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Poor Russell Brand was humiliated after he had to publicly apologize to the Jonas Brothers after making fun of them for wearing chastity rings throughout his gig as host of the MTV Video Music Awards. At least he can take comfort that Courtney Love, perhaps best known for shooting heroin while pregnant, is defending him and declared on Facebook that the brothers are ‘asses’. Ouch. That’s got to hurt coming from Courtney.

Good for Brand that the international community is coming to his defense as well. Sharon Owens of the Belfast Telegraph frets:

I just hope he makes it out of the US in one piece after calling President Bush a “retarded cowboy” at the MTV awards. Apparently he had a go at professional virgins the Jonas Brothers too. But somebody made him publicly apologise for what he said about promise rings. Spoilsports!

Indeed.

What sparked all the talk and controversy was 17-year-old Jordin Sparks, American Idol winner and pop diva, who interrupted her moment as a presenter to let Brand know, “Not every guy or girl wants to be a slut.”

Gasp. What cheek!

But seriously, it’s true. In some circles she will be criticized harshly while English comedian Brand calling a head of state “retarded” will barely raise a stir.

Speaking in the context of a world war filled with both heroes and cowards, another Englishman, C.S. Lewis said, “We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.” I wish I could say things like that but all I can come up with is a little repetitive: “we scoff at virtue and wonder what happened to virtue?” T.S. Elliot once said, “In the twentieth century we are obsessed with turning roses into weeds.” So far the 21st century moral garden doesn’t look too different.

I don’t know the full significance of the placement, but it is interesting that King David, writer and collector of Psalms, began that work with a simple proverb (Psalms 1:1, NIV).

Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

In our connected age that is virtually an impossible task.

I’m guessing this incident will be good for Brand’s career. But it is good to know that the ‘shock jock’ was out-sparked by a simple defense of honor.