Crackers!
Religion in all its many forms, Rights, Rightwingers say the darndest things - - Posted on July, 16 at 12:37 am by Helen
I’ve been following the World Youth Day bunfight with mild interest and some irritation. The irritation is with the sunny insouciance of the participants, who either (1) are too brainwashed to realise they are celebrating a patriarchal and authoritarian organisation which works against basic human rights for women and gays in many countries, including contributing to the spread of HIV worldwide, and which fights something as basic as contraception, as well as working to wind back social policy gains here through the CEC and the Right wing in both major parties; or (2) know all this and don’t care. We’re treated to regular updates in the news media in which some bright young thing chirps something like:
VOX POP 3: For [the Pope] to talk about something that’s about our environment and how to look after it is quite important. To show that he with other scientists and environmentalists is worried about the state our world is in will have quite a good effect hopefully on all Catholics.
Vox Pop, you’re deluded. The Catholic church has no intention of doing anything to help the global environment, in which the most important thing they could do would be to recognise the right of women to limit the size of their families. And that isn’t going to happen. The focus on “the environment” is just part of the feelgood, happy-clappy ambience the Church is aiming for in this latest recruitment drive.
Over in the US, the Catholic church is in the news too, but for a very different reason: Crackergate!
In case you’re new to this story, a student at the University of Florida abducted a consecrated wafer from communion and held it hostage, as AOL puts it, or something. My favourite “unrepentent Science heathen”, P.Z. Myers, gleefully (1) wrote about it and (2) made jokey comments about visiting some kind of physical retribution on the cracker, or subjecting it to some kind of (mad scientist!1!) experiment, to demonstrate its essential crackerness and utter lack of live Jesus-ness. The horror! For this, both the student and Myers received death threats, as well as Myers receiving much hate email and attempts to convince his employers to sack him.
So far today, I have received 39 pieces of personal hate mail of varying degrees of literacy, all because I was rude to a cracker. Four of them have included death threats, a personal one day record. Thirty-four of them have demanded that I be fired. Twenty-five of them have told me to desecrate a copy of the Koran, instead, or in some similar way offend Muslims, because — in a multiplicity of ironic cluelessness — apparently only some religious icons must be protected, and I would only offend Catholics because they are all so nice that none of them would wish me harm. I even have one email that says I should be fired, that the author would like to kill me, and that I only criticize because Catholics are so gentle and kind.
Oh, and of course, the university president’s office has also received lots of mail demanding my immediate ouster (keep in mind, though…Catholics are no threat to anyone at all.)
The craziness has just taken on a life of its own. Read back from the first linked post and you’ll find a whole saga developing around PZ Myers vs. organised religion. It’s quite an education.
From the American Catholic League:
As a result of the hysteria that Myers’ ilk have promoted, at least one public official is taking it seriously. Thomas E. Foley is chairman of Virginia’s First Congressional District Republican Committee, a delegate to the Republican National Convention and one of two Republican at large nominees for Virginia’s Electoral College. His concern is for the safety of Catholics attending this year’s Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Myers’ backyard. Accordingly, Foley has asked the top GOP brass to provide additional security while in the Twin Cities so that Catholics can worship without fear of violence. Given the vitriol we have experienced for simply exercising our First Amendment right to freedom of speech, we support Foley’s request.
And you thought NSW passing a special law to prevent ordinary citizens of Sydney from “annoying” Catholics was a bizarre one-off, hmm?
Myers:
They are increasing security at the Republican convention out of fear of ME? I am puissant. Fear me, O Trembling Republicans…
The remark about my backyard is amusing — Minneapolis is 150 miles away. It’s also more towards one side of my house; I think Iowa would be my backyard, while Canada is my front yard. I sure hope I don’t get assessed for property taxes on the entire upper midwest.
I can’t help but remember the manufactured “scandal” over the Mohammed Cartoons in the Danish press, and the insistence all over the RWDB blogosphere that “free speech” demanded that one shouldn’t be trammelled in ones rudeness to the superstitions attaching to the religions of others. Moreover, there’s a popular opinion out there - it’s often seen in the newspaper letters pages as well - that Christians are always copping insults and copping it sweet because they’re so nice and would never stoop to abuse and death threats because of a prank. Well, look what happens.
Me, my interpretation of freedom of religion - which I think of as one of the liberal democratic freedoms that we should enjoy - is pretty much of the private worship kind, and stops where that freedom impinges on the freedom of others. (In other words, keep those rosaries… to yourself, mate.) I don’t mean that one shouldn’t have public celebrations. Diwali? Noisy new year’s ceremonies in Footscray? Bring it on! Even (shudder) Guy Sebastian concerts, if you must, as long as I don’t have to go. Therefore, in my world, it’s kind of jejeune and undergraduate to prank somebody’s religious symbol; I think this was a bit unworthy of P.Z., as well as the editors of Jylland Posten, to go down that road. But Jesus Christ on a cracker, it certainly brings out the intolerant, medieval, and deadly element of Christianity out into the light. Next time someone starts intoning how tolerant Christians are compared to those awful Muslims, you might like to direct them over to Myers’ blog.
Crossposted at the Balcony
Posted in Religion in all its many forms, Rights, Rightwingers say the darndest things |
July 16th, 2008 at 9:35 am
YES. Anything else the Pope says about environmental activism is merely banging a hollow vessel until the Church addresses the population issue.
I too thought that PZ’s gleeful offer of documented desecration was a touch jejune, but the response has been enlightening to say the least.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I thought PZ’s “threat” was funny. I guess that’s because, despite 40 years of chronological aging, I’m still a 17 year old boy.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Well said Helen. There will always be zealots & “crackerjacks”. But manufactured & distorted incidents by both the corporate media & politicians can lead to moral responses that are beyond the pale.
You are quite right about patriarchy underlying the Catholic church…but there is also xenophobia…& intense competitive practices…and homophobia leading to finger-pointing & threats of damnation that perpetuate self-hating gay attitudes…
This same phenomena is oft & concurrently seen in the ranks of the Republicans, certain Islamic sects…& other conservative, religion-driven political organisations. Once again we witness the similarities between the evangelical & fundamentalist movements from West to East…few religious organizations have avoided THE FEVER.
Dangerous times indeed. As evidenced by the less than subtle use of Crusades-like terminology & approaches used in the battle for the heart of the Middle East (Levant), Afghanistan, Africa, Indonesia & Iran…the resources…particularly oil.
The HYPE that comes w/ so much of The Church these days also derives from the expectations of the MTV, blockbuster movie, RAVE generations. It’s all about grabbing attention in order to get recruits. And moolah-making in the process.
There is a sickness across this Planet that could only be constructed by the type of conditioning one would expect from a cult…or a military organization…or a corporate sales team.
Humans gradually awake to THE CON, thanks to expanding communication systems. They awake to the deceit, myth-making & brain-washing tactics of many in their governments, corporations, religions and other influential institutions.
It gradually dawns on the bulk of the populace that their deepest fears are real…that their off-the-cuff cynicism might have a basis in fact, as evidence of conspiracy & crime pours out of cyber-space.
The people are finally recognising the many influential individuals who have gained & retained their stranglehold on power by grotesque & tricky means, by use of the WORKERS taxpayer dollars…and by theft of their labour power, assets & livelihood as cold-hearted financial institutions & governments/councils too often demonstrate that they have the interest of their MASTERS at the top of the priority list…
So many across the land are realising that the pursuit of the common good comes second, or even further down the agenda board, for those who are motivated to put THE FEW before THE MANY in order to taste privilege…& gather assets that will provide them & their family w/ the security they do not provide others.
…these very con artists are now attempting to counter THE AWAKENING, this neo- enlightenment, by using ENABLERS, such as Cable News, and dying newspaper outlets & emerging media to repackage & sell their wares. They use fear tactics, easily-identifiable symbols, naked & brutish nationalism, selected celebrities, manufactured &/or distorted events, emotionally-charged headlines…& words of hate & fear…& explosive, “in your face” images to drive the viewer into a CAGE…
And once in that CAGE, they starve it of real knowledge, use flashing signs & images to create addiction & compliance…poke it until that viewer becomes enraged enuff that it will turn on anyone to escape the onslaught. Like some poor, prodded, starved primate, the contemporary TV viewer, newspaper reader, MSN Blog reader can become a vicious creature…salivating, screeching…charging at whoever the KEEPER points a stick at.
I have observed Fox News & its ilk manipulate many a viewer for over a decade now. I have observed how they undermine RATIONALISM & CAGE viewers so that the primal/primeval brain is sparked. This type of manipulation has existed since Man/Woman emerged on the evolutionary map…but there are few in the West who are adept at digging deep into the worst of the Human psyche & utilising the grotesque tactics of bygone propagandists & dictators & their Enablers than Rupert Murdoch & his minions. Murdoch w/ the aid of Roger Ailes & various other carefully selected GATEKEEPERS, journos & talking heads, has become THE MENTOR…the dark Shepard who guides the other news outlets to a sickly green light on the Hill of Despair.
As the world awakens & people WOBBLE w/ uncertainty, doubt, disgust & despair…feeling the very foundations of their youth being yanked out from them by the REVEALING KNOWLEDGE, they find it difficult to ADAPT.
CHANGE is made far less pleasant a process when DISTRACTIONS like WAR, CONSTRUCTED ECONOMIC TSUNAMIS and irrational fears of a pedophile nation are promoted over & above real issues & sane ways to alter existing habits.
It during the crossing of THE CHANGE bridge that Murdoch & his CLONES know they have the opportunity to create fear…give a sense that the BRIDGE is weaker, more unstable than it truly is. He hopes to drive people back to the starting point time & time again in order for him & his mates to keep selling their goods…their archaic goods. He captures w/ glee those who fall as he creates panic, moral panic. He makes money, much money from showing THE FALL live. As do his Corporate clones. They laugh w/ glee as they bully & urge the primeval creatures, the viewers, into stampeding & throwing guides into the chasm below.
In tandem w/ the Busheviks these Masters of Manipulation & Shit Stirring act like those prissy, mean-spirited, hate-filled, always envious & sneering kids at school who spend much of their time blackmailing & threatening teachers to get results…and cheating…& finger-pointing to distract from their own doings & failings…& using whispering campaigns & character assassination techniques to stir up the primeval-brain controlled bullies & turn them on the classmates they see as competition…or those who they, in their paranoid & megalomaniac state, believe receive attention not due.
And in the process, they ensure that highly skilled workers…and promoters of harmony & PEACE…and bridge-makers…are constantly undermined, diverted, distracted, barely heard…or sucked into their vortex of HATE & desperate & fierce ambition.
They have no friends…no love for anything but the need to stand atop the mountain & manipulate the masses…& be idolized like gods. Just like the Pope & the other High Priests.
But the MEDIA MOGULS are more ruthless than ever these days. When they know it’s time to let the people pass to the other side of the CHANGE BRIDGE, based on how much they own of the other side…& how much can be earnt over there (think new energy sources & technology) …they’ll urge the temporarily uncaged creatures, the viewers, to chuck these religious patriarchs into the valley below…or bind & gag them to be used for another day on the OTHER SIDE.
It’s time we threw the MOGULS…the MASTER MANIPULATORS out of our lives.
And calmly walked across to the NEW LAND.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Yes, the narcissistic hypocrisy is quite breathtaking, and no doubt has not gone unnoticed among the non-Christian religions of this world.
Selah.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
All religion is ‘crackers’.
Religion is the greatest fraud ever perpetrated upon the human race. It should be prohibited throughout the world. It is the cause of nearly all humanity’s wars, misery, suffering and intolerance, and is the answer to nothing.
Fabricated from ignorance, trading on stupidity, and slavish devotion to imaginary icons will never advance this planet’s future hopes or chances by one millimetre.
Dreadfully, and apocalyptically, it will destroy everything because the destruction of intelligent thought will be the last hurrah for us all.
You don’t have to be Albert friggin’ Einstein to comprehend this, you just have to ‘get real’ as our kids say.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Crackerjack…?!
Nasking you are a f*n genius…
July 16th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Helen, Nask is putting on a Friday music special, you may or more likely may not,be not so likely.( I may also add “how do YOU know,huh?:)). Thick plotining ,is RTS when delved.
Bless you all.