You know, statements like this really are inquisition-enabling. When someone in Preznit Coke-Line Epiphany starts talking about how the nation is one that is primarily a bunch of prayin' fools, and then has the unmitigated gall to start locking up US Citizens with no recourse to the courts, how long until he starts channeling Torquemada?
President Bush said Thursday that America's history is inexorably tied to prayer.
"America is a nation of prayer. It's impossible to tell the story of our nation without telling the story of people who pray," Bush said during a White House celebration of the National Day of Prayer. "At decisive moments in our history and in quiet times around family tables, we are a people humbled and strengthened and blessed by prayer."
...
"We are a people united by our love for freedom, even when we differ in our personal beliefs," the president said. "In America, we are free to profess any faith we choose, or no faith at all."
Yeah, there's a statement driven by those 33% poll numbers. How long ago was it that the Alcoholic-in-Chief's daddy was trash-talking like this? I don't ascribe 41's failings to Junior but not the opposite. The apple don't fall so far from the tree. Quoth 41:
"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
The closer you watch Beloved Leader, the more you have to wonder...does he actually have any original thoughts? Or does originality for him only come in the not-so-occaisonal malapropism? From todays "prayer" thing:
...the president thanked those who pray for him, calling it the greatest gift a citizen can offer him.
"In my travels across the great land, a comment that I hear often from our fellow citizens is, `Mr. President, I pray for you and your family.' It's amazing how many times a total stranger walks up and says that to me," Bush said.
Got that? Today.
February 6,2003 at a "National Prayer Breakfast":
It is fitting that we have a National Prayer Breakfast. It is the right thing to do, because this is a nation of prayer. I know, from firsthand knowledge, that this is a nation of prayer. See, I work the ropelines a lot, and I hear all kinds of things on the ropelines. But the thing I hear the most, the comment I hear the most from our fellow citizens, regardless of their political party or philosophy, is, Mr. President, I pray for you and your family, and so does my family. That's what I hear. I turn to them without hesitation and say, it is the greatest gift you can give anybody, is to pray on their behalf.
Is it just me, or does it seem like they just stick a battery in his ass, change the tape, give him a new tie and send him out to try to not look like what he is: a thoroughly empty suit?
Good thing that Colbert didn't get into this area, the uproar would have been monumental. Well, when they get Beloved Leader back on his meds again one day, perhaps he'll become more rational... Not.
The Inquisitions, what a show,
The Inquistions, here we go,
We know you're wishing that we go away
But the Inquisition's here and it's here to
Hey Torquemada, whatta ya say?
I just got back from the auto-da-fe
Auto-de-fe, what's an auto-de-fe*?
It's what you oughten't to do, but you do anyway
Apologies to Mel Brooks...but it's just so damn true.
posted by Jo Fish on 05.04.06 at 04:11 PM
Comments:
Jo, I have always had to shake my head at your profane hatred of Chrisianity, but this post takes the cake. (And don't keep bringing up the canards like the Inquisition, since that had nothing to do with Christianity, even if done in its name, since you can use the clear teachings of Christianity to show that the Inquisition was wrong.)
I've found that people with such a visceral hatred of Christianity have a common factor: a guilty conscience. The name of Christ convicts them of their sin, so they react in irrational ways, similar to this post. Jesus himself saw through people like you, Jo, when he was speaking to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin." (John 15:18-22)
posted by: bean on 05.04.06 at 06:01 PM [permalink]
Bean, you have a knack of calling all criticism of Christianity hatred. In your world it's, "Criticize the teachers but not the preachers." You also claim that Christianity should not take blame for the Inquistion. Just WHO if not believers in Christ gets the blame for that one? And you can also, "...use the clear teachings of Christianity to show that the..." Republican agenda is wrong in its treatment in screwing over the poor, how the death penalty is morally wrong because it is skewed toward executing the poor but not the well off, and conducting war where children are collateral damage is a major NO-NO!!!! WWJD? It's also, "...impossible to tell the story of our nation without telling the story of people who..." don't pray, as a majority of the scientists whose work has made us a world leader in science and technology are nonbelievers. Nonbelievers should also have an officially sanctioned day to recognize OUR contributions and OUR reality-based world view.
Bean, I have to shake my head at the utterly insecure Christianity demonstrated by your comment. (And don't try to avoid Christian atrocities like the Inquisition, the crusades, and to some extent the Holocaust, since each had everything to do with Christianity. True Christians should be ashamed, since you can use the clear teachings of Christianity to show that these atrocities were all wrong and should have been stopped by true followers of Christ's teachings.)
I've found that people with such a defensive Christianity have a common factor: a shallow faith. They think heir showy piousness excuses them them of their sin, so they react in irrational ways when the inch-deep topsoil of their faith is disturbed, similar to your comment. Jesus himself saw through people like you and Bush, Bean, when he was speaking to his disciples:
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew 6:5
The Buddha had it right when he said:
Even if he is fond of quoting appropriate texts, the thoughtless man who does not put them into practice himself is like cowherd counting other people's cows, not a partner in the Holy Life. 19 The Dhammapada
When will you get it through your head that the only thing Bush believes in is his own self interest? People who speak out against his phony and opportunistic piety don't hate Christianity, they hate shallow, fake, hypocrites who say they are Christian, but don't follow Christ's teaching. If you are a true follower of Christ, and not just someone with a fish stuck to his car, you should be outraged by Bush.
Yeah, Christ had something to say about the world hating you, and that's why so many so-called Christians like bean try so hard to be hated: They figure it's better to be hated than ignored.
posted by: Lex on 05.05.06 at 11:09 AM [permalink]
bean,
it isnt about hating "christians". Its about the calculated attack on the rights and lives of everyone who doesn't attend one of the so-called "christian's" approved religious institutions. The espoused belief that the majority of this nation should not and has not the right to live as free people, free of the draconian rules that you wish to impose by restricting the freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States.
That is my beef with those that call themselves christians. You have the right to worship as you choose. You DO NOT have the right to tell me to worship as you choose. See the difference?
posted by: MMichaelAK on 05.05.06 at 04:03 PM [permalink]
Jo's Christian-bashing gets to me sometimes, too.
I'd take Bean's comments more seriously, except I know Bean thinks George Bush is God.
posted by: Tony on 05.08.06 at 10:58 AM [permalink]
I know Bean thinks George Bush is God.
No, I know God doesn't spend other people's money like a drunken sailor ...
posted by: bean on 05.08.06 at 05:53 PM [permalink]
Religion often gets in the way of God.
posted by: Barndog on 05.10.06 at 04:17 AM [permalink]
"Is it just me, or does it seem like they just stick a battery in his ass, change the tape, give him a new tie and send him out to try to not look like what he is: a thoroughly empty suit?"....A BEAUTIFUL DISCRIPTION!!!
