Friday, March 11, 2011

Peter King and the Roost

White Americanized Christianity has led to the death of close to a million people in Iraq and Afghanistan alone. Which leads us to this interesting and depressing paradox. In order to continue doing what we're doing, in order to continue to get oil fuel and the objects of our consumptive love so cheaply, the United States continues to be involved in international issues in a way that's detrimental to those outside of the US (and quite a few within the US). Then, we try to do everything within our power to keep those chickens from coming home to roost, so to say.

So we bring violence to the homes of millions around the world, and then get upset because some of it manifests itself in the US. Not only that, but we tend to blame the wrong crowds - not just for the global violence, but for the homegrown violence as well. Reprehensible Reptile Peter King's HUAC hearings are, for all their wanton ugliness, not getting quite the press they deserve.

IMG_1639photo © 2011 longislandwins | more info(via: Wylio)

If we *really* wanted to tackle the radicalization of Islam, we'd stop giving radical leaders ammo with which to point at us (western, Christian, white culture):

But that would probably mean we'd need to change some habits...

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:29 PM

    Thank you for this.

    These hearings are hypocritical and offensive, not to mention unConstitutional. They violate the right to free speech, freedom of association, presumption of innocence until *proven* guilty, freedom of religion.

    Once again the GOP serves as Al Queda's main recruiting organization.

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  2. Somehow the white, christian people of the US have always needed a "goat" on which to blame all the ills of the world. I can remember, growing up in the south, when fundamentalist churches at least claimed that AfricanAmericans hadn't any soul and weren't recognized by God. In my day Communists were also the goats. They hated us and lived every day with the goal of destroying our superior way of life. They hated the freedoms we enjoyed. Now, it's the Muslims who hate our freedom and want to destroy our way of life.

    I have shaken the dust of the US off my sandals and am now living in a predominately Muslim country. I've never experienced a more peaceful, welcoming and hospitable people in my life! The Christian and Muslim communities coexist in harmony. For an couple of examples of that, refer to the recent revolution in Egypt when the Muslims protected the Christian's services and the Christians formed a human shield around the Muslims as they prayed. Here in Jordan mosques and churches are often side by side. The Christian community blends fairly seamlessly with their Muslim neighbors.

    Everyone though recognizes the damage inflicted by US and EU meddling in this region as the root of the global problems faced by the Islamic community. Thanks be to God, they are wise enough, in contrast to Americans to point the finger at the government and not at individual American citizens.

    "Racism and xenophobia under the guise of 'security'" is sadly the order of the day back home and I don't expect that to improve in my lifetime.

    May God be with us all.

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  3. Montana4:13 PM

    No, there are no dancing in the street when Catholics hear about a pedophile priest, but there has been a concerted effort to Deny, Deflect, Defend this “Enemy Overseas” the “Catholic Church ”, I don’t even think you could deny that fact. What would Jesus Christ, say about this so called Church, I have a few thoughts myself.

    http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/thu-march-10-2011-trey-parker---matt-stone

    47 seconds in;
    http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/377120/march-10-2011/peter-king-understands-violent-radicalism

    http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/thu-march-10-2011-trey-parker---matt-stone

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  4. Thanks, Anon and Jim Wright.

    I actually expect this from the likes of Peter King, but I'm becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of accountability in the media.

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  5. As an ancient Jewish Rabbi might have said, "amen, amen!"

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  6. Wow. Great stuff, Jason. You are one of my favorite writers.

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  7. Huge compliment coming from you, Ian. Thank you.

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  8. And you too, Kurt.

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Be kind. Rewind.