I recently (5 minutes ago) posted about this on Facebook, and I wanted to share this post here.
I am going to give quite a long post here, but I am feeling very moved and want to inform you all of a rather terrifying injustice currently taking place. To start, please know that this is an open letter coming from a place of love, not of a desire to call anyone out--I would not even start.
Many of you know I a working towards becoming a journalist. As I do so, I have been compiling a personal list of ethics and principles for myself; standards I desire to uphold as a writer trusted with providing accurate information and in a way that always glorifies God.
Many of you might also know what "link bait" is. If you don't, please understand it is a ridiculous "headline" concocted with the intention of people being too curious to pass up the link. As a future journalist, I am working hard to make sure I do not misrepresent my writing for attention like most (not all, but most) articles do.
This was all sparked because today I saw and read (because a journalist must get her facts) an article titled
"When Kylie Jenner challenged Sadie [Robertson] her response was BRUTALLY honest."
My first thought was, "How did she call her out?"
The answer? Kylie did no such thing.
Kylie is on the "reality" show "Keeping up With the Kardashians," and is 17 years old, like Sadie Robertson.
This article went through eight reasons detailing the ways Sadie is a far superior role model and human in comparison to Kylie.
I want to throw up.
This article paints a picture of Sadie for Kylie's fans that shows Sadie as self-righteous and judgmental.
It tells Sadie's fans to be self-righteous and judgmental.
I do not think the author quite intended to do this, but it was unfair regardless. Plus, one of the points was that Sadie has a more successful boyfriend...seriously.
This is terrible. Why on EARTH is this acceptable?
Kylie Jenner is a 17 year old girl who should not be shamed for having grown up in a spotlight and encouraged to be fake. Why are we not praying for Kylie instead of judging her? Why are we judging a 17 year old girl completely lost?
This point is part of what irritates me the most.
Why are we comparing Kylie and Sadie?
Why?
as Christians, we are constantly told and tell others to measure themselves up next to Jesus, and strive to be like Him.
Over and over we repeat that comparing ourselves to other men and women is unhealthy and hurtful. it is an imperfect scale.
So why are we doing this to two 17 year old girls with public images already surrounded by rumors that seek to tear them to shreds?
As a future journalist, I strive to only elevate discourse, as my advisor says. I want you all to recognize that this does not elevate discourse, but shames a girl and does nothing for either one involved but cause trouble. Please consider this when you read such articles. And please don't measure Kylie to Sadie. Instead pray for Kylie and Sadie. Both girls have similar situations, and both have their decisions analyzed obsessively. It cannot be fun. Be compassionate, please.
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." --Ephesians 4:29-32
--Leah
I am going to give quite a long post here, but I am feeling very moved and want to inform you all of a rather terrifying injustice currently taking place. To start, please know that this is an open letter coming from a place of love, not of a desire to call anyone out--I would not even start.
Many of you know I a working towards becoming a journalist. As I do so, I have been compiling a personal list of ethics and principles for myself; standards I desire to uphold as a writer trusted with providing accurate information and in a way that always glorifies God.
Many of you might also know what "link bait" is. If you don't, please understand it is a ridiculous "headline" concocted with the intention of people being too curious to pass up the link. As a future journalist, I am working hard to make sure I do not misrepresent my writing for attention like most (not all, but most) articles do.
This was all sparked because today I saw and read (because a journalist must get her facts) an article titled
"When Kylie Jenner challenged Sadie [Robertson] her response was BRUTALLY honest."
My first thought was, "How did she call her out?"
The answer? Kylie did no such thing.
Kylie is on the "reality" show "Keeping up With the Kardashians," and is 17 years old, like Sadie Robertson.
This article went through eight reasons detailing the ways Sadie is a far superior role model and human in comparison to Kylie.
I want to throw up.
This article paints a picture of Sadie for Kylie's fans that shows Sadie as self-righteous and judgmental.
It tells Sadie's fans to be self-righteous and judgmental.
I do not think the author quite intended to do this, but it was unfair regardless. Plus, one of the points was that Sadie has a more successful boyfriend...seriously.
This is terrible. Why on EARTH is this acceptable?
Kylie Jenner is a 17 year old girl who should not be shamed for having grown up in a spotlight and encouraged to be fake. Why are we not praying for Kylie instead of judging her? Why are we judging a 17 year old girl completely lost?
This point is part of what irritates me the most.
Why are we comparing Kylie and Sadie?
Why?
as Christians, we are constantly told and tell others to measure themselves up next to Jesus, and strive to be like Him.
Over and over we repeat that comparing ourselves to other men and women is unhealthy and hurtful. it is an imperfect scale.
So why are we doing this to two 17 year old girls with public images already surrounded by rumors that seek to tear them to shreds?
As a future journalist, I strive to only elevate discourse, as my advisor says. I want you all to recognize that this does not elevate discourse, but shames a girl and does nothing for either one involved but cause trouble. Please consider this when you read such articles. And please don't measure Kylie to Sadie. Instead pray for Kylie and Sadie. Both girls have similar situations, and both have their decisions analyzed obsessively. It cannot be fun. Be compassionate, please.
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." --Ephesians 4:29-32
--Leah