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May 01, 2005
Theocracy Rulez, Secular Humanism Droolz
The far left and far right appear to be heading towards a steel cage death match....winner to rule the world. The left recently had a weekend conference called "Examining the Real Agenda of the Religious Far Right."
Topics examined included:
Dominionism is the theory that the account in Genesis in which God gave man dominion over the earth has become a political teaching advocating that Christians gain and hold power. Christian reconstructionism is the theory that Christian conservatives intend to impose Old Testament law in America.
Funny, but my reading of Genesis is more a "top-of-the-food-chain man as caretaker" rather than a exhortation to seize political power. Genesis and "The Prince" never seemed to me to have much in common. But what do I know?
And I'm sure we've all seen the drive to "impose Old Testament law". You know, the wildly popular "Pigs Is Unclean" movement. I thought about joining, but I do likes me some bacon. Besides, if, God forbid, anything ever happened to Mike, I'm not marrying one of his brothers. You guys are nice and all, but I don't like you like that.
The United States is "not yet a theocracy," Joan Bokaer, founder of TheocracyWatch.org, said Friday night, but she argued that "the United States is beginning to fit the model of a reconstructed America."
Reconstruction? Where's my 40 acres and a mule, ye damned carpetbagger? Oh, sorry. Wrong era.
Tax cuts combined with increased funding for faith-based social programs and decreases in welfare spending, Ms. Bokaer said, were examples of "the theological right ... zealously setting up to establish their beliefs in all aspects of our society."
And they're such evil beliefs, like "charity begins at home" and "as ye do to the least among you, so you do unto me". Sorry, but I don't have much problem with weaning them what need it away from the government teat. The most damaging effect of the 'War Against Poverty' was its teaching people that the world owed them a living. Should we take care of those who can't take care of themselves? Absolutely. Should we help those who need assistance getting back on their feet? You betcha. But we shouldn't help those who are too damn lazy to get an education/job.
She compared the Federal Communications Commission's threatened crackdown on indecency on television with the Taliban, the repressive Islamic rulers of Afghanistan who harbored Osama bin Laden's terrorist network until toppled by a U.S.-led invasion.
"Indecency police are a major part of theocratic states," Ms. Bokaer said, flashing a picture of Islamic women covered head to foot under the title, "Taliban: Ministry for the Protection of Virtue and Prevention of Vice."
Yeah, remember those Neilsen ratings for the public stoning of Janet Jackson and her halftime show producers? They trounced the beheading of Al Franken by 15 points.....leaving the primetime right hand chopping-off of the writers for the Howard Stern show a distant third.
You know, hyperbole and excessive rhetoric aside, there are those of us moderates who are sick of all the trash that's currently shown on tv and in movies. We're sick of seeing kids dressed in tacky clothing that 20 years ago only a cheap hooker would've worn. And we're sick of the coarse language and general lack of good manners that seems to permeate society these days.
That doesn't mean we endorse the burka.
All things in moderation, as the man said.
Posted by Rita at May 1, 2005 07:09 AM