End of America
Oct 27, 2008 movies, politics, videos
I watched The Rape of Europa the other night, a documentary about the Nazi theft of art during WWII. I was struck by how hard it is to learn lessons from the Third Reich. Compare anyone or anything to Nazi Germany and the conversation is effectively over (see: Godwin’s Law). I think part of the [...]
Tags: fascism, Hitler, McCain, Naomi Wolf, Nazism, Obama, racism
Make Your Predictions
Time to call it: I’m predicting 292 electoral votes for Mr. Barack. Leave your predictions in the comments. Whomever guesses closest is a communist gets some sort of prize. The prize may or may not be a personal dinner with Pres. Obama, or an Obama Candy Bar, or just bragging rights. Also, this is amazing: [...]
Bigot on Wednesday, Churchgoer on Sunday
Oct 17, 2008 images, politics, videos
Sen. John McCain likes to depict the bigots in his party as fringe elements, a few “bad apples.” It’s become less obvious that this is so considering how widespread the nasty attacks have become. The state of political discourse: from leaders — Rep. Westmoreland (R-GA) openly calling Obama “uppity” — to laymen (see above) the [...]
Constantine’s Sword
Last night I watched Constantine’s Sword, based off the James Carroll book of the same name from seven years ago. It chronicles Christianity’s role in perpetuating antisemitism and our disgraceful ties to violent regimes. The story and critique is mostly clear-eyed, and powerful when it takes a personal bent (Carroll has led a very interesting [...]
Tags: antisemitism, Auschwitz, Dresden, Goethe, Hiroshima, Jesus, militarism, Nagasaki, Nazism, peace, terrorism, war
America’s Political Cannibalism
Oct 13, 2008 philosophy, politics
Today’s Nader Newsletter gave prominence to a column by Chris Hedges entitled “America’s Political Cannibalism,” mostly because of this paragraph: This is a defining moment in American history. The next few weeks and months will see us stabilize and weather this crisis or descend into a terrifying dystopia. I place no hope in Obama or [...]
Chicago Declaration on Evangelical Social Concern
Oct 12, 2008 politics
Let’s see what other crazy things were said in the ’70s: We affirm that God abounds in mercy and that he forgives all who repent and turn from their sins. So we call our fellow evangelical Christians to demonstrate repentance in a Christian discipleship that confronts the social and political injustice of our nation. We [...]
Tags: Americanism, Evangelicalism, Focus on the Family, militarism, Moral Majority, Religious Right
Crisis of Confidence
Oct 10, 2008 philosophy, politics
Listen to what this crazy nutjob has to say: …In a nation [America] that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But [...]
Tags: , consumerism, corporatism, Jimmy Carter, Obama, Reagan, Wendell Berry
A Tale of Two Tax Plans
Oct 8, 2008 politics
Gets under McCain Income Level Gets under Obama + $94 Sales Clerk: $25,000 + $860 + $446 Teacher: $50,000 + $1,114 + $7,293 Lawyer: $250,000 + $1,591 + $11,621 Investment Banker: $750,000 – $19,745 + $91,286 CEO: $1,000,000 – $175,117 Source: Tax Policy Center as seen in Rolling StoneÂÂ
The Fall of America, Inc
What I’m reading: The Fall of America, Inc – “Along with some of Wall Street’s most storied firms, a certain vision of capitalism has collapsed. How we restore faith in our brand.” Written by, of all people, the infamous Francis Fukuyama. The End of Arrogance: America Loses Its Dominant Economic Role Make-Believe Maverick by Tim [...]
Tags: Bill Ayers, Fukuyama, Keating, McCain, Obama