I believe all people are made in the image of God and that I should always be aware of that in how I view other people. They, like me, are His children and should be treated as such. I am not always good at doing that, but I’m trying to do better.

However, sometimes people do or say stupid things, and someone is usually there to point it out. On this blog, that’s me. Let me state that I am also well aware that I am one of these people, and in no way intend to suggest otherwise. (Some of my stupidity is likely recorded here and readily available in the archives.)

Anyway, it’s more difficult to ignore stupid actions and/or comments by people in the public eye, so I’ve put together a list of public personalities who did or said some exceptionally foolish things this year. I’m sure I’ve left some out, and you can feel free to point them out, or disagree with those I have, but these were the first ones that came to mind. Here’s the list, in no particular order:

• Dick Cheney
  You’re Vice-President and you shoot a guy in the face, then you make the list. There’s not much I can do about that.

• Britney Spears
  I don’t really need to comment here, do I? Throw in Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, too.

• The New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets
  It’s been a couple of years since a good fight broke out in the NBA, but thanks to folks like Mardy Collins, Nate Robinson and Carmello Anthony, we didn’t have to wait any longer. Special recognition also goes to Knicks coach Isiah Thomas who - I believe - initiated this whole thing from the bench, all because of some perceived “dis’ing” by the Nuggets.

• John Mark Karr
  Besides being exceptionally creepy, this guy is also did an exceptionally stupid thing when he confessed to a crime he didn’t commit. It seemed that the JonBenet Ramsey case may have finally been solved when he was arrested and confessed to the crime. Yet, none of it was true.

• Mark Foley
  There were so many politicians to choose from - George “Macaca” Allen, John “Stuck in Iraq” Kerry, Virgil “Keep Muslims Out” Goode, Ray “Chocolate City” Nagin - but in the end I have to go with Congressman Foley, who resigned after sexually explicit instant messages he sent to male pages were made public, and he was accused of having sex with at least two of them.

• Mike Nifong
  The Durham, NC District Attourney attempted to prosecute 3 Duke LaCrosse players for rape based on shaky testimony and no evidence. The accuser’s story has repeatedly changed, and now rape charges have been dropped. Our justice system at it’s finest. Some of Nifong’s behavior in this case may not only be stupid, but also criminal. Why he still has a job is beyond me.

• Ann Coulter
  Again, many political talking heads could have been chosen. Sean Hannity, for example - for telling Democrats not to vote (then claiming the media is trying to suppress voting) and his verbal beatdown of a Harding student during a speech at the school. Or Debbie Schlussel for her ridiculous comments about Barack Obama. Or Dennis Prager for repeatedly advocating that Keith Ellison not be allowed to use the Koran when sworn in to Congrees. But I have to go with Coulter. She said many stupid things, as is her custom, but her “Al Gore is a total fag” comment cannot be trumped even by the moronic statements or actions of these other folks.

• Ted Haggard
  This Colorado pastor condemned homosexual activity and homosexual marriage, then it was revealed that he’d been having a homosexual relationship with a former male prostitute (Mike Jones). Haggard also bought drugs from Jones. After this was revealed, Haggard initially denied it, but later admitted to some of the activity alleged by Jones.

• University of Miami and Florida International football teams
  One of the worst college football fights in some time, these two teams went at it during the third quarter of their game in October. The bench clearing brawl resulted in 31 players being suspended (13 from Miami, 18 from FIU). Special recognition goes to Miami’s Anthony Reddick for using his helmet as a weapon, swinging it at the heads of opposing players during the brawl.

• Michael Richards
  Mel Gibson had a spot on the list locked up until Richards got on stage at The Laugh Factory on November 17th. His racist rant towards some black hecklers in the crowd resulted in outrage from all over, including Jesse Jackson’s call for a boycott of the Seinfeld Season 7 DVD release (which was in stores the following week.) Richards quickly apologized for the incident and later appeared on Jackson’s radio show, attempting to make amends for his comments.

• O.J. Simpson
  I saved this for last because he probably is one of the biggest morons in the country. Aquitted in 1995 of killing his ex-wife and her friend the previous year, many continue to believe he was the “real killer” (despite his constant search for the “real killers” on golf courses around the country.) This year Simpson sunk to a new low, attempting to release a book titled “If I Did It.” In the book, Simpson wrote a fictional account of how he would have carried out the crime he committed of which he was accused. A television interview regarding the book was also scheduled. However, both the book and the interview were canceled before being unleashed on the public. Were I awarding a prize, Simpson would have to be my idiot of the year.

That’s it. That’s the list.