Courtesy of Current TV:
“It’s those hardcore true believers, addicted to believing they’re always on God’s side. Those are the ones making planet Earth so complicated for the rest of us — be you secular, aetheist or religious. And truth be told, the fires of most of our conflicts today are fanned most ferociously by the fundamentalist wings of every religion. And they all hate each other, and they don’t care how many of us get killed in their cross-fire.” —John Fugelsang
I thought this was awesome! And, the not so awesome part, is that it is true.
I love John Fugelsang!!
ReplyDeleteSounds a LOT like something Barry Goldwater would have said!
ReplyDeleteI wish more people had read his speeches about religion and politics and LISTENED!
[Tea Partiers are not conservatives] Griff Jenkins for Hannity tried to corner and shame comedian Janeane Garofalo for calling TPers racist. She invokes Barry Goldwater of an example of a conservative, not these tards.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmsr0KGgEFQ
Lynne, IMHO the catalyst for the fanaticism was the marriage of the far-right Religious Fundies with the GOP that gave the GOP access to gobs of cash and political clout with an organized and defined powerful group. With the Southern Strategy in place, first Vietnam and then Watergate emboldened the political left and made the public and the press very cynical of a government that had deceived them. Power fills the vacuum created by these crises, and the divide and conquer strategy has exacerbated all the social problems that have always existed to some degree. Political opportunism and greed for power and money has been provided cover by the professional political class who have become further entrenched in a dysfunctional government.
DeleteThis is a bit simplistic, because there have been other defining moments along the way that have polarized groups (like 9/11), but I believe that these events have mainly been opportunities for those entrenched in power to further dig in and exploit the middle and working class. With the threats of economic insecurity and anxiety created and manipulated through Declared Wars on "Drugs, Terrorism Crime, Poverty, etc" and undeclared wars "Against Women, Against the Poor, Against Atheism, etc", everyone is a victim or a beneficiary on every issue, or at leastade to feel that way. It creates unneccessary anxiety, fear, hate, jealousy, selfishness, despair, hopelessness, anger, etc towards one another or between groups that are perceived to benefit at the expense of others.
Goldwater: "I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass."
Somebody Else Said***: "Religious Fundamentalism is Anathema to Knowledge, Reason, Conservatism and Democracy."
*** I can't rememher who said this or where I read it, but it's been with me for about 30 years--- ever since the GOP made their 'deal with the devil' and allowed the Religious Right to share the Captain's Wheel in setting the platform for the Republican Party. Nowadays, it is hardly surprising that the few surviving of the original crew are hostages, bound and gagged below deck. Many others were thrown overboard if they didn't fall in line.
My opinions were further strengthened after reading Nixonland, which was probably the best read on the subject that I've ever examined. The authors name (Rick Perlstein) had briefly escaped my mind, so I looked at the book at the whole title. I didn't recall that it is "Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America". Very enlightening when I read it 4 years ago and completely relevant for today and unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, I'm disappointed to say.
PS: I have repeatedly stated that "Fanaticism for ANY reason is dangerous!"
ReplyDelete(By the way, my first comment was about the statement in quotes above, not the video. But the video is SPOT ON!)
Anytime there are nasty, vile and juvenile comments on Twitter - when you look up their profile it invariably says they are Christian, patriots, constitutionalists and admire Sarah Palin. . .they've got a sick idea of God's love and Jesus' word.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!!! These religious fanatics will be the downfall of our civilization. :/
ReplyDeleteI often wonder how humanity got so screwed up with this insane fanaticism. I also think occasionally that it won't get better until humans have succeeded in destroying themselves entirely so they can't do any more damage to the earth.
ReplyDeleteI agree Lynne. We may take a lot of the existing species with us when we go, but it sure will be a lot more peaceful around here after we are gone! Probably prettier, too, after the mess we leave behind is healed.
DeleteAs many of us get older (or maybe it's just me!), our inner ear develops a kind of faint, hardly noticeable white noise kinda deal.
ReplyDeleteIf a fundy were to see the video posted above, I have every belief that their reactionary inner ear would kick in an automatic LALALALALALALALALALALALALA sound.
One of the ironies of religion is that it practices the very evil that it so loudly pretends to abhor.
ReplyDeleteIt is remarkable that so many people lack the intelligence to discern this, and instead turn a blind-eye on the evil that their own religion both embodies and perpetuates.
Religion is just an excuse for engaging in evil acts against your fellow man.
Religion is just an excuse for engaging in evil acts against your fellow man.
DeleteAs the character Dave Lister put it, in the "Waiting for God" episode of Red Dwarf, "They're just using religion as an excuse to be extremely crappy towards each other."
"The world loves a bastard."
Delete-A. J. Rimmer
"Religion is just an excuse for engaging in evil acts against your fellow man."
DeleteAnd the REST of the world as well!
LOVE the puppy humping your leg thing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the five points, spot on every one of them.
And it so described the Republican Party and the Texas Legislature.
Surprising match up to the danger signs of Fascism too.
When you view all of life as a war between good and evil--with your own views based on an idea of absolute good, of course, and everyone else's therefore being evil--you don't acknowledge collateral damage. There's no such thing as an innocent or neutral party; whoever is not for you is, by default, against you. As a result, anyone who gets in your way is an acceptable casualty.
ReplyDeleteSo very true, 12:08.
DeleteSAD, but true.