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There’s a word that’s being thrown around a lot in this whole Spitzer debacle: Schadenfreude. The word is of German derivation (schaden = damage, freude = joy), and literally means the enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others. It’s an uncommon word for what, unfortunately, describes a pretty common emotion. When it comes to the popularity of everything from Monica-gate to Britney Spears’ failings, we as a society love to watch and make fun of and revel in the painful moments that the publicly successful occasionally have to… well… publicly endure. In Eliot Spitzer’s case the rewards are particularly sweet because of the haughty and self-righteous carriage with which he glided through his political life. That said, I’m determined not to yield to the temptations of Schadenfreude. Yes, what Eliot did was plainly stupid… Yes, he engaged in a complete lapse of judgment… Yes, his actions will even be deemed by some as supremely pathetic. But he’s a fellow human being. And how many of us can say we aren’t guilty of ever lying, or being hypocritical, or even being downright arrogant about something we really had no right to be arrogant about? And how many of us can also say that there is not a moment in our history (and perhaps even quite a few), that if singled out, circled, and zoomed in upon, would not make for one moronic, ridiculous and even pathetic, image.

So for Eliot’s sake, and for the sake of sincerity, and yes… even for the less noble sake of protecting my own karmic well being, this is the message I’d like to send out to the guy:

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The game isn’t over till you’re dead. This is the land of opportunity, redemption and transformation. Get some good psychiatric help and do as you’re told. Stay with your wife if you’re in love with her, leave if you’re not. If she leaves you, accept it as your fate, move on, and make your alimony and child support payments on time. (Then find someone you adore who loves you as you are--after your psychiatrist has given you the thumbs up, but while you’re still down in the public eye--and marry her fast.) Be a good husband. Be a great father. Become active in a charity you're passionate about. Tour the college circuit and give speeches on opportunity, redemption, transformation, and the rewards of acquired humility and wisdom. Be sincere. Write a book. When you’re done, join one of the television news networks as a political commentator. You’ll be just fine.

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Feel free to take this opportunity to write your own message to Mr. Spitzer. No pressure from me to be kind, either. Not all of us live in glass houses… And chances are, the less kind you are, the more entertained I’ll be, anyway… ;-)

Leelila_Strogov's Blog

Dear Mr. Spitzer

Leelila_Strogov

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