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Colbert I. King: Robertson's pants are on fire
Colbert I. King is still using almost every column to attack Robertson for his Liberia gold-mining deal. Of course, you can hardly blame him this time; Robertson recently rebutted several of King's past columns. "Robertson's letter should not be received without reservation," King says in last Saturday's piece. "It contains some assertions that—How shall I say this of a televangelist?—are at variance with the facts." He takes particular issue with Robertson's description of Liberia as "a Christian nation" that has "freedom of religion, freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and what appears to be a judiciary dedicated to the rule of law." "To pretend … that Taylor runs a country overflowing with God's unconditional, inclusive love is unadulterated bunk," King writes. Specifics of Robertson's letter are taken one at a time, and King seems to have the facts in his corner. He also takes some nice swipes at Robertson's failing oil refinery and Robertson's past support of "kleptocrat" dictator Mobutu Sese Seko of ZaÏre (d. 1997).

Meanwhile, King's accusations are being picked up by The Perspective, an Atlanta-based publication that monitors human-rights violations in Liberia. And that publication is a lot harsher than King. "By his words, Mr. Robertson does not sound any better than any of the many criminals who rush to crisis-stricken countries like Congo or Angola or Sierra Leone to make a few bucks and run out before the chips fall," says a recent editorial. (Apparently GQ has published a similar article, but Weblog hasn't seen it and GQ doesn't post its articles online.)

Paxson sues NBC over Telemundo purchase
To be honest, Weblog hasn't ever really watched a show on the family-friendly Pax network. But here in the Chicago area, it's on cable channel 3, so Weblog catches a couple seconds of it every time the VCR gets turned on or off. Billy Ray Cyrus (Mr. "Achy Breaky Heart") as a doctor sure makes Weblog giggle. It seems that the channel isn't doing so well, though, and things just got a lot worse. NBC owns about one-third of Paxson Communications, with an option to buy the rest. But now NBC wants to buy Telemundo, the country's second-largest Spanish network. FCC rules prohibit both, so it looks like that option won't ever be cashed in. That means Pax probably won't get a chance to grow, and may even shrink. And that makes Pax upset. "We feel like the wife who has just been jilted and is watching her husband go out with another woman," says chairman Bud Paxson. NBC-named members of Paxson's board have resigned.

Christmas and Advent:

This Christmas, some see virtue in buying sprees | Maybe, ministers reconsider, Christmas shopping isn't always a vice. Maybe it can be an act of compassion - or even moral duty. (The Christian Science Monitor)

Festive fun is just what we all need | Those who complain of being bounced into Christmas in October should remember that it starts later for us than for our forbears. (Katie Grant, Scotland on Sunday)

Nativity scenes endure as symbol of Christmas| For many, creches are expression of faith, art (The Sun, Baltimore)

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December (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45