The New Red Scare!
We are going to be talking a lot about this in upcoming posts, as it is precisely where they are leading their reactionary audience. This is getting more ridiculous with each passing day. When Beck, Hannity & Co on Fox News spew out fear and misinformation, there are actually millions of people in this country that lap it up! This latest litany of absolute garbage dumped on the unread audience that turns to these psychotic ranters of hate and paranoia – actually suggesting that Obama’s upcoming speech to students across the country is an attempt at socialist indoctrination ALMOST leaves me speechless!
I said almost…after a few deep breaths and an outburst of expletives in the privacy of my own office…I am now ready to discuss this further. There is a direct line between the ignorance being disseminated by these self-anointed “protectors of the republic” and the hatred that is now suddenly deemed as ‘c’hristian and patriotic.
The paranoia is delusional and certifiable!
Parents are yelling “hell no!” about letting their children hear the President’s speech to school children. Wow…now that’s a loving sentiment. They actually believe that this is an attempt by the President to turn their children into socialists/fascists/communists. First of all, where was their outrage when President Reagan addressed school children across America November 14, 1988…
Conservative media take note: Reagan preached tax cut gospel to America’s students
September 03, 2009 1:09 pm ET by Matt Gertz
Putting aside possible ulterior motives, the conservative freak-out over President Obama’s planned speech to students urging them to stay in school and work hard is due to fears that Obama will use his platform as an opportunity to push his agenda on unsuspecting students. Ironically, that’s exactly what President Reagan did two decades ago.
On November 14, 1988, Reagan addressed and took questions from students from four area middle schools in the Old Executive Office Building. According to press secretary Marvin Fitzwater, the speech was broadcast live and rebroadcast by C-Span, and Instructional Television Network fed the program “t o schools nationwide on three different days.” Much of Reagan’s speech that day covered the American “vision of self-government” and the need “to keep faith with the unfinished vision of the greatness and wonder of America” but in the middle of the speech, the president went off on a tangent about the importance of low taxes.
Do Sean Hannity and the folks at NewsBusters think President Reagan was engaging in Maoist indoctrination? Do Glenn Beck and WorldNetDaily think Reagan was pulling a Mussolini or attempting to assemble his own Hitler Youth? Or is it possible that the conservative media has decided that if Obama is for it – whether “it” means “universal health care” or “stay in school” – they’re against it?
Words ARE power. They know this. And they fire off inflammatory remarks and false information every day, full well knowing that they are causing obstructionist politics in America. Their hate is so intense against Obama (and all liberals) that they are causing atrocious events to occur in pockets of America’s backwoods such as this story about a bus load of students in Idaho who felt it appropriate to chant “Assassinate Obama” over and over again on their way to school. You have to click here to go to the article and view the video…it is worth the read. And FYI…these are 3rd graders!
What is WRONG with these people? And why are we allowing this? They are pissed off because they cannot force their bibles into the public education system, say their prayers in school, teach Creationism – all out of their proclaimed love for Jesus Christ and renewed baptism in the Holy Spirit…and yet they feel that teaching their children to hold signs and chant phrases of hate and violence is the only true recourse. It’s sick!
The election of President Obama not only infuriates the ‘c’hristian GOPers, but has made them entrenched bedfellows with rascist groups like Christian Identity who literally believe that Anglo-saxons of European descent are actually displaced Israelites who were scattered north after being forced out of their home land – Israel. I am not kidding! Of course they simply ignore the fact that the neighboring countries and cultural physical attributes are all people of varying degrees of dark skin. Those damn details always get in the way!
Listen to the rantings of a – and it pains me to call him this – pastor in this video throwing hate-fuel at the fanantics to incite violence against Obama just last month in Tempe, Arizona the same weekend that President Obama was to speak in Phoenix on Health Care and where someone with the IQ of his waist size chose to bring an automatic weapon.
They are still a minority, but a loud, rude and vocal contingent that cannot be ignored. Arming our children with knowledge and a sense that each individual does matter, even in school, is a great way to combat this viral ignorance. If an outcome of this is that our children gain an apetite for knowledge and a curiosity about civics – then we are on our way to turning this boat around.
The ONLY thing these people have to fear? Is THEMSELVES!
I hope we get health care reform wrapped up soon so we can move on to EDUCATION!
That is truly our only hope. If we can at least get the majority of schools up to snuff in math, science, and critical reading and thinking skills, we will be on our way.
On the other hand, my husband thinks that the more progress we make in addressing social needs like health care and education, the more aggressive the RR will get. He thinks we are headed for a culture war like no one has ever seen. I do see some merit in his opinion, as witness the quiverful movement – totally isolated from mainstream America. Having boatloads of kids, homeschooling them, and their only socializing is through Christian activities. Not unlike the Amish, but at least the Amish mind their own business.
True enough…they will not give up and we are headed to a huge clash. Unfortunately, there isn't a single topic safe from being turned into a divisive argument for the duration of Obama's term in office. It is a full-court press against anything he says or does. Quiverfull is an interesting sect isn't it? Republican Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is an example of that…and he is "considering" running for president.
They do hate education…and it shows. Clearly they do not value actually knowing what they are talking about.
Was I tired when I wrote that post, or what? I failed to make my point. I meant to point out that the quiverfuls seem to take the approach of winning the war with numbers. They don't seem to be out there fighting any political battles. They kinda keep their heads down and when they are visible, it's always to show what wonderful, pure and wholesome families they are. They're always so sickeningly sweet, as if they never have harsh words or negative thoughts. Like they're biding their time, making lots of babies, turning them into religious robots and programming them to repeat the process. In time, they'll have the numbers to accomplish their goals. Ultimately, their goals are not so pure.
See next post….
The Amish, on the other hand, are a community unto themselves. They don't really care what's going on in America. They just want to be left alone to live and believe as they will. Their interactions with the outside world are pretty much limited to selling their wares, and obtaining medical care. They grow their own food, cut their own hair, make their own clothes, build their own houses and barns. Most never make use of banks or public schools, and as much as they are able, they meet each others needs through their own community. There's plenty to admire and enough to criticize. But the bottom line is that they don't try to impose anything on outsiders.
Exactly…and that is what makes them polar opposites of the 'c'hristian Dominionists! It is a fantasy world to ever think that these extremists would ever retreat to themselves and enjoy their own ideologies quietly without being compelled to shoving their beliefs down our throats! The Quiverfulls are the insidious side of the Dominionist Movement, and there are many fractured pods of Dominionism that when all brought together create a frightening force of ignorance and total brainwashed dogma. One of their reasons fro breeding like rabbits is to contribute to the available devotees to God's Army who are prepared to fight and die – EXACTLY like the Jihadists.
Thank you Helen…
Genie, I actually think the Amish could teach the Christians in this country about what it really means to trust in God. But there are too many alpha white males who feel emasculated by this usurper of all they hold constitutionally and God given. When Obama made some reference to those who cling to their Bibles and their guns (I think those were the two he mentioned), the religious right went ballistic. Leah, I watched the video of Steve Anderson and although I was a conservative Christian for almost 30 years, I would have felt uncomfortable sitting in one of his pews (fold up chairs more than likely). No, the ones who are wielding the most influence are more subtle than that. They are the mega church pastors. I belonged to one in Bellevue, WA and to another in CO Springs, CO. Believe, it or not, I actually attended New Life Church (Ted Haggard's) twice. After escaping the clutches of these radicals I have decided to dedicate the rest of my life to identifying and attacking all their lies and distortions. They don't know what to make of me.
Wow! You are what is referred to as a walk-away. dogemporer is a walk-away as well. I applaud you for retaining your ability reason, which definitely saved you given that you were in the throws of this movement. I would love to hear from you about experiences that led to your decision to reject their indoctrination and brought you out of their clutches.
The Domionists are the antithesis of Amish culture. Dominionists are aggressive, driven by arrogance and a sense of superiority in light of their belief that they – and NO ONE else – are God's "chosen people". I actually think it is an annoyance for them that they can't simply turn their backs on the rest of us and give us the virtual finger because of that pesky requirement to "witness" and convert as many nations as possible. Can you imagine if that little codicil wasn't in the rules? Phew!
Although that is not to say that they may just edit that out in the next scripture-twisted version they have coming out next year. The new and improved NIV (New International Version).
Myth Slayer – welcome, welcome, welcome!! You will love it here.
I am a walk-away too. Or rather, a runaway. I didn't really have an overly religious upbringing. Just Sunday School and Bible School in a country fundamentalist church, but they were pretty low key, and I stopped going at around 16 years old.
My first husband is responsible for my returning to church and getting totally engrossed. He was a drug and alchohol abuser and I was so miserable and isolated, that I turned to church for companionship and what I thought would be sanity.
My second husband was responsible for the exit. He was an agnostic, but he played along to keep me happy, and slowly, subtly planted the seeds of doubt and reason. It was a long and sometimes painful journey out, but I made it. I've been sane for 18 years now, but only recently aware of just how bad, politically, things have really been all along. I'm getting a whole new education now and very grateful for all my online contacts and friends.
I am so honored to be a part of bringing all of you together and providing a site that can perpetuate that. The more dialogue the better! Thank you for being there and contributing to such an important task.