David Broder and Cal Thomas appeared in the Spokesman-Review opinion pages on the 6th of December 2007. Broder gushed about GW's successes in the Middle East, esp. in Iraq and Thomas discussed the fact that GW has only "conservative" columnists and etc. in to discuss the sorts of things he wouldn't allow in a general press conference. This is where GW tries to take credit for what are after all bad policy failures. Both of the columnists, Broder of Washington Post, Thomas of Tribune Media Services, Fox News, etc. detail GW's policy failures and glide right over the top of them as to their significance.
A few samples:
In the letters, Spokesman-Review today, 7 December 2007. Two holier than thou "Christians" responding to a writer who defended "The Golden Compass" (movie) and the books the movie was based on. One of the "Christians" claimed that the author of these books happened to be "anti-God." Well, not having read the books although the movie seems interesting. But, a fictional take on an evil God who's adherents do evil things in his name, doesn't sound like something Christians should be taking offense with unless they suffer a mighty guilty conscience. Well then, Christians do have a very bloody history of wars, conquests, conversions by the sword, witch hunts... To anyone who fell victim to it, to anyone who survived such dark times, Christianity could become the evil adherents to a dramatically evil God. So much so, that dissension split the church (Roman Catholic) into protestant thinking. Protestants also split (Anglican) as they came to the primary colonies and new (cults) based on biblical tidbits that also claimed an association with Christ rose up in Colonies claiming religious freedom. Today, the various Christian (cults) comprise Baptist, Methodist, Mormons, Catholic, Quaker, Amish, etc. And, there has been unquestionable violence and persecution between Christians since the founding of this country. A history book of the origins of the Mormon church details the 19th century violence between Mormons and other Christian churches. Seems the Mormons were just as prone to violence as those who adhered to other Christian canons.
The other writer made note of the fact that "we would not burn down the theaters" that showed the movie, "The Golden Compass." "We wouldn't stand outside waiting to stone the people who went to watch it." Around two years ago, anti-abortionists held that a brain dead woman should never have the plug pulled on her and actually be allowed to die in peace. Terry Schiavo became one of the 2005 turning points that had the politically inept Democrats assuming a bare majority in Congress by 2007. At what point do you not turn a family's bitter and internecine struggle into a cause celebre' and seeking to score political points for your side? Something that GW and the Republican controlled Congress sought to do. How about anti-abortion movements that literally attacked clinics, those who worked there and the patients? Or who put up websites where doctors who were killed or intimidated were crossed off the list name by name? That writer tries to claim that his Christianity is far more enlightened and civilized than those Islamic fundamentalists who'd arrest and threaten a British teacher with X number of lashes for daring, daring to allow her students to name a teddy bear with the common name of Muhammad.
Apparently, one of the writers must not have been born when "Piss Christ" got photographed by an artist that led to the Christian Coalition attempting to get the National Endowment for the Arts taken off the government entitlement program. Literally, Madonna partially buried in elephant dung got a one day display, a many weeks of controversy, because the Mayor had heartburn over such a painting getting displayed in the local museums and art galleries. Pat Robertson made much political hay over a painting of Christ on the cross with a needle in his arm. He hoped to use that to guarantee religious Republicans assent into office.
SeaTac international airport. Last year, the airport authorities took down a whole bunch of Xmas trees rather than put up one menorah. Websites went up where a lot of hate-mail and commentary could be expressed against the Rabbi who had made this request. After considerable political pressure, SeaTac put the trees back up and did not put the Menorah up with it. --Selective memory?
Extremism however expressed is still extremism.
A few samples:
- We had to literally bribe Sunnis with money and guns before they would fight with us instead of against us.
- 3 years into that new Democratic Iraq and the government is only now passing some kind of budget?
- What ever positives are coming out of Iraq is "bottom up." Per Thomas' column. Well, doesn't that prove the government has yet to work effectively?
In the letters, Spokesman-Review today, 7 December 2007. Two holier than thou "Christians" responding to a writer who defended "The Golden Compass" (movie) and the books the movie was based on. One of the "Christians" claimed that the author of these books happened to be "anti-God." Well, not having read the books although the movie seems interesting. But, a fictional take on an evil God who's adherents do evil things in his name, doesn't sound like something Christians should be taking offense with unless they suffer a mighty guilty conscience. Well then, Christians do have a very bloody history of wars, conquests, conversions by the sword, witch hunts... To anyone who fell victim to it, to anyone who survived such dark times, Christianity could become the evil adherents to a dramatically evil God. So much so, that dissension split the church (Roman Catholic) into protestant thinking. Protestants also split (Anglican) as they came to the primary colonies and new (cults) based on biblical tidbits that also claimed an association with Christ rose up in Colonies claiming religious freedom. Today, the various Christian (cults) comprise Baptist, Methodist, Mormons, Catholic, Quaker, Amish, etc. And, there has been unquestionable violence and persecution between Christians since the founding of this country. A history book of the origins of the Mormon church details the 19th century violence between Mormons and other Christian churches. Seems the Mormons were just as prone to violence as those who adhered to other Christian canons.
The other writer made note of the fact that "we would not burn down the theaters" that showed the movie, "The Golden Compass." "We wouldn't stand outside waiting to stone the people who went to watch it." Around two years ago, anti-abortionists held that a brain dead woman should never have the plug pulled on her and actually be allowed to die in peace. Terry Schiavo became one of the 2005 turning points that had the politically inept Democrats assuming a bare majority in Congress by 2007. At what point do you not turn a family's bitter and internecine struggle into a cause celebre' and seeking to score political points for your side? Something that GW and the Republican controlled Congress sought to do. How about anti-abortion movements that literally attacked clinics, those who worked there and the patients? Or who put up websites where doctors who were killed or intimidated were crossed off the list name by name? That writer tries to claim that his Christianity is far more enlightened and civilized than those Islamic fundamentalists who'd arrest and threaten a British teacher with X number of lashes for daring, daring to allow her students to name a teddy bear with the common name of Muhammad.
Apparently, one of the writers must not have been born when "Piss Christ" got photographed by an artist that led to the Christian Coalition attempting to get the National Endowment for the Arts taken off the government entitlement program. Literally, Madonna partially buried in elephant dung got a one day display, a many weeks of controversy, because the Mayor had heartburn over such a painting getting displayed in the local museums and art galleries. Pat Robertson made much political hay over a painting of Christ on the cross with a needle in his arm. He hoped to use that to guarantee religious Republicans assent into office.
SeaTac international airport. Last year, the airport authorities took down a whole bunch of Xmas trees rather than put up one menorah. Websites went up where a lot of hate-mail and commentary could be expressed against the Rabbi who had made this request. After considerable political pressure, SeaTac put the trees back up and did not put the Menorah up with it. --Selective memory?
Extremism however expressed is still extremism.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment