February 09, 2007
Send In The Offense
I'm not even finished reading the first chapter of American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America" but already I "feel led" to "share" an important "passage" from the book. Author and liberal Presbyterian Chris Hedges starts out by defining fascist movements and the similarities with Christian Dominionism, the ultra fanatical wing of evangelical Christianity who seek to overtake government and society in order to restore their phony "Christian nation". In the last few years, these dangerous fucks have increasingly tried to portray themselves as a persecuted group, defining any ridicule or just criticism of them as hate speech. In some cases this whining has caused others to back off a bit in the name of "tolerance". But, as Hedges warns:
"If this mass movement succeeds, it will do so not simply because of its ruthlessness and mendacity, its callous manipulation of the people it lures into its arms.....it will succeed because of the moral failure of those, including Christians, who understand the intent of the radicals yet fail to confront them, those who treat this mass movement as if it were another legitimate player in an open society. The leading American institutions tasked with defending tolerance and liberty--from the mainstream churches to the great research universities, to the Democratic party and the media--have failed the country. This is the awful paradox of tolerance. There arise moments when those who would destroy the tolerance that makes an open society possible should no longer be tolerated. They must be held accountable by institutions that maintain the free exchange of ideas and liberty. The radical Christian Right must be forced to include other points of view to counter their hate talk in their own broadcasts, watched by tens of millions of Americans. They must be denied the right to demonize whole segments of American society, saying they are manipulated by Satan and worthy only of conversion or eradication. They must be made to treat their opponents with respect and and acknowledge the right of a fair hearing even as they exercise their own right to disagree with their opponents. Passivity in the face of the rise of the Christian Right threatens the democratic state."
A tall order indeed, but one that, without being too alarmist, will be necessary to keep these asswipes from realizing their dreams of the law based on the goddamned Ten Commandments, compulsory (and fully funded) religious schools, chicks back in the home where they belong, forced "family values", the death penalty for "abortionists", homos (I see Pastor Ted hanging), hetero fornicators (I see a noose going around the necks of all Catholics) and blasphemers (I see myself swinging).
Well, I know I won't be finishing the book by tonight--20/20 is having a two-hour special all about Anna Nicole!
"If this mass movement succeeds, it will do so not simply because of its ruthlessness and mendacity, its callous manipulation of the people it lures into its arms.....it will succeed because of the moral failure of those, including Christians, who understand the intent of the radicals yet fail to confront them, those who treat this mass movement as if it were another legitimate player in an open society. The leading American institutions tasked with defending tolerance and liberty--from the mainstream churches to the great research universities, to the Democratic party and the media--have failed the country. This is the awful paradox of tolerance. There arise moments when those who would destroy the tolerance that makes an open society possible should no longer be tolerated. They must be held accountable by institutions that maintain the free exchange of ideas and liberty. The radical Christian Right must be forced to include other points of view to counter their hate talk in their own broadcasts, watched by tens of millions of Americans. They must be denied the right to demonize whole segments of American society, saying they are manipulated by Satan and worthy only of conversion or eradication. They must be made to treat their opponents with respect and and acknowledge the right of a fair hearing even as they exercise their own right to disagree with their opponents. Passivity in the face of the rise of the Christian Right threatens the democratic state."
A tall order indeed, but one that, without being too alarmist, will be necessary to keep these asswipes from realizing their dreams of the law based on the goddamned Ten Commandments, compulsory (and fully funded) religious schools, chicks back in the home where they belong, forced "family values", the death penalty for "abortionists", homos (I see Pastor Ted hanging), hetero fornicators (I see a noose going around the necks of all Catholics) and blasphemers (I see myself swinging).
Well, I know I won't be finishing the book by tonight--20/20 is having a two-hour special all about Anna Nicole!
