Mike's Blog

Controversy!....My first step towards total world domination

Wow. Some of my friends have actually noticed this thing and have posted comments. I'm flattered. Feel free to post more in the future if you like, since I will be updating this thing pretty frequently.

So one at a time:
Non-sketch Ben-Sure. I see your point that Bush is not the only President to invoke God (though i did mention that in the beginning of the post.) Nor is he the only President to invoke God on behalf of some pretty awful things, the slavery example you list being a particularly apt example. (Aside: Did you know that slavery was actually banned in Georgia, of all places, until 1750? The reason the ban was lifted? Someone decided that Genesis 17: 12-13, where Abraham purchases slaves with money earned from working for his father-in-law, was justification enough to make slavery a state-sanctioned activity. Hey, if it's good enough for the Patriarch....)

But anyway, Bush's religious rhetoric is especially significant in the way it is employed, not just because it's religious rhetoric. Example: In his first address to the nation after 9/11, Bush began his statement with a quotation from the 23rd Psalm, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for the Lord is with me." In this case, it's safe to assume that "me" was meant to indicate The United States and not Bush personally, but the quote was completely inappropriate. Here it is, some fucking guy who directs planes to kill a whole bunch of civilians in the the name of God, and Bush's first response is....to invoke the name of God. This is the whole, "God is on my side, no he's got my back asswipe," argument. A professor of mine had a good response to this irony, saying, "What is this anyway? 800 AD?" The point is, neither side should be invoking the protection of God, particularly when the conflict contains an extremely strong religious aspect, as this one does. World War II didn't, nor did the Mexican War, nor the border disputes with Canada during the 1840s (fifty-four forty or fight, etc.) the last two of which are examples of manifest destiny. I can't think of a President who invoked God when confronted with a religiously-tinged conflict.

So do I hold Bush to a different standard for acceptable use of religious rhetoric? Yes I do. But that's because this conflict has, at the minimum, shades of a religious controversy. But Ben is definately right, other Presidents have invoked God for one cause or another. T. Roosevelt was known for this, FDR did it, Eisenhower certainly, Reagan..no shit, and Jimmy Carter (who was a great President, think what you will it's a free country) may have been the biggest Bible Thumper of them all (though he was careful to limit his rhetoric during public addresses.) Ben, if you have some counter-points or think I'm missing something, let me know and I'll post it on the main entry section.

Ruder-Yeah man, those names are pretty cool, particularly Van Lingle Mungo of the 1940s. That one may take the award for best name. Although I'll have to go with either Wiki Gonzalez or Kiko Calero for best name today, over Yorvit Torrealba, which is a damn good name. If Kiko Calero can help the Cardinals win the series this year, you know what I'm naming my first kid (Woman! I don't care if it is a baby girl. Her name is Kiko.)

Greg C.-That last post confirms what we all know: you're a fuckin' weirdo. But that's why we love you.

Oh, and a word on the profanity thing that Ben brings up. Someone else has also suggested that I tone it down a bit. Yeah, my arguments would probably stand stronger if I didn't cuss so much. What's with motherfuckers always cursing and shit anyway? But then again, I think toning down the profanity would make the posts that much more boring to read. The profanity is more entertainment than raw emotion. It's not like I'm debating in some sort of respectable forum anyway. (Fuck You Mr. Senator! I don't give a fuck if your wife is in the room. You challenge me again and I will skull-fuck you whitefish!) That last parenthetical remark is what we call in the biz, "a joke." But point duly noted Ben. I'll consider it in the future.

Posted by mike at April 9, 2003 11:49 PM