This does not require a set-up…and leaves me virtually speechless after viewing…
This is representative of the Palin followers in this country. What makes me nauseas as I watch it, is that we have done this to ourselves by NOT paying attention!
I was at a fundraiser in Seattle this weekend for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation with its founder, Mikey Weinstein. Times are tight everywhere for most of us right now so raising donation money is an extremely difficult task. I know, I have never raised more than $200.00 in one month. So like Mikey, I struggle. But we are not trying to fund start-up businesses…we are fighting a cause to out religious extremism in America and educate people as to how serious this truly is.
The right-wingers have a definite advantage. They spew out rhetoric and untruths without a single question levied against them demanding that they prepare a pro forma sheet justifying their effectiveness. That information is available, but when we are out there trying to engage people as to how serious this is the anectdotal information is what paints the picture. (Oh to have a sliver of that knee-jerk, “Yes! We will help!” mentality of the right).
We always shoot ourselves in the foot. Our own sense of intellectual prowess gets in our way and overrides the issues laid out in front of us. And I am not saying that the bar is all that high! Look at these wingnuts in this video…listen to them. We really don’t all have to be sporting PhDs in order to feel more informed than these folks.
BUT…they jump in there with a devotion that we do not enjoy on this side of the political argument. We have to fight the reisistance from within with as much energy as we have to fight the cause of averting religious extremism in our arts & entertainment, business, family, military/government, education, media and religion. Essentially all secular institutions in the United States – what they refer to as “reclaiming the 7 Mountains for Jesus Christ”.
If you think for a moment that we do not need your help…that we are not faced with a takeover of complete baffoonery at the hands of these extremists who are funded and supported by people who I am certain couldn’t tell you that we even have 3 branches of government, let alone what those branches are – you are mistaken.
We do…and we are trying to get people to understand, this is not about US. This is out of concern for our country, our families and our futures. We need all of you to own a piece of this battle along with us – not just for a day; or a week; or a month; but until we have safely scurried these zealots back into their corners from whence they came.
Our country is headed down a path where a fourth grade knowledge of civics and history is sufficient in deciding who is going to represent us. I was told this weekend about a teenage student who whined about the hassle of having to study American history saying, “Why do we have to learn about dead people?” A simple answer? History repeats itself! And man oh man do we have a profound case of amnesia in this country.
Any one remember George W. Bush? Now you tell me we can’t end up with a Palin…
I will close with this one minute and 39 second video that illustrates what could happen if we end up with our own religious ”suicide bomber” in the White House. SNL did the spoof…I did not laugh…but it did send a chill down my spine…
I am glad you did not laugh either… now I do not feel quite as alone!
There are too many proudly ignorant followers of power hungry fanatics and their hired agitprops in this world.
While the term "Agitprop" was coined in bolshevik Russia, the pulling together of the words
"agitation/agitator" and "propaganda" into one political philosophy has been instinctively understood and is used by the GOP with ever increasing success. Personal, emotional truths are subjective. Endlessly repeated lies can and do over time become perceived truths for those who are unable or unwilling to use logical analysis. This is what we are resisting, and I am not at all sure we can succeed.
As the republicans become ever more rebiblican, ever more fanatic, this problem is magnifying, because it is not fueled by reasoned discussion but by a visceral hatred of those who are different.
I taught U.S. History until I retired this past May. Many of my students had the same attitude as the student you mention in your post. That I was teaching in GA gives you some idea of what I was up against. After 33 years of doing it, I decided to retire to protect my own sanity. I also taught civics. It seems that students don't see any value in learning how the government works or the purpose of the Constitution.
–continued–This cavalier attitude is reflected in the answers given by the people in the video. They will vote for Palin on the basis of how much they like her, or how much they think she is like them. It doesn't matter whether she has the skills necessary to take on the task of running a government as large and complex as ours. I'm keeping my eyes on her and making sure that dems get out the vote whenever there is an election. Most of the people in the video were repeating Fuchs Noose talking points and have no real idea of what is going on in the country. I'm also going to donate to the MRFF so that we can fight against the intrusion of religion into our government because what we are seeing right now is a clear indication of what the right wants to accomplish. We must not allow them to be successful.
Two of my favorite activists in the same room? Shoot – I wish I could have been there!
One of the reasons the Religious Right is so successful is because they are so well funded. And one of the reasons they're so well funded is because they have their congregations committed to tithing.
We should all consider a similar commitment for our favorite causes. It doesn't have to be a 10% tithe, but a regular and committed monthly gift helps 'our side's' voice to be heard. And in some cases helps to keep the lights on and a meal on the table.
Most of us have time commitments we can't change. We work, we raise children, we care for elderly parents. We are not in any position to go out and join an activist group, no matter how much we might like to do so. But most of us can give a hand with financing. If you think your $5.00 a month doesn't do much, you're wrong. 10 people giving $5 just turned it into fifty. 10 people giving $20, just turned it into $200.00.
And just for the record – Leah and Mikey are two of the worthiest causes out there.
I'm just sayin'
… and I'm agreein'!
I humbly thank you! It was a privilege for me to meet another who shares the same level of intense passion for a cause. People need to understand that it takes intense personalities like ours to not only get involved…but STAY involved! You can't get people's attention by being soft and ineffectual.
And your point is a great one. I only need $1,000.00 a month to meet all my expenses…so 100 at 10 dollars would be a tremendous gift toward my continuing success. The doors are opening ahead of me and we ARE making a difference! ALL OF US!!
GenieO – Thank you for letting us know what we CAN do. I try to re-post some of Leah’s writings on other sites, and I often recommend this site to everyone I can. Invaluable work, Leah. Yes on the donations – they add up.
Thank you Lorelei – your support means more than you can know. The Religious Right extremists have money pouring in. Our side – not so much. They have no qualms about begging for money, or laying guilt trips on people for not giving enough. Our side tries to maintain dignity and class. When does anyone remember Leah ever ASKING for money. I am asking on her behalf. I know how much time and effort this is costing her. I know how passionate she is about this. There is no foundation financially backing her or 501 status to raise funds. She is on her own here and could really use our help. Leah's work here is invaluable to us, but costing her plenty. Please, everyone – please consider making a donation.
A little off topic, but today Wonkette posted a different "fan video". In it, "Palin Man" comes right out and talks about how much she is just like Queen Esther in the Bible. If I hadn't been reading your blog, I wouldn't have had a clue what he was talking about, and certainly wouldn't have realized that he was giving a giant shout out to the Dominianists.
Here's the link
http://wonkette.com/412375/these-sarah-palin-fans…
haha – 'she represents what we all think.'
Let's see…that would be ……………………nothing?
Unbelievable isn't it my friend! Truly frightening that there are so many that they make a crowd!
That was painful!
I know…sorry…but misery LOVES company! Check out this guy that CGWin sent below! It should not be viewed right after eating…."The Palin Man" O-M-G!
Thank you for sharing that video…unbelievable! I have said that if she looked like Susan Boyle…we would never hear about her again!
The Queen Esther comment is absolutely an affirmation of what I have been writing about and it does my heart good to know that people are learning from what I am saying. As absurd as she is…she IS a dangerous igniter of the fringe in this country.
These are incredibly ignorant people who want everything to be plain and simple, and black and white. I always want to ask them just what they studied in high school, because from the way they talk, I would have guessed that they never got past the 6th grade. They don't read, their vocabulary is atrociously limited, they have no intellectual curiosity, and can't find 'current events' countries on a map. They learn all they need to know about evolution from church, news from Fox, and finance/economics from Dave Ramsey. They prefer magical thinking to scientific inquiry, warfare to peace, fearmongering to rational dialogue.
We're screwed.
My skin is crawling from watching "Palin Man" and I think I'm going to have a large emesis.
Leah+Alex. Watching things progress today i was caught in a moment of anxiety. What with the outing of what X or blackwater is up to made me just sick. Look at Democracy now for Jeramie Scahills latest. Then there was a great ( talk of alaska APRN) where they had Chris Hedges who wrote Empire illusion. He said what i have felt. It seems the fracturing of our country is inevitable. It's too late to educate the masses to what is being put on them. They will react as they are comfortable with. And we can see that they are easy subjects! We are challenged to do much from where we are. Holding strong is our best bet. Effecting localy is our best bet. You can be sure you have our support.
Leah, as you say, times are tight and we all have to watch where we send our cash. Can you tell us exactly what your plans are to fight this extreme group? I think you have to get beyond the blogspot because we who agree with you are the only ones to read and post.
I'm willing to support you if I'm convinced that my contributions will make a difference. I just have to be careful that I put my "hard-earned" where it will have an effect. Can you tell us your plans?
Thanks.
I understand your question and this has been a topic lately for a number of us who spend every waking moment of everyday working on exposing dominionism. the following is a summation by a fellow blogger in Alaska:
1) Smart, effective activists NEVER reveal strategy…unless it's part of the strategy
2) You are one person doing the work of an army. People are either willing to support you to do those things that they are unwilling to do themselves, or they are not. You don't need the money from those people who are not and are going to add to your workload.
3) You will keep folks updated on your blog just like you always do…that's the equivalent of a newsletter, etc…that other organizations offer to their donors.
4) Struggling to overcome financial insecurity interferes with the work. In order to do the work you must have someplace to do it from (home) equipment to do it with (computer, cable service, phone, cell phone), etc…Using donations to keep the lights on is completely acceptable…it's called "overhead" and almost all of our expenses are overhead."
Leah, I woke up this morning thinking about Michele Bachmann and how much she is like Sarah Palin. When you put those two women side-by-side, they're like twins separated at birth. I thought to myself, "Hey, wouldn't those two make a great team for 2012." But my second thought was, "You know, if Sarah Palin looked like uh….what is her name?….uh….that British singer, she wouldn't elicit nearly the attention she's getting." Then I logged on here this morning and found you had said exactly what I woke up thinking!!! Only you remembered her name. Susan Boyle!!!
But Palin & Bachmann are just the pretty (highly visible) version of an ugly, regressive movement. I refer to their ilk as Old Testament Christians (oxymoron). They readily identify with OT characters to the point of taking on their identity in 21st Century America. Take Gov Sanford of SC. He cited King David as a reason not to resign his position of leadership. King David committed adultery, committed murder, but was a man "after God's own heart", ergo, God-protected,sanctioned & appointed. But Sanford, Ensign, and numerous others already in public office are part of a similar, albeit invisible, movement that lurk in plain sight known as The Family. For anyone who has not seen this video, it gives you an idea of how dangerous these men really are.
[youtube _F3nDIdHcnE&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F3nDIdHcnE&fe... youtube]
You are spot on! HAve a great Thanksgiving and we will pick this up in greater discussion. But you are right about their sense of invincibility and those pesky laws that apply to us escape them given they have anointed themselves and feel they are impervious to judgement.
"It's often not enough for one to simply be exposed to the truth, because the brain will actually fight to defend its' cherished falsehoods." Anon.
Indoctrination is a powerful drug! That is why I seek those who are more in the complacent and/or disenfranchised column than the indoctrinated one. You are correct…change is never easy….but let's do it anyway!