An Open Letter To Charlie Sheen (As Published at CNN.com)

Angela Bisignano on March 25, 2011 at 10:05 am

Wonderful article Margaret! Thank you for having the courage to write this. I grew up in Malibu and knew Emilio Estevez. I can only imagine the heartache the family must be feeling watching Charlie walk this path. Thank you for being the voice for what so many of us are thinking.

Brenda Shroyer on March 25, 2011 at 10:33 am

I wonder why God chooses to harden people’s hearts. I understand how people are seduced by the enemy, but dealing with a hardened heart is another matter.

I have a favorite saying; “never teach a pig to sing, it annoys the pig and wastes your time.” My prayer is “soften his heart” (patterning after you ) so if he reads this article it will make a difference.

Margaret on March 25, 2011 at 10:36 am

I think people also make choices that allow their hearts to get hard….I know I have!

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 11:34 am

You’re kidding right? Either you’re that gullible, or you want to badly have sex with this man. You can’t, and never will, get through to this #loser (spiritual loser, that is). Two things I remember from the holy book come to mind; “Men will be lovers of money and of themselves” and, “him who is righteous, let him be righteous still. Him who is wicked, let him be wicked still”. Guess which one Mr. Sheen is? I think that question answers itself. Why do I say you can’t get through to this person? Simply because he is one of many who represent the evolution and coming of the end-times, and you can’t change that or stop it from happening. But the best of luck to you just the same for trying.

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 11:43 am

@Brenda: The Creator doesn’t lift a finger to do anything to make us behave the way we do, and this is why the creator gave us the greatest gift; that being free-will and the ability to make our own choices. The creator does not interfere with our lives, and this is why people have no answer as to why the good get punished and the bad get rewarded. Life happens while we’re here in this reality. In the end however, we will all reap what we sow, be it good or bad. I hope that makes sense to you.

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 11:46 am

Hey, how come I get the angry looking icon?? 😉

Margaret on March 25, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Rex,

That’as pretty funny about the angry icon :). It’s auto-generated believe it or not. But that made me smile–thank you!

Greg Finch on March 25, 2011 at 12:19 pm

Rex – You seem to be putting God in a very small (Deist sounding) box.

“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 12:49 pm

@Margaret: You’re welcome, glad to bring a smile to your face 🙂

@Greg: Maybe I am, but it sure answers some perplexing questions that in the past left me dumbfounded and very confused. Perhaps in my own evolutionary way I have become enlightened, and this in itself helps to bring me peace in my chaotic life.

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 1:01 pm

@Greg: The famous lyrics of Roger Miller come to mind… “You can’t roller skatin’ in a buffalo heard”

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Oops, I meant “herd”, not “heard”. Sheesh, I need sleep.

Thud…

Bryan on March 25, 2011 at 1:22 pm

Margaret –

I am a Christian, but tend to disagree significantly on social, moral, political, and theological matters with most people who label themselves “evangelicals,” so without knowing more I assume you and I would have very little to agree on.

However, I want to really thank you for writing this letter. Not because it is likely to have any effect on the ostensible recipient, Charlie Sheen, but because it has already had an affect on me and, I suspect, many readers. I thank you, because your letter has caused a paradigm shift in my perspective on the Charlie Sheen fiasco. Your letter is not only insightful, wise and balanced, but it expresses the love that I believe should be the hallmark of all Christianity. I wish that perspective were more representative of the majority of American Christians today.

Contrary to the assumption in my first paragraph, maybe there are some things we can agree on.

Bryan

Jacqueline Lane on March 25, 2011 at 1:26 pm

Maragret, I am a bit confused by your post. You’ve stated that Charlie should consider putting his focus more upon current world issues, rather than his “bitchin’ rockstar” self. Isn’t this a little bit of a contradiction? Yes, there are world issues, and yes, there should be focus on said issues, so why is your focus on a drugged-out egotistical guy who gets paid far too much for an awful show?

I agree, he should rid himself of the people who smile and nod their head to absolutely anything he says, not because he’s Charlie Sheen, but because his bank account his bulging and people want a piece of that pie.

You’re bringing God into a storm that needs to be dealt with before you go shoving religion into it. If God has worked for you in life, great, but it doesn’t mean it will work for everyone else and the demons they are battling. A simple means of selfless supportive people surrounding the individual fighting some of life’s battles sometimes is all a person needs. There are plenty of people out there strung out on drugs, alcohol, committing crimes left and right, but is it all justified because they’ve accepted Christ? Absolutely not.

If you see issues in the world that you feel need to be dealt with, great. Help to make a difference for the better. But, you make yourself look awful preaching to some brain dead Hollywood actor with too much daddy issues and money to get his act together when you could have spent the time you put into this open letter of yours into assisting the current world issues you’re holier-than-thouing all over the place here.

Evangelicals look as happy as they do because they truly believe they are better than everyone else. You cannot go through life preaching to people and telling them they need God in their life. You know what you’re actually doing? You’re telling them hat they are worthless individuals without faith in some supernatural being. When you do it with a smile on your face, it makes the insult even more blood-boiling.

Margaret on March 25, 2011 at 2:02 pm

Bryan,

Thanks for your graciousness-much appreciated.

Margaret on March 25, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Jacqueline,

I really appreciate your feedback. I’m sorry you see it as written from somehow thinking one is better than anyone else at all…that was definitely not the case. I tried to keep it light, humorous, but pointed enough to offer some options….fresh voices, a different perspective, a reminder of what’s really important, and a call to family……that might gently remind all of us some things to keep in mind as we navigate the madness of our celebrity driven culture.

Bryan on March 25, 2011 at 2:09 pm

@Jacqueline Lane:

I couldn’t disagree more. Although I would agree with that criticism if it were leveled at about 99% of what I see and hear from “Christians” these days, it seems misplaced here. Contrary to the implication in your comment, Jacqueline, do you know what is notably absent from Margaret’s letter? –The notion that there is one, single, simple solution here: That Charlie Sheen needs more Jesus in his life. While I suspect that Margaret probably does think Charlie Sheen needs God, in this letter she’s not beating him over the head with God. Instead, she’s making some cogent, logical suggestions that are fairly secular to boot: Go visit the victims in Japan if you want to put your own, rock-star “victimization” in perspective. Get rid of the party hangers-on who tell you how cool you are acting, and surround yourself with people who will actually challenge your thinking. Man-up and be the father you need to be. This is not hitting him over the head with God at all. And to make her letter even better, these suggestions are not made with the derision and scorn that most of us use when discussing what Charlie Sheen needs to do. Rather, these suggestions are written out of a place of love, clearly rooting for him and hoping that he will get better. With all due respect, Jacqueline (because I think you and I may share some common opinions about the evangelical Christian community), I think you have misjudged this one. If Margaret’s letter were more representative of the Christian community today, then I wouldn’t be so reluctant to associate with it.

A little background for perspective: I tend to avoid association with the mainstream American Christian church. In my opinion, the overwhelming majority of the Christian community today would turn Jesus’ stomach with the misguided politics, ignorance, judgmentalism, bigotry, exclusion, discrimination, unfounded stereotyping, narrow- or closed-mindedness and sometimes outright hate and venom that get passed off as Christian “values.” I don’t actually say that in anger, believe it or not. I say it in sadness, because I hate to see what Christians are doing to Christianity. They have turned it into the right-wing tool of a political party. They have prostituted Christianity to a political agenda, the values of which are an affront to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

So when I start to read something where the title describes the author as an “evangelical,” there’s a lot of baggage in that for me right from the start. That’s why I was taken aback when I read it and realized it is really in line with what I think Jesus Christ himself might have said. That is not what I have come to expect from Christian writers and talking heads these days. She’s actually doing quite the opposite of what you wrote in your comment. I agree that I have come to expect one of two responses from Christians: (1) Say that he just needs to find Jesus, or (2) condemn him with pious judgment. But she didn’t do that, though that’s exactly what you say she did. It kind of seems as if you had a particular message you wanted to make about evangelical Christians, and so you just made it, whether it fits the particular situation or not. I’m prone to do that, too, since I walk around with some pent-up thoughts about the state of Christianity today, but if you really read this letter, this is not that kind of letter at all.

Jacqueline Lane on March 25, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Bryan, she made a recommendation in her open letter for a Mister Franklin Graham – an Evangelical Christian. Also referencing Samaritan’s Purse, which I am familiar with. They camouflage themselves as humanitarian aide, but make these people sit through prayers lasting from 30 minutes to several hours before they received anything from the SP. Imagine going through hell and back and a group of do-gooders comes prancing along and tell you they’re going to help you out and then some evil Billy Mays comes out of them and stops them in their tracks with “BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!” That’s right, kids. Delayed by the power of prayer.
You know who else does that ind of crap? Scientologists.

She, like most all other Evangelicals, is trying to scoot Charlie Sheen into a direction of an organization that has a history of pushing it’s beliefs on others.

Your move…

Dan on March 25, 2011 at 5:38 pm

Magaret,

Nice article. You made some very good points without having to reference God or Jesus.

Thanks,

Dan

Margaret on March 25, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Thanks Dan!

Rex Lutherin on March 25, 2011 at 8:58 pm

For what it’s worth, one of the most intelligent things I have ever heard a famous figure say is “There is a huge difference between kneeling down and bending over”

Frank Zappa said that, and may his soul rest in peace for offering an eye-opening creative account directed at the damaging teachings that organized religion and government has packaged and sold over the years. For sh*ts and giggles, check out a couple tracks called “Dumb all Over”, and “Heavingly Bank Account” from his album “You can’t do that on stage anymore”, Vol I. The man was a genius. It may very well offend most people, but Zappa had a complicated sense of humour that most people will never grasp. He was also a brilliant American modern day composer of classical music who wrote some very beautiful compositions.

Also, try watching every season you can get your hands on of Southpark. Their depiction of society hits the nail square on the head and it’s very very funny, yet at the same time frighteningly true. Saddam Hussein and Satan as a couple, God proclaiming he’s a Buddist… now THAT’S funny!

Cheers to all and may peace be with you. Don’t forget to start every day with a smile, lest you end of grumpy and miserable like me 😉

Robert Jette on March 25, 2011 at 10:47 pm

If I have the chance to say something to Charlie it would be to ask him to start using the gift he has in order to teach everyone what not to do.

We live in a very cruel world. Why do you think he is sold out everywhere, and why has he become the twitter winner? We humans like to see a winner go down. He is the new reality show and the storyline goes like this.

We are watching with our arms crossed a gifted individual who made it big time fall on his knees. I am sure that people in Las Vegas are placing bets on the day he will die.

He has money, and fame, so he is giving us the best reality show in the world because we all want someone like him to fall. Do you want to know why he is in this situation?

ABUSED! No amount of cash or fame can replace the love you never got from your family. His father was a dysfunctional person, even worst has a dad. Charlie developed his talent because he only wanted to prove to his dad, that he is there in front of him. He never received the attention from a father, so he grew up with the same disconnect towards life like his father.
Charlie grew up suffering the worst kind of abuse possible. It is an invisible form of abuse which is to have parents who don’t give a shit about their kids. He is the reflection of his dad, and that is the kind of life Charlie grew up since his birth. I was in the same situation he is.
If you want to help him, then the best way to do it is to ask him to open up to all of us and ask him to bring his talent to a new level which is to tell us that money and fame cannot replace the love you never got from your family and that the worst thing to do is to destroy your life only because you want your family to know you are there in front of them.
I am not on his tweet because I do not want to feed him in the wrong way. He would become richer if he tells us that everyone can fall on their knees and can get back up on their feet.
Charlie ! Open up my friend. You are allowed to cry out and say what you wish you had. Don<t tell us you want to destroy your life if your family does not reach out to you.
You’ll be a true winner once you remove your mask. Warlocks and people that have tiger blood don’t exist my dear friend. Show to all of us the real human you are. If you are able to do it I think you will live alot longer on our planet.

Rex Lutherin on March 26, 2011 at 12:16 am

Let’s get something straight… Charlie Sheen is NOT talented. What is perceived as talent by anyone braindead enough to watch 2.5 men was created by writers, producers, and especially our society. Think about it; you’ve got a womanizer, an awkward gay looking dude, and a slobby, mouthy fat kid. Can society relate? YES! Because we live in a very selfish, self-centered society where lazy attitudes and sex sell more than it ever did.

The REAL reason Sheen is out of control and behaving the way he is, is because he is so talentless that he doesn’t know what else to do except play that role in real life. Take away the audience and the show will drop from the air. It’s very simple folks. If anyone can do anything to “help” him, simply ignore him and let him figure out something else to do.

Change the channel, Marge.

Rex Lutherin on March 26, 2011 at 12:21 am

My father wasn’t there much for me when I was a kid, but I still loved him just the same and we finally bonded a couple years before he died. Those last two years made up for everything that I felt I had missed growing up. But… it took me accepting his failures and addictions in order to approach him and put the differences aside. It took many years and much maturity on my part to figure that out. So maybe Sheen and many others need to understand and do the same to help bring some peace, understanding, and tranquility into their lives.

Nancy Lewis-Watts on March 26, 2011 at 4:56 am

I only hope that someway, somehow Charlie will get to read your letter. It is an electrical-shock-of-a-read and may begin his beginnings at a chance to live a life where he gets to use his considerable power in a way that would help and heal others. If Charlie’s situation comes to pass, then his world stage splatt will not be in vain.

Batah L'Chayyim on March 26, 2011 at 8:17 am

Margaret ~ You thoughts, concerns, and encouragement toward Charlie are warranted. Thank you for caring enough to share your words.

Encouragement is a necessity to us as human beings, whether it be in written words or spoken (songs are just as powerful) to those of us who listen. A world without encouragement to do what is right…., is a world of darkness.

We as humans have an extraordinary ability…to write and to speak. We must in order to maintain connection and sanity . Life without words, are just the same, as life without encouragement.

LIFE is precious; as Ms Fienberg is holding to the hope, he will wake –up, using her words, as she freely did.

A little heads up, to those of you ‘out there’ who were intolerant to Ms Fienberg’s words; to a clearly disturbed individual. YES, all you nay-sayers will disagree and accuse me, as you have Ms Fienberg, of being judgmental, with the use of my word, ‘disturbed’.

I am sad to say, there is a modern myth that holds that true today “tolerance consists of neutrality”. It is one of the most entrenched assumptions of our society and used as a vice instead of a virtue.

Your intolerance of being, so called tolerant, is coming across loud and clear. Websters definition: of Tolerance: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own.
There is clearly a common thread in Charlie’s behavior. It is what we would associate with an imbalance of behavior, by observation ~ Not Judgment~.

Knowing that his father and brother are in agreement, that “he has a disease, and it is like a cancer”. We all know what cancer does…. And circumventing it, for the common good…i
IS A GOOD THING.

Keep using your words Margaret, they are powerful and stir up within all of us, the need for stability, in a world full of instability.
L’Chaim!!

Rex Lutherin on March 26, 2011 at 6:05 pm

@Batah:
“Tolerance”, in its truest definition, means you are tolerating something instead of accepting it. In electrical engineering, the 5% tolerance rating of a resistor means the excess amount of current applied to it before it overheats and catches on fire.

That being said, think about this for a moment… if you are tolerating something, you are “putting up with it”. In today’s overly politically-correct society, we have adopted this word to mean that we’re ok with others’ differences, whether they be sexual orientation, religious beliefs, foreign customs, etc. when in reality, we never really accepted these things in the first place. This modern day definition of the word “Tolerance” means simply what it means, and that is that we are going through the motions of accepting something we fail to understand. I have an issue with such a fake representation of a word’s true definition. To “accept” something means that we truly understand and accept it. To “tolerate” something means we are putting up with it, even if we didn’t agree with it in the first place. Consider this example; if I have a gay son or daughter and I disagree with their life choice but choose to “tolerate” it, this means I never “accepted” their choice in the first place, so if one day they marry a gay/lesbian spouse and I dis-own them because of it, well, I never truly accepted it in the first place, did I? However, if I “accepted” their life choice from the outset, then I should have no problem attending their wedding ceremony. Do you understand where I’m going with all this? The problem with being “Tolerant” is the grey area that is still left between accepting and NOT accepting something, and this is why our world is full of modern day hypocrites.

Let’s all try to Accept other’s differences, whether they be skin color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or whatever. Then and Only then can we truly say that we understand and accept each other.

John Koller on March 27, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Margaret,

I’m not sure recommending talking to Rob Bell is the wisest move, unless of course you’re interested in directing people to depart from Biblical Christianity. I strongly suggest doing a little more homework there…

Rex Lutherin on March 28, 2011 at 6:31 am

If there’s a positive thing I can say about the evangelical church, it’s this… when my father passed away, I was stricken with grief. This was the worst pain I had ever experienced in my life and I never cried so hard out to the Creator for answers. I spent many hours looking for answers on the Internet and I came across an evangelical website. After digesting the message it offered, I felt a peace and comfort come over me. The peace and comfort I felt was in knowing that everyone, no matter how much they had sinned in their life, would someday have the choice to embrace the truth and the light when judgement day arrives. Even humans as evil and messed up as Hitler, Dick Cheney, or even Hillary Clinton, will get a second chance to embrace with all their heart what is right. Imagine that? Makes you want to not give up hope for what lays in store for all of us. While I have ceased to be part of any organized religion this world has to offer, I can’t help that think there is wisdom in every faith, and that not one single faith is the one answer. Perhaps this is why there is more than one religious dogma on this planet, and maybe it doesn’t hurt to sample a bit of each one and take something from it as a form of spiritual nourishment.

Peace be to all of you.

Rex Lutherin on March 28, 2011 at 10:35 am

Here’s a poem I just penned (er’ notepadded)
And on this cheeful note, I think I need to sleep… Thud.

Living the Dream Sheen
George Taylor
03/28/2011

You can have your money
and You can have your fame
you can be a trivial whore,
but just don’t use my name

Identity screams out
in every one of us
waiting to be born again
in the back of that stinky bus

Where do we go from here
now that the road’s runnin’ out
reach inside our primordial self
and shimmy, twist, and shout

This is the means to the end
the life, the light, and the way
until midnight pulls the blanket back
to reveal the light of day

You’ll never understand
the when’s, the how’s, and the why’s
nothing lives running through flames
to escape God’s angry eyes.

Rex Lutherin on March 29, 2011 at 4:19 am

@J.Koller: I think Rob Bell’s message is better than that of the common “We are the light and the way” approach of most organized religions that use Hell as a scare tactic to force their membership into blindly doing as they say and not as they do. When you think about the damage that has been done to people over the ages because of this, I’ll take Rob Bell’s message any day of the week. “Biblical Christianity” as you call it, combined with right-wing government, is the modern day Cristian Crusade all dressed up in the disguise of global democracy. Which would you rather have? FUD (Fear Uncertainy and Doubt) or a message that doesn’t terrify you into believing for the sake of the greedy powers that be? Go read about the Quiet Revolution that occurred in Quebec, Canada in the 1960’s. The Quebecois are certainly not blind like most of the Catholics around the world. I think what terrifies most about Rob Bell’s message is that one day it could mean the end of criminal organizations like the Vatican, among others. Hence the fall of world religion that is predicted in the Bible.