{"id":213,"date":"2006-03-20T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-03-20T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/idolchatter\/2006\/03\/a-little-ethics-before-west-wi.html"},"modified":"2006-03-20T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-03-20T12:00:00","slug":"a-little-ethics-before-west-wi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2006\/03\/a-little-ethics-before-west-wi.html","title":{"rendered":"A Little Ethics Before “West Wing” Ends"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

“The West Wing\u2019s” great run is on its last leg, but producers are making a run to the finish, which will include special guest appearances (Jon Bon Jovi\u2019s on next week) and cameos from the show\u2019s former stars. I was also glad to see\u2014at least for one final time\u2014”West Wing” return to its roots of leveraging its political plotline to engage in the kind of moral and ethical dilemmas that should always matter for a spiritual seeker. When Ron Silver\u2019s character Bruno (who advises Alan Alda\u2019s Arnie Vinick in his presidential campaign against Jimmy Smits\u2019s Matt Santos) finds Santos\u2019s briefcase with damaging information inside, he confronts Vinick with the opportunity to take Santos down with the information inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will make you President,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Vinick\u2019s absolute resolve to \u201cgive it back immediately\u201d turns into \u201cI don\u2019t wanna know anything about it\u201d to \u201clet\u2019s sleep on it\u201d to \u201ckeep it,\u201d as he becomes aware of the secret hidden inside. This, I believe, is the kind of moment that defines the true spirituality of any person: Can we do the right thing, even when it may keep us from achieving an ambition or living a dream? Vinick eventually chooses to give the briefcase back, but there\u2019s still room for the secret to get out.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m curious to see what they do with this one, and will tune in for the kind of typically bold writing that often marks a show\u2019s final weeks. And even if it\u2019s lame, I\u2019ll at least get a Bon Jovi song, some reunion cameos, and the memory of a show which often moved past politics to ask the significant questions of life.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“The West Wing\u2019s” great run is on its last leg, but producers are making a run to the finish, which will include special guest appearances (Jon Bon Jovi\u2019s on next week) and cameos from the show\u2019s former stars. 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