Dog The Bounty Hunter – Now a Teacher As He Learns

While I was harsh with my opinion and my shock at the whole story of Duane "Dog" Chapman and his use of the "N"-word after seeing him on Larry King Live tonight I forgive him. I have compassion for him. I saw his pain. I believe that he is an uneducated man with a very rough past, who has a big heart, and made a mistake that shed light on his poor vocabulary and a foul mouth he vows now to change and on his lack of education. Dog was contrite. He was apologetic and a man in pain. He has my compassion. I feel for him, I really do.

Dog The Bounty Hunter admitted on Larry King tonight that his vocabulary was limited. He began the show in tears asking Larry King personally to forgive him, saying to him, he wanted to apologize to Larry too, "I know you believed in me too, please don’t think any less of me, I am going to fix this."

Dog said that he will get help and will stop using the "N" word. He said that with the help of his minister they are going to be working with Anthony Robbins and that Dog will be taking classes.

It’s interesting that while many think Dog has some racist issues many African-Americans, including his own minister and Whoopi Goldberg, on The View, have said that they do not believe Chapman is racist.

Chapman admitted to having a temper and to often using a barrage of unfortunate words when he is angry. He seems aware now that this is not acceptable. He said that he just referenced back the only word that he thought would catch his son’s attention when he was talking to his son about his girl friend when Larry King asked him why he used the "N"-word.

He talked about having a past and how no matter what he does he can’t make the past go away. One thing I’ve learned in my life is that when you change or have changed you have no control over the perceptions that others may hold onto forever from your past – from who they knew you to be way back when. And, in the case of someone famous sadly there are magazines and tabloids out there using those closest to celebrities (often) to make money themselves by getting the "dirt" on them. Let’s face it we all have or certainly have had some "dirt" in our lives and made mistakes too.

I believe that Duane Chapman, despite any and all of his faults, is someone we have all been rooting for. Not just rooting for him and his posse of family to catch the bad guys but rooting for him to continue to distance himself from a very troubled past. Chapman has made a lot of changes in his life. I believe he and can will make the changes necessary to learn from and overcome and move forward from his latest mistakes.

Chapman also said his wife Beth has had a very hard time with what has happened, saying that she said to him, "You have shamed our family." Very painful stuff. Despite the fact he should not be using the "N"-word privately or otherwise, which Chapman has now said himself, I cannot imagine the pain of the betrayal he must feel for what his son chose to do. Let’s face it, Dog’s son Tucker didn’t sell that tape to the National Enquirer for any reason other than money and/or revenge.

Watching Chapman in tears and in pain and looking very sorry, whether he still gets it or not, was moving. I feel for the guy. I really do. It is obvious that Duane Chapman hasn’t lived an easy life and that he isn’t all that educated.

What he does, however, he does well, and that’s bounty hunt. And that has made his show very popular. A show that many want to see back on the air according to a poll run on Larry King’s CNN web page.

As of 10pm Wednesday November 7, 2007, here’s how that poll was going:

The question: Do you think Dog’s show should be off the air?

Yes 17% – 11784 
No 83% - 57867 
Total Votes: 69651

The numbers as of 1:00 am (November 8, 2007) were:

Yes	14%	13514
No	86%	82974
Total Votes: 96488

To see the latest results go to Cnn’s Larry King Live web page. 

Duane "Dog" Chapman’s pain on Larry King was palpable. I believe that he is sorry now. I believe that he is learning the error of his ways now. I believe that whether or not he just has foul mouth or has been somewhat racist that he is a man worthy of being forgiven for this mistake. It appeared to me from watching him on Larry King that he wants to "fix" his mistake, learn from it, and change. I think that he has a good heart. I believe in second chances.

If Chapman is sincere about his new-found understanding of the reality that
there really isn’t any justification for using the "N"-word and is willing to get help and change his ways than I believe he absolutely deserves a second chance.

At the end of King’s Cnn show tonight, he took a video call from a very young little girl who among other things said to Dog "don’t ever give up, even heroes make mistakes, it’s from the heart, don’t ever give up." From the mouths of babes comes the most unfettered understanding and compassion. It was precious. Very moving.

Duane "Dog" Chapman did make a rather large mistake and he does deserve a second change. Don Imus is now back on radio, with what can be defined as a second chance. Perhaps the fact that Imus and Chapman went over the verbal edge can do a lot of good in the discussions that ensue in the public (and media) arena as a result. It makes us all more aware.

Dog, as he learns, being a very public figure, now has an awesome responsibility and opportunity to be teacher as well. He deserves compassion and mercy. The very same compassion and mercy that he really does show to those he captures and arrests.

As a world we really all will benefit from learning to show more compassion and from not holding celebrities to some standard of perfection that isn’t attainable by an human being. If you put someone on a pedestal there will always be a reason to knock them off at some point. We need to see and remember and have compassion for humanity in everyone and that includes celebrities.

© A.J. Mahari

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