We have now learned that the Ashley Todd's accusation that she was assaulted by a black man was a hoax. The circumstances as reported suggest that this young woman suffers from a disorder. We should all pray that she receives treatment and care for her disease and finds comfort and cure from her affliction.
We should pray, too, for her victims, including Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin, who were duped by a 20 year old woman's fabrication, and for others who, likewise, rushed to judgment in crediting and disseminating a story that was dubious from the start: may they learn to exercise ethical, sound, and prudent judgment in the exercise of their duties as public officials, candidates, and journalists.
Pray for all Americans, whose prejudices or anger have been excited by a false accusation: may we become wiser and have insight into our own minds, and hearts, recognizing the sources of our own prejudice and anger, and resolving to shed ourselves of racism and hatred, and put on the new man:
8 But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds, 10 And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.
11 Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: 13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. 14 But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: 15 And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:8-15
Finally, remember and pray for African American men, who have been slandered not only by an ill young woman, but by powerful and influential men and women who spread the slander: may they have strength to weather the storm, to rise above slander, and to share in leading America to greatness.
Excerpt from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:
Almost from the start, Pittsburgh police were skeptical about a young woman's claim that she had been mugged and a "B" carved into her cheek by an attacker who was provoked by the sight of a John McCain bumper sticker on her car. Yesterday, their doubts were confirmed when 20-year-old Ashley Todd, a McCain volunteer from College Station, Texas,
admitted that she made the whole thing up. There was no black man with a knife, no robbery, no physical assault. And the backwards "B" on her cheek? She's not sure, she told police, but assumes she did that herself. As for the black eyes, police assume they likewise were self-inflicted. ... But in less than a day, the international story of a McCain volunteer being attacked, traumatized and disfigured for her political beliefs deflated into a sad tale of a troubled woman with a history of mental problems. Police were sensitive to that fact yesterday, sayingthat while Ms. Todd would face at least a charge of filing a false report with police, she would not be released until she had a mental health evaluation. "We don't feel she should be able to walk out onto the street," said Pittsburgh Assistant Police Chief Maurita Bryant. "We
wouldn't want any further harm to come to her." Ms. Todd was in the Allegheny County Jail last night on $50,000 bond after her video arraignment before District Judge John N. Bova. Judge Bova requested that she undergo an evaluation by the jail's behavior clinic. ...
For a complete story see: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08299/922849-53.stm