian natasha of Pacific Views.

I’m not terribly impressed with the items The Talent Show’s greg gives as skeletons in Arnold’s closet. The issues we choose should appeal to all voters, (i.e. enslavement to Texas is something to resist) though maybe stealing from one of those commercials he shows could have a nice effect.

And I agree with the Daily Kos. Davis is keeping a cool head amid all the smoking circus wienies who are trying to seize his office. There’s a Profile in Courage happening now in Sacramento. Despite my differences with Gray, I am all for allowing character to win the day here.