Amy Goodman did it on Democracy Now!, I listened to several shows where it was featured, and now I'm chiming in. Goodman had the good sense to interview Chris Hedges about his new book "Fascist America:The Christian Right and the War On America". Hedges blows wide-open the hypocrisy, danger and truly warped cult of personality of The Dominionists, the far,far right religious movement whose leaders who are destroying the separation between church and state while cluster-bombing America with their doctrine of hatred. The Dominionists cloak sexism, racism, homophobia, and hatred for any difference in religion, love of God, and "traditional values." Hedges points out the resemblances between the fascist movements of the 20's and 30's in Italy and Germany and today's theocons. He uses some of the work of Umberto Eco which in itself is stirring and insightful.
My writing on the topic of the "religious right" is not about attacking faith or God, but exposing the cruel and dangerous nature of these "talibangical" groups that prey on the vulnerable human psyche of despair that arises from poverty, lack of human rights, and the despicable treatment of people at home and abroad in the name of "righteousness." What is basically the inexcusable excesses of power and greed that have created these conditions are in part, responsible for the move toward fascism in this country. BushCo has capitalized on this dynamic in spades.
I am a person of faith. My relationship with God is one I count as among the most important in my life, but that's me. I would never presume to force or even discuss what is a private, personal relationship with someone else who wasn't interested or doesn't share similar beliefs. The Dominionists believe that everyone and everything else must bend to their will. Period.
These 'Christian' people who have exerted extreme pressure on the political processes in this country and exported their brand of radical religious terror throughout the world indeed represent the most frightening trend in the world today because their evil is done with a smile and violence pretending the sincere belief that it is 'God's Work.' Unless the American public and politicians stop tip-toeing around these insane power-hungry, money-loving, war-mongering fiends, because this cult cloaks itself in an essential freedom, we will find ourselves in essence, a Christo-fascist police state. How long will it take before we Americans find ourselves clothed in a burka of religious-based fascism? We are well on our way.Update:Courtesy of Lotus
Hopey, now I see that Jim Wallis has this up at HufPo today:
Dear Kos, Can the Left Stop Shooting Itself in the Foot?
I think you’ll appreciate it. It concludes:
” … So Kos, let’s made a deal. How about if progressive religious folks, like me, make real sure that we never say, or even suggest, that values have to come from faith - and progressive secular folks, like you, never suggest that progressive values can’t come from faith (and perhaps concede that, in fact, they often do). If we progressives, religious and secular, could stop fighting among ourselves (shooting ourselves in the foot) and join together on some really big values issues - like economic fairness, health care, and a more just foreign policy - think of the difference we could make. How about it?”
Please check out the comments, valuable links and info from readers, whom I thank for their insights.
13 comments:
i agree. informative post, as usual.
You've outdone yourself with this one. Very powerful. Why do I feel we are at such a loss for a way to combat these freaks?
The danger is very real, HopeSAT. The only way to counter them is to keep pointing out their real beliefs, as you've done here. Thank you.
I distinguish between Old Testament Christians and New Testament Christians.
Although even in the Old Testament, The Lord sayeth, "Vengeance is Mine" - in other words, "Not yours".
The main problem with these Dominionists is they cherry-pick the testaments and abstact whatever will serve their purpose which is power and control over everyone in the US and eventually the world Either that or they blow it up, whichever comes first.
Hope, thanks for gathering such a wealth of links to this snowballing subversive movement trying to undermine our limited democracy. From Goodman’s Hedges interview, this is key:
… my argument is that this is not a religious movement. Although it certainly depends on the support of many earnest, well-meaning, decent people who are religious, I would argue that they are manipulated not only, of course, to be fleeced for their own money, but essentially to give up moral choice and surrender to the authoritarian demands of these leaders to march forward and essentially dismantle our democratic state.
“The Dominionists” link in your post is particularly revealing and scary, I urge everyone to give that a careful read.
Here’s another link to a closeted step-by-step manual commissioned by conservative mover and shaker Paul Weyrich:
http://www.theocracywatch.org/yurica_weyrich_manual.htm
From its author, Eric Heubeck:
"There will be three main stages in the unfolding of this movement. The first stage will be devoted to the development of a highly motivated elite able to coordinate future activities. The second stage will be devoted to the development of institutions designed to make an impact on the wider elite and a relatively small minority of the masses. The third stage will involve changing the overall character of American popular culture..
"Our movement will be entirely destructive, and entirely constructive. We will not try to reform the existing institutions. We only intend to weaken them, and eventually destroy them. We will endeavor to knock our opponents off-balance and unsettle them at every opportunity. All of our constructive energies will be dedicated to the creation of our own institutions..
"We will maintain a constant barrage of criticism against the Left. We will attack the very legitimacy of the Left. We will not give them a moment's rest. We will endeavor to prove that the Left does not deserve to hold sway over the heart and mind of a single American.
Thanks, Hope, nice summary of the Goodman/Hedges interview. Our nation truly is in peril these days. Old Sow
Hi, all!
I was more worried about the Dominionists a year or even six months ago than I am now (although I haven't stopped worrying about them entirely). But the events of the fall, especially Haggard and the election, showed major cracks in their juggernaut, and I just don't think they're coming back.
The Feb 16 issue of Time has an article by Jim Wallis (who founded Sojourners magazine and wrote God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It), entitled The Religious Right's Era Is Over. Wallis is convinced that religious wingnuttery is falling on its face as part of this whole sea-change of social and political reform rejecting Bushism and the hard right in general. Check it out -- I found it pleasant reading indeed.
Wow...amazing comments. Thank you all for the links and additional info.
Best.Readers.Ever.
Amen!
(Pun intended.) Thanks for the post as usual, Hope. This was a great one.
I don't go over to Kos because I find him almost as distasteful as the religious right or the Reich Wing, albeit for very different reasons. While I often vehemently disagree with the positions of the latter groups, I usually know why they've taken them, and sometimes have a degree of sympathy for them.
With Kos, I really don't know where he's coming from. He doesn't lay down a compelling philosophy, nor does he reach back to trusted authorities. His beliefs seem to be primarily implicit and his motivations reactive. The Dominionists think they know exactly where they're going, and aren't afraid to share their message.
I'm high on Obama because he's part of the so-called Religious Left. (Check out the Sojourners, a religious activist group he belongs to.) To combat the freaks, you have to know Jesus better than they do, and engage them on what they call their home ground. In biblical terms, the dominionists are empty, like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. But their followers are looking for fullness.
whoops. I'd see you're already all over the Sojourners, had I read comment 8. Thanks Lotus!
The Dominionists are utter, complete Talibangelicals who want to establish Mosaic Law, just a stone's throw (!) away from Shari'a Law.
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