If you subscribe to the LDS Living magazine, you probably read the recent article on David Ciemny, who formerly managed Lady Gaga’s tour schedule. He has quite the resume and experience in the music industry and has managed to keep his morals in spite of the surroundings he has been with from being in his own band all the way up to managing major tours. When he reached the peak of success as Lady Gaga was bursting onto the scene, he could see his touring would keep him away from his family for more than a year. He decided to quit at that time and stay with his family.
I thought the article was interesting, but it was the comments below the article from readers that got me thinking. It appears that people were divided on supporting David with his career. Some people applauded him for being able to keep his morals and be a “light on a hill” or “salt of the earth” so to speak. Others criticized him for mingling with the “wrong” people. After all (those who criticize say), how can a “good” LDS guy be really that good if he is touring with the likes of Lady Gaga or opening for Metallica?
In Sunday school I teach the 16-18 year olds and we are studying the New Testament this year. Over and over Jesus is criticized for mingling with the “wrong” people such as sinners and gentiles who are not of the Jewish faith. In my opinion, those who criticize this guy for being Lady Gaga’s tour manager fall into the category of the Pharisees who judged Jesus. If David was able to keep his morals and be a good example, then he probably was planting a lot of seeds and who knows who he may have blessed?
Now it’s your turn. Cast your vote. Do you praise or criticize David Ciemny for being Gaga’s tour manager?
16 comments
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March 31, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Tom O.
“In my opinion, those who criticize this guy for being Lady Gaga’s tour manager fall into the category of the Pharisees who judged Jesus.”
— Irony alert!
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March 31, 2011 at 7:01 pm
ama49
Hi Tom,
Good point. Maybe I worded that a bit differently than I intended…I’m not in any way saying Gaga’s manager is on the same plane as Jesus, but people who judge her manager are on the same plane as the Pharisees.
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April 1, 2011 at 11:37 am
Tom O.
I thought that the irony was more along the lines of passing judgment upon those who are passing judgment…but you make a good point, too!
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March 31, 2011 at 6:19 pm
CCJ
Why is Lady Gaga considered the “wrong” people? I’m confused.
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March 31, 2011 at 7:36 pm
ama49
CCJ,
Ask the critics that question…from what I read it is because of her lyrics and provocative moves, etc.
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March 31, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Believer
Jesus mingled with sinners yes. But he did not promote them or their lifestyle, he was there to save them.
It is like stating that Jesus went on tour with King Herod and put up posters and arranged his speaking engagements and ran publicity campaigns for what he stood for.
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April 1, 2011 at 8:42 am
ama49
Believer,
I can see your point. Maybe my Jesus analogy was a stretch…I still don’t see how we should be judging him for being her manager. I think we should celebrate that he stayed strong and from your perspective he should be praised for quitting ultimately…right?
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April 1, 2011 at 7:47 am
Jettboy
Chalk me up to a critic of David Ciemny for upholding this “woman” and enabling her evil to be spread around the world. She isn’t some individual who happens to exist on the edge of society who doesn’t consider her worthy of repentance. Jesus mingled with the wicked, but he also talked to them about the Gospel in hopes they would change their ways. He certainly didn’t help them spread their wickedness around for others to emulate and admire. A proper person would denounce her trash and have nothing to do with it, mingling with those most influenced by her in hopes of helping them recover and repent.
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April 1, 2011 at 9:24 pm
ama49
Jettboy,
I can understand your perspective on this as we are also told to steer clear from evil and close to things that are good and wholesome.
My point is that we shouldn’t judge him though. How you choose to live your life shouldn’t be projected on how he lives his. We all do things wrong every day, but we should celebrate anyone who stays close to the Lord and is an example no matter who they choose to mingle with.
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April 1, 2011 at 11:51 am
Tom O.
I agree that there is a line to be drawn between showing Christlike love to individuals, regardless of where they are spiritually, and enabling or assisting in the promotion of ungodliness.
Part of our baptismal covenant is to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death” (Mosiah 18:9). I don’t think we are exempted in this when it comes to how we make a living. That’s one reason why the Marriott Corporation is wrong to peddle pornography, and (for purposes of this blog post — as I don’t know anything about Ciemny or how he lives his life or carried out his job) members of the Church who participate in the promotion and promulgation of inappropriate entertainment are not in a position to be exemplified. In my life, this principle means that I as an attorney don’t take on certain clients or types of cases, or frequent certain kinds of businesses.
But for those who don’t have a problem with Lady Gaga’s tour manager being LDS, let’s try a thought experiment. What if Larry Flynt’s personal assistant was a member of the Church? Assuming that this person didn’t personally engage in any sinful conduct, would we applaud this person for doing that job? If not, how do you distinguish the two situations? Would you invite someone in such a position to give a presentation on their experiences at a youth fireside or other Church setting?
I think its important to be clear: this isn’t a matter of judging the personal worthiness for Ciemny or anyone, and I hope nobody misunderstands me. The issue is whether we celebrate these kinds of things and hold them up as something worthy of emulation.
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April 1, 2011 at 9:28 pm
ama49
Hi Tom,
You bring up a very good point. I agree with you that we should be happy when anyone in any occupation remains righteous. I think the reason he was upheld is because the music business is known for not being the most wholesome industry and yet he kept his standards.
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April 1, 2011 at 3:23 pm
guest
I think we should judge Lady Gaga for employing a tour manager who was part of a notoriously homophobic, anti-gay religion.
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April 1, 2011 at 9:28 pm
ama49
Guest,
Looks like you’re the first Gaga fan here….and Mormon hater!
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April 9, 2011 at 8:50 am
Eric
As long as we live in an interconnected society, we inevitable will make compromises of some sort with evil.
The fact I don’t wish to spend a lot of money on clothing, for example, may mean that I’m supporting a sweatshop in Bangladesh, for example, and chances are that the computer I’m working on right now was made under inhumane working conditions in China. Another example: I work for a company that makes part of its money from advertising, and since some of our advertisers make their money by preying on people’s weaknesses (I’m thinking of local casinos in particular), indirectly I’m making part of my living from that kind of activity.
I’m not sure I’m in a position to judge a tour manager.
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April 10, 2011 at 3:48 pm
ama49
Eric,
Very nicely said. That’s where I’m coming from as well and you put it into better terms. Thanks for stopping by!
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July 24, 2011 at 2:46 am
David Ciemny
I’m only getting around to googling myself once in awhile but I was glad to see 87% or so praised me based on your survey. The reason I’m chiming in is to reply to Jettboy and Guest. Jettboy, how would you know I (and my wife) didn’t influence Gaga or talk to her about the church? If you only knew my friend just what an influence we had. Guest, some of my close friends are homosexuals. We are taught to love everyone but we do not have to agree with or support anyone’s lifestyle. Not supporting gay marriage, for example, is not being homophobic, rather it is being conservative and that’s how I choose to live my life. You go choose to live your life however you’d like! Thanks for this blog.
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