I hate that feeling. I’m referring to that feeling that Rep. Joe Wilson (R - South Carolina) had last Wednesday night in the nanoseconds following his dreadful breach of etiquette.

In a moment of passion, he yelled, “You lie!” at the President of the United States while same said president was giving an address to our nation’s leaders. He could have at least said, “You lie…sir!” or “Mr. President, you lie!” That would have come out a little better, but as it stands it is yet another well deserved shiner on the face of an already battered Republican party.

That feeling of regret and self loathing and anger is truly both inexpressible and unforgettable.

For the record, I denounce his actions unequivocally. They were wrong and may cost him his career. I feel for him, his family, and his constituents. It was boneheaded and futile, and will no doubt fuel the fires of partisanship for a coon’s age.

Someone will probably attach an -ed on the end of his name and he will become an insult. Stoners and slackers will go around saying, “Hu…I think you just got Wilson-ed, dude.” They’re probably adding his name to the online edition of the Urban Dictionary as we speak. In the near future, you might even hear a Jeopardy contestant say, “Who is Joe Wilson?” All of that in exchange for two words. Six letters. Four vowels and two consonants.

However, I must honestly disclose that had I been in the chamber when it took place, I don’t know that I could have contained my laughter. I wouldn’t have laughed at Rep. Wilson. No, not poor Joe. Yet, I would have had to laugh at the reaction of Speaker Pelosi and Vice-President Biden. I’m sorry, but the irony was probably lost on the reaction of two people who have gaffed enough for a millennium during their careers. The look on their faces after Wilson’s shot across Pres. Obama’s proverbial bow was as if someone had just told them man made global warming really doesn’t exist. One would have thought that Wilson had just called Obama, “the first sort of main stream African American, who’s articulate and bright and clean.” Wait. Biden took care of that first.

All sarcasm and snarkiness aside, we can definitely take one thing away from this awful incident - the necessity of thinking before speaking. Far too often, we speak at inappropriate times while saying many inappropriate things.

The muscle we use to blurt is exercised much more than the one used to refrain.

We need to measure our words carefully and completely before letting them fly like a flat rock across West Point Lake. Because, much like the cast stone, spoken words are not retrievable. Something, in fact, I’m sure Mr. Wilson wishes he could change, and if we don’t take heed to such simple advice, I’m sure we will soon discover that the regret of words unfitly spoken hurts much worse than what comes from biting one’s tongue.

Readers may send comments to Michael Andrzejewski at preacher@mbcportugalmissions.com