Another "Victory" Parade

By Cernig

There's a piece in the NYT today which has the pro-occupation Right yelling "victory" all over again. It recounts some anecdotal tales that indicate a groundswell of younger Iraqis turning their backs on the violent excesses and corruption of fundementalist religion. Over at Commentary, they're leading the victory parade, calling it:

the realization of the most ambitious goal of the Iraq War: the de-radicalization of Muslim citizens. This is, in its way, more important than political reconciliation and even more important than hunting down al Qaeda. This is the long war stuff, the hearts-and-minds stuff.

The goal was to offer freedom as an alternative to extremism; the criticism was that it was a dream; the reality is that it is happening.

And the rest march in lockstep from that lead.

But of course, Commentary isn't saying who the criticism that extremism had a stranglehold on the Middle East came from. It came from that same Islamaphobic yapping conservative pack who are now claiming this as the real mission. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Lefties always knew that religious fundamentalism, given free reign, will alienate the young. We've always known what moderate conservatives also know - that fundamentalism is the enemy of liberty no matter which religious flavor it comes in. Sullivan makes the point well.

Fundamentalism is, of course, based on a ridiculous lie: that God's will in every particular is ever fully knowable by humans. And when fused with politics, its intolerance and fanaticism always expose themselves. That's why the younger generation of Persians is so hostile to Islamism as well. It's why we will win the long war if we do not destroy ourselves in the process and do not unwittingly empower the fundies by our over-reaction.

One huge caveat, of course. Religious fervort comes in waves; anyone who doubts its power in the Arab Muslim world is misreading the place. But the extremes, given enough rope, often hang themselves. Look at Jordan. Now, if only we could persuade the Republicans about this fundamentalism thing ...

What secularists and moderates on both Left and Right have always said was that even so, if it was replaced by extremist nationalism or a zealous tribal ethic then the violence wouldn't stop. And it hasn't - and the newly-secular youth of Iraq are being dragged into that violence in increasing numbers. Here's the bit from the NYT article the occupation cheerleaders are managing to ignore:

The number of Iraqi juveniles in American detention was up more than sevenfold in November from April last year, and Iraq’s main prison for youth, situated in Baghdad, has triple the prewar population.

But while younger people were taking a more active role in the violence, their motivation was less likely than that of the adults to be religion-driven. Of the 900 juvenile detainees in American custody in November, fewer than 10 percent claimed to be fighting a holy war, according to the American military. About one-third of adults said they were.

A worker in the American detention system said that by her estimate, only about a third of the adult detainee population, which is overwhelmingly Sunni, prayed.

“As a group, they are not religious,” said Maj. Gen. Douglas Stone, the head of detainee operations for the American military. “When we ask if they are doing it for jihad, the answer is no.”

In many cases, they're doing it for money - because the disaster that is Iraq post-occupation doesn't led them make ends meet any other way. What a heckuvva job! What a victory!

Judging them by the company they keep - Updated

By Libby

I don't think it's fair to judge the candidates by the remarks or behavior of every low level staffer in their campaigns, the silly brouhaha over the Che flag in Houston being a prime example of making much ado about nothing. However, one should be able to extrapolate something about a candidate's mindset by who they choose as advisors and chief organizers.

With that in mind, K Drum flags a seminal quote from key Clinton operative Mark Penn.

"Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn't won any of the significant states -- outside of Illinois? That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama.”

I don't know why Hillary didn't dump Penn while she was shaking up her staff. As far as I can see, he's done far more damage with his motor mouth than Ms. Solis has with any organizational miscalculations. I'd say that statement raises far more serious questions about Clinton's attitude than it speaks to Obama's viability. It shouts of a focus only on numbers and political advantage and implies a disdain for the 'little people.' Furthermore, it's not the first time I've been troubled by this attitude.

A couple of weeks ago, the story of this encounter arrived in my inbox.

In the hubbub of the spin room after last night’s Democratic debate in Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, I introduced myself to Mandy Grunwald, Hillary Clinton’s media strategist, and prepared to ask a question. “Hi – you’re going to violate my I-only-speak-to-American-journalists…”, she said as I shook her hand.

I laughed. But it wasn’t a joke. “I just have this, like, you know, it’s my job to talk to people who print papers in states where we have voters - don’t take it personally but I’m going to answer his question first,” she said, pointing to Newsday’s Glenn Thrush, standing behind me. I spluttered something about people clicking on internet stories. “Mmm, not so much – I’ll take his first,” Ms Grunwald responded.

It's not that there isn't a legitimate reason to favor the domestic press, given time limits and all. It's the imperious attitude of the staffer that's troubling. You can almost hear her, "how dare you intrude on the royal highness' time" inflection in her words. Also, going beyond staff choices, this item that Michael Stickings caught a while back has been troubling me since I read it. When Hillary arrived in Washington in 1993, she almost immediately joined this Bible study group.

Clinton's prayer group was part of the Fellowship (or "the Family"), a network of sex-segregated cells of political, business, and military leaders dedicated to "spiritual war" on behalf of Christ, many of them recruited at the Fellowship's only public event, the annual National Prayer Breakfast. (Aside from the breakfast, the group has "made a fetish of being invisible," former Republican Senator William Armstrong has said.) The Fellowship believes that the elite win power by the will of God, who uses them for his purposes. Its mission is to help the powerful understand their role in God's plan.

Again, it's not that I have a problem with religiosity, but the members of Clinton's "cell" include the wives of some of the biggest, entrenched neo-con theocrats inside the Beltway. I suppose some might call it a bi-partisan outreach of sorts, but it feels uncomfortably close to the stated mission of Regent's College, whose grads have famously run amok in high positions within the Bush White House. These are the sort of Republicans that got us into this mess.

Michaels articulates my anxiety well.

For a long time, my reservations about Clinton had largely to do with her triangulating positions on Iraq, Iran, and foreign policy generally. More recently, I have been appalled by some of what I have heard from her on the campaign trail. But there is this other Hillary, the Hillary who reaches out to, and cozies up with, the likes of Brownback and Santorum, the Hillary who attracts Newt Gingrich, the Hillary who wants to work with Republicans to get things done, things Republicans but not her fellow Democrats may want done. This other Hillary is hardly someone I want in the White House.

It's certainly something I'll be weighing heavily when it comes time to cast my ballot.

Update: Ezra has more food for thought on the Clinton mindset. It certainly looks like winning is more important to them than what's best for the party or the country.

What would Jesus buy?

By Libby

The numbers are in and bear out the anecdotal evidence that retailers suffered a dismal season. Despite the usual suspects' insistence that small gains in the final week signal a healthy economy, the fact remains that those sales were driven by loss leaders and when it comes down to figuring out the profits, one expects most of the major retailers won't be wearing smiley faces.

Who did well? Luxury good purveyors, who capitalized on the 'have mores' who benefited from the Bushenomic house of cards and sellers of items targeted to the born again Christians. The Denver Post in a piece aptly titled, Jesus may save, but Christians spend, runs the numbers.

The Christian market, however, with almost 70 million American adults and $2.1 trillion, or 28 percent of the national annual income in 2006, is the main event. [...]

This Christmas there are evangelical Christian toys, DVDs, candies, wines, alarm clocks and books. The creator of G.I. Joe action figures, Don Levine, is offering a line called Almighty Heroes, featuring Moses, Samson and other Bible characters. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, is carrying Christian action figures from One2believe in 425 of its stores. [...]

But the most interesting success story in the evangelical marketplace is this product line.

California-based Fishermen Inc. has an "I Am" line of Jesus figurines depicting Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns, engaged in activities such as bull riding, surfing, panhandling and soccer.

Some of the figures have triggered controversy, particularly the one called "I Am Peace," in which a camouflage-wearing Jesus has a combat rifle slung over his shoulder and holds a dove.

Jesus wore combat boots? Brings a whole new meaning to Christian soldier.

Meanwhile, the Christian holiday is alive and well in the little economic powerhouse of Dubai. Funny, in a country where only about 3% of the total population is categorized as "Western" and quarter of the population traces their origins to Iran, even the Muslims are defecting in the so-called War on Christmas. [h/t Jules Siegel]

Rafsanromney v. Huckadinejad

By Cernig

Things that make you go Hmmmm...

Onward Christian Soldiers?

By Libby

It's no secret that since Bush took over the White House, our military academies have been engaging in outright evangelistic Christian recruitment. The stories about the favortism shown to fundamentalist Christian ministries and the discrimination against Jews and other religions at West Point are well known, but this Campus Crusade for Christ at the Air Force Academy is a new wrinkle in the ongoing drive to convert our future military leaders to evangelism.

A video made by a Christian ministry group shows Air Force Academy cadets being pressured to become "government paid missionaries when they leave" the academy, according to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), which released the video this week.

I think pressured might be too strong a word. If you watch the video, the featured cadets seem more gratefully indoctrinated than unwillingly compelled. As one young woman put it, if she hadn't had the comfort of community offered by the Crusade, she may not have made it through the program. However, the end goals of the CCC are far from comforting to those of us who believe in the separation of church and state.

The video features former Academy Campus Crusade for Christ director Scot Blum saying, "They're government paid missionaries when they leave here," referring to graduates of the academy.

"Our purpose for Campus Crusade for Christ at the Air Force Academy is to make Jesus Christ the issue at the Air Force Academy and around the world," said Blum on the video.

One can't help but draw parallels to Jim Jones in Guyana, or any other cult. You have thousands of young people, at an age where it's customary to dwell on one's purpose in life and who are virtually cut off from their friends and families. It's a grueling and competitive environment, in which the cadets themselves say it's difficult to make friends. What a friend we have in Jesus is no doubt a compelling call and joining the "brotherhood of Christ" makes an attractive substitute for the familial bonds they lost when they entered into this strict regime. Too attractive really.

It's human nature to want to belong to something, to find a greater purpose outside one's own small existence and I don't have a problem with those who find comfort in the church and want to spread the "good word,' but when the missionaries operate in an environment where they can so directly prey on the vulnerabilites of young people, one has to ask where evangelizing ends and brainwashing begins.

While I don't think the cadets should be denied an opportunity to join fundie Christian groups if they really want to, it strikes me as wholly unconstitutional for the group to be operating on campus at the taxpayer's expense, especially when the CCC director so boldly asserts that its goal is to send forth paid government missionaries. We're talking about our military here. Fighting for their God, should certainly not be taking precedence over their mission to fight for our country, which appears to be the end game of the CCC. [via BuzzFlash]

I-35: Highway To...Heaven?

By Cernig

There are no fundie crazies who are crazier than Texas fundie crazies. That's why commuters in the Dallas area were recently treated to the spectacle of a bunch of them blessing I-35.

the small contingent of churchgoers believe that Interstate 35, a sprawling highway running from Texas to Minnesota, is specifically mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 35.

"A highway shall be there, and a road," reads a portion of the chapter's verse eight, "and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it..."

But if I-35 is indeed the place, some Christians believe there's a lot of work to be done before the road can fulfill it's saintly destiny, according to CNN's Gary Tuchman, who was on the scene in Texas as believers launched an effort to pray for the road.

"Churchgoers in all six states recently finished 35 days of praying alongside Interstate 35, but the prayers are still continuing," reports Tuchman. "Some of the faithful believe that in order to fulfill the prophecy of I-35 being the 'holy' highway, it needs some intensive prayer first. So we watched as about 25 fervent and enthusiastic Christians prayed on the the interstate's shoulder in Dallas."

Their prayers go out for safer neighborhoods, "more godliness" and also in hopes that businesses lining the highway, including strip clubs and other "unclean" establishments, might clean up their act.

Tuchman says the faithful also point to "a link between the area near this highway and tragedies that have happened in history, such as the bridge collapse on I-35 in Minneapolis last August and the assassination of JFK 44 years ago near I-35 in Dallas."

"We just want to say 'wow, why would this happen on one highway,'" one of the prayer campaign's organizers, Cindy Jacobs, told CNN. "Let's pray that there be safety for everyone on these highways."

Cindy Jacobs and her husband Mike run Generals International, a prophetic group of evangelistas based in Red Oak, Texas. Their website decsribes Cindy as:

a respected prophet who travels the world ministering not only to crowds of people, but to heads of nations. Perhaps her greatest ministry is to world influencers who seek her prophetic advice.

Her first calling is, and always will be, prophetic intercession. Ever since the Lord called her with the scripture, “Ask of me the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the world for your possession,” she has taken that calling seriously.

Cindy has forseen revival coming to the Latter-day Saints Temple in Salt Lake City and to Freemasons within the Southern Baptist Convention. Her husband is a "former business analyst...commissioned by God to bring unity and order to the body of Christ" who "carries an anointing to impart the power of the Holy Spirit." They are, of course, fierce believers in Chuck Pierce's "Glory of Zion" apocalyptic vision of mid-East war.

Cindy and Mike believe that the Summer's bad weather across the Midwest is God's work.

It is pouring rain in Texas, Oklahoma and across portions of the Midwest. CNN reports, “Storms dumped up to 18 inches of rain on parts of central Texas, flooding several towns and stranding dozens of people on rooftops, cars and in trees.”

The Holy Spirit has spoken through His prophets, and He is releasing a new cleansing move of holiness across the face of the earth. Last June, through two prophesies given in Washington DC, the word came that God is "Washing Washington". This is now extending all along the I-35 corridor.

If these people were pagan or new-agers, talking about triple Goddesses or chakras, no-one would take them the least bit seriously. But, because they're evangelistas in Texas, they get endorsed by Pat Robertson; are members of the Charismatic Leadership Council of influential evangelist leaders; get slots on religious TV channels broadcasting to just about every nation on Earth and even get time on CNN. They're actually influential, not ridiculed.

Anyone want to bet against them being Huckabee backers?

Teenage sex, lies and statistics

By Libby

After six years of policy based on religious beliefs, the fruits of 'faith-based' sex ed are ripening. The latest statistics show teenage births rose 3% last year. The obvious conclusion is that abstinence-only sex ed is the culprit yet the abstinence-only nannies are claiming this is proof that teaching about safe sex is to blame, apparently because they haven't managed to completely wipe out the fact-based programs yet.

Oddly, "a biannual government survey of high school students found that the percentage of those who said they used a condom the last time they had sex rose to 63 percent in 2005, up from 46 percent in 1991." There's that self-reporting thing again. Considering "sexually transmitted disease rates have been rising, including syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia." one might think those kids are, shall we say, stretching the truth?

This isn't rocket science. Teenagers are going to have sex. They always have and they always will. Why we allow our federal government to spend $176 million annually on abstinence-only education is the only mystery here.

Hate Science? Vote Republican

By Cernig

Joe Gandelman wonders if Mike Huckabee's candidacy bid - who doesn’t believe in evolution, just intelligent design - will be affected by his ignorance of science. Joe writes:

If the Republicans nominate someone who says he doesn’t believe in evolution there is a huge chunk of American voters who simply will not vote for him or her. His vote would be limited largely the Republican base. And BOTH parties will need independent voters to win in 2008.

But this is the continuing problem with early primaries. Each party’s base increasingly dictates the stands of the candidates but in a general election that could spell trouble.

As Joe rightly points out, the GOP's radically religious base hate science just as much as Huckabee does.

How much? Well, according to the latest poll - a lot.

More Americans believe in a literal hell and the devil than Darwin’s theory of evolution, according to a new Harris poll released on Thursday.

...The poll of 2,455 U.S. adults from Nov 7 to 13 found that 82 percent of those surveyed believed in God, a figure unchanged since the question was asked in 2005.

It further found that 79 percent believed in miracles, 75 percent in heaven, while 72 percent believed that Jesus is God or the Son of God. Belief in hell and the devil was expressed by 62 percent.

…Only 42 percent of those surveyed said they believed in Darwin’s theory which largely informs how biology and related sciences are approached.

…”Born-again Christians are more likely to believe in the traditional elements of Christianity than are Catholics or Protestants. For example, 95 percent believe in miracles, compared to 87 percent and 89 percent among Catholics and Protestants,” according to the poll.

“On the other hand only 16 percent of born-again Christians, compared to 43 percent of Catholics and 30 percent of Protestants, believe in Darwin’s theory of evolution.”

(Although it seems to me that their God must be deliberately and seriously trying to push even their blind faith sometimes. A mummified dino with skin still intact? He's taking the mickey, surely!)

The last six years have been a long litany of Republican denial of science - on teaching evolution, on climate change, on contraception, on stem cell research, on basic government funding and on not interfering politically with research. That's what the GOP base wants, that's what they get. Indeed, the only science they seem to like is cable TV and things that go BOOM in a really big way.

If you hate science, vote Republican.

Intelligent design or divine intervention?

By Libby

A lot of people have been linking to John Scalzi's account of his visit to the Creation Museum, including Michael D, but Michael unearths another interesting travelogue today that clues us in to this scrumptious factoid.

In a delicious bit of irony, the Creation Museum is built on top of one of the richest fossil beds in the world and near the birthplace of vertebrate paleontology. Want to find an at least 500-million-year-old fossil? Head over to the nearby Wal-Mart parking lot.

I hedged my bets that I could find something good if I sought out that beacon of American consumption. I was hoping for something like I bought as a 10 year old from the Field Museum of Natural History. I wasn’t disappointed with the 45 minutes I spent scrambling over clay-slickened rocks behind the bargain center’s loading dock…In under an hour, I had unearthed ample evidence of life extinct for more than 500 million years.

Click over for the picture. That's one really cool fossil. I wonder if the Creation Museum deliberately chose that site in an attempt to cover the contradictory evidence or if God just has a really dry sense of humor and sent them there?

The false 'humanity' of the anti-choicers

By Libby

I decided this post was too cranky and don't want it to reflect on my partners here, so I moved it to my own blog.

America's most dangerous

By Libby

We lost the internet here last night and it's been off all day. It's weird to be cut off from the news for so long by accident. You know, you're at the beach, you don't care, but being stuck inside a McPartment on a rainy day -- it was an adjustment. I was reduced to doing housework and writing posts about yesterday's links I didn't get to. You may have missed this one anyway.

Congratulations are in order for Think Progress for being named as one of the top ten most dangerous organizations in America by some fringenut group. Here's the list.

10) ThinkProgress
9) Muslim Student Association
8) CodePINK
7) American Civil Liberties Union, National
6) Family Research Council
5) Center for American Progress
4) League of the South
3) MoveOn.org
2) Universities and Colleges
1) Media Matters for America

You really have to love number two. Universities and colleges? Yeah you really have to watch out for those institutes of higher learning. They do say that a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. Maybe they better burn all their books just to be sure they aren't exposed.

Cheney And Chums

By Cernig

Dick is on his travels, headed for Wyoming to speak at a reception for new Republican lockstep appointee Sen. John Barrasso. In keeping with Fourth Branch's penchant for extreme secret squirrelhood, the reception will be closed to the public.

But before that - oh, interesting - he'll stop by Salt Lake City for a meeting, again behind closed doors, with the Council for National Policy.

Who?

Here's what SourceWatch has to say about them:

The Council for National Policy is a secretive forum that was formed in 1981 by Tim LaHaye as a networking tool for leading US conservative political leaders, financiers and religious right activist leaders. The group, which meets three times a year, promotes "Educational conferences for national leaders in the fields of business, government, religion and academia to explore national policy alternatives. Weekly newsletters are distributed to all members to keep them apprised of member activities and public policy issues. A semi-annual journal is produced from membership meeting speeches,"[1]

According to ABC News, "The CNP describes itself as a counterweight against liberal domination of the American agenda." [2] The "far right's answer to the Council on Foreign Relations" (Washington Babylon)

Others are not so kind to the organization and its motives. Mark Crispin Miller states that the CNP is a "highly secretive... a theocratic organization -- what they want is basically religious rule" (A Patriot Act). Barry W. Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the New York Times about the CNP meeting ahead of the 2004 Republican National Convention, "The real crux of this is that these are the genuine leaders of the Republican Party, but they certainly aren't going to be visible on television next week." [3]

Want to bet Dick's on his way to tell them that he's manouvered the Dems into voting for the events that will lead to The Rapture?

The blurring of Church and State

By Libby

It's difficult to say whether Lousiana's favorite prostitution patron is making penance for his "sins" or simply paying off his political supporters but this is why we need to simply abolish earmarks.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., earmarked $100,000 in a spending bill for a Louisiana Christian group that has challenged the teaching of Darwinian evolution in the public school system and to which he has political ties.

The money is included in the labor, health and education financing bill for fiscal 2008 and specifies payment to the Louisiana Family Forum "to develop a plan to promote better science education."

Of course, their idea of better science is to deny evolution and teach creationism as a scientific theory. And while Vitter denies any political payoff here, it's useful to note that at least two of the principals at the Family Forum held paid positions in his campaigns and another spoke out in his defense after the good family man was caught with his pants down.

I'd note also that the only reason this is coming to light is the new requirement that earmarks be identified with their sponsors, so at least that's one thing the Congress got right in their weak attempts at ethics reform.

Meanwhile, I'm sure you remember this California church being charged with violating their non-prof status when a minister delivered an anti-war sermon. After leaving them hanging for years, the IRS now says, nevermind.

The Internal Revenue Service has told a prominent Pasadena church that it has ended its lengthy investigation into a 2004 antiwar sermon, church leaders said Sunday.

The IRS contends that the church did a bad thing but they're just not going to pursue it. Perhaps because the timing of the investigation might draw too much scrutiny if they brought it to court?

This IRS investigation was launched way back in June 2005, but suddenly ramped up just before the 2006 mid-term elections. Now, no action from the IRS, just an ominous warning without apparent foundation.

TPM has more history at the link but it's not difficult to discern their strategy here. One might suppose that the GOP would like their loyal clergy to be able to pimp for the party from their bully pulpits in 08. This case would certainly make that a little harder to get away with.

Israel's Segregated "Modesty Buses"

By Cernig

It is my contention that religious fundementalism is religious fundementalism. The flavor of religion doesn't matter a jot. What Christian fundies say they would like to be able to do is no different in practise from what Islamist fundies or Hindu fundies already practise. Even pagan fundies, like the more nauseatingly white-supremacist Odinist crowd, are no different in practise even if their prayers sound different.

Take this, for example, by Katya Adler of BBC News in Jerusalem:

The other day I was waiting for a bus in downtown Jerusalem. I was in the bustling orthodox Jewish neighbourhood of Mea Sharim and the bus stop was extremely crowded.

When the Number 40 bus arrived, the most curious thing happened. Husbands left heavily pregnant wives or spouses struggling with prams and pushchairs to fend for themselves as they and all other male passengers got on at the front of the bus.

Women moved towards the rear door to get on at the back.

When on the bus, I tried to buck the system, moving my way towards the driver but was pushed back towards the other women.

These are what orthodox Jews call "modesty buses".

The separation system operates on 30 public bus routes across Israel.

The authorities here say the arrangement is voluntary, but in practise, as I found out, there is not much choice involved.

...Naomi Regen says the buses are just part of a wider menacing pattern of behaviour towards women in parts of the orthodox Jewish community.

"They've already cancelled higher education in the ultra-orthodox world for women. They have packed the religious courts with ultra-orthodox judges.

"In some places there are separate sides of the street women have to walk on."

She says that there are signs all over some religious neighbourhoods demanding that women dress modestly.

"They throw paint and bleach at women who aren't dressed modestly and if we don't draw a line in the sand here with this seat on a bus, then I don't know what this country and this religion is going to look like in 20 years," Ms Regen said.

Petitioners like Naomi Regen have asked Israel's High Court to either ban the segregation buses altogether or to force bus companies to provide parallel bus routes for passengers wanting to sit where they like.

Extremism by any other name is just as odious.

They made a desolation and called it Peace

The quote above is the epitaph of the Punic Wars. I was reminded of it because today, George W. Bush prayed for peace.

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - President Bush prayed for peace Sunday at an Easter service during a visit to an Army post that has sent thousands of soldiers to war in Iraq.

``I had a chance to reflect on the great sacrifice that our military and their families are making,'' Bush said outside the chapel after the service. ``I prayed for their safety and I prayed for their strength and comfort, and I prayed for peace.''

He took no questions from reporters.

We should remember that, for many of Dubya's supporters, their version of peace involves armaggedon first and a massive clash of civilizations between the forces of "good" and those of the "beast. That's why the secular neocons - who want an American hegemony and see the Middle east as the major theatre for estabishing that hegemony - and the extremist Christian Right have been able to make common cause for so long.

This is what their peace would look like.

Fanatics are dangerous no matter which flavor they come in, and in denying the common origins of all religion they find it easy to justify atrocities.

I'll leave the rest of the explanation in the capable hands of the folks at Hullabaloo.

Falwell Wants Dominionist In White House

Reuters yesterday had a very interesting look at Christian dominionist Jerry Falwell and his ongoing campaign to create a theocratic state in America.

DALLAS (Reuters) - His influence may be diminished but his zeal is undaunted. Evangelist Jerry Falwell is on a mission to keep a like-minded Republican in the White House and get at least one more conservative judge on the Supreme Court.

Despite his years in the trenches of America's culture wars, Falwell -- who founded the Moral Majority political movement in 1979 and helped propel the rise of the religious right -- said a major victory in his broader crusade to restore the country's moral righteousness has so far eluded him.

With abortion still legal, prayer banned in public schools and pornography rife, he sees a long struggle ahead. For now, he is focusing on voter registration drives and rallying the faithful with his eyes on the twin prizes of the 2008 presidential election and control of the Supreme Court.

Some of his statements -- he famously blamed gays and lesbians for provoking the September 11 attacks -- have eroded some of his conservative support base. But he remains a rallying figure on the far U.S. right.

"I think we got the social and moral issues on the front burner. But while we have made progress ... we have not won any of the battles yet," Falwell told Reuters in an interview.

"It is a long road back. We are at least one U.S. Supreme Court Justice short of a socially conservative court," Falwell said on the sidelines of an evangelist conference in Dallas.

People like Falwell are, to my mind, far more of a danger to liberty and freedom here in the US than any number of Al Qaida terrorists. After all, the chances of a member of Al Qaeda ever sitting in the Oval Office are pretty slim whereas Falwell and the like have serious political clout on the far right of the Republican Party. Serious GOP presidential contenders like John McCain and Mitt Romney are already courting Falwell and other dominionists for their support.

What does their granting that support to the dominionist religious right entail? Well, some progress towards their agenda, of course. And they describe that agenda in their own words far better than I ever could. Theocracy Watch has collected many of their utterances.

D. James Kennedy, Pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries, “Reclaiming America for Christ” conference in February, 2005. Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors — in short, over every aspect and institution of human society.

Christian Coalition field director, Bill Thomson, You’re going to run over them. Get around them, run over the top of them, destroy them - whatever you need to do so that God’s word is the word that is being practiced in Congress, town halls and state legislatures. That’s your job.

Representative John Hostetler, R-IN, Christian Coalition Speech: “When the courts make unconstitutional decisions, we should not enforce them,” he told attendees. “Federal courts have no army or navy.. The court can opine, decide, talk about, sing, whatever it wants to do. We’re not saying they can’t do that. At the end of the day, we’re saying the court can’t enforce its opinions.”

Joseph Morecraft, pastor of the Reconstructionist Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia: “Nobody has the right to worship on this planet any other God than Jehovah. And therefore the state does not have the responsibility to defend anybody’s pseudo-right to worship an idol!”

Gary North, Institute for Christian Economics, “So let us be blunt about it: we must use the doctrine of religious liberty to gain independence for Christian schools until we train up a generation of people who know that there is no religious neutrality, no neutral law, no neutral education, and no neutral civil government. Then they will get busy in constructing a Bible-based social, political and religious order which finally denies the religious liberty of the enemies of God.”

George Grant, a leading dominionist writer in “The Changing of the Guard, Biblical Principles for Political Action”: Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ — to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less… Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land — of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.

Reconstructionist theologian David Chilton Our goal is world dominion under Christ’s lordship, a world “take over” if you will.

Jerry Falwell, 1999: “[T]hese perverted homosexuals.absolutely hate everything that you and I and most decent, God-fearing citizens stand for. Make no mistake. These deviants seek no less than total control and influence in society, politics, our schools and in our exercise of free speech and religious freedom..If we do not act now, homosexuals will own America!”

Pat Robertson, Christian Coalition, It’s going to be a spiritual battle. There will be Satanic forces…. We are not going to be coming up just against human beings, to beat them in elections. We’re going to be coming up against spiritual warfare.”

David Limbaugh, “we have a right, indeed an obligation to govern.”

Pledge recited at “Reclaiming America For Christ” conference: “I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe.”

Let us be clear. These people do not believe you have a right to life or liberty unless you are one of them. And they own the GOP.

Pagans And Politics

I need some help.

You see, I have been asked to contribute to a forthcoming collection of essays on the relevance and future of paganism/occultism in the 21st century. My own essay will deal particularly with the impact of Wicca as I've been a practising Wiccan most of my adult life and given my political wonkishness I want to concentrate on how paganism in general and Wicca in particular will influence the political landscape.

I've written in the past about individual cases where Wiccans have taken on violations of the separation of Church and State as well as about cases where ignorance and bigotry would have tried to prevent pagans and their kids from exercising their rights of religious freedom. I've also written some about why pagans in general tend towards progressive politics.

Choice is one of the key definers of what it is to be a Pagan. We are a decentralised bunch, accepting no Popes or organisational leaders. We rely on our immanent relation to divinity to be our guidance and that in turn gives rise to a strong prohibition on imposing our beliefs on others, either as evangelism, as a slate of beliefs that adherents "must" have or as moral "rules" that we demand be enforced by the State. We welcome those of every ethnicity, every sexual orientation, every political point on the compass.

Wiccans, as well as other pagans, have a deep interest in equal rights regardless of race or gender or religion, in helping the less fortunate of society, in protecting the environment, and in decriminalising "victimless" crimes - all arising from the nature and precepts of our worship. We are aware of the dangers of theocracy and orthodoxy, tend not to be hawks on foreign policy, are overwhelmingly "pro-choice".

And like non-pagan progressives, we are incredibly difficult to organise, regiment and keep "on message". It's like trying to herd cats - and that's the way we believe it should be.

Yet paganism (or "neo-paganism" if you want to be technical) is the world's 18th largest religion now and is growing at an incredible pace considering the current incarnation of paganism only really began in the 1950's. At some stage this century, we almost certainly won't just be looking at pagans in the entertainment industry like Cybil Shephard or Fritz Leiber but at British MP's, American Congressmen...dare I even say a President?

So anyway, this is where I need some help. If you are a Wiccan yourself, or a pagan in general - or even non-pagan but with an opinion on the subject - I would love to hear your thoughts. In what ways might Wicca and neo-paganism in general affect politics and the world in the coming century? Drop me a comment or mail me at newshog[AT]gmail[DOT]com.

Theocracy Watch

Those of you who, like me, are horrified by the intolerant and undemocratic agenda of the theocratic right, who aim to subjugate everyone to their dominionist totalitarianism, should be reading Theocracy Watch regularly.

It's all there.

Senator Cornyn On Violence Against Judges.

A little while ago I received an email from Sean-Paul Kelley, Editor of The Agonist. Sean-Paul wanted to draw my attention to developing news about our local Senator down here in San Antonio, John Cornyn. It seems he has told the Senate that recent violence against judges may be due to their "unaccountability".

Sean-Paul wrote:

Just about one hour ago on the Senate floor, Senator John Cornyn gave an
astounding account of the recent spate of violence against judges,
suggesting that the crimes could be attributed to the fact that judges
are "unaccountable" to the public.

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN: "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect
connection but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence
in this country. Certainly nothing new, but we seem to have run through
a spate of courthouse violence recently that's been on the news and I
wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in
some quarters on some occasions where judges are making political
decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and
builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in -
engage in violence." [Senate Floor, 4/4/05]

Unfortanately, Sean-Paul neglected to cite a source for this extraordinary quote so as yet I am unable to check it's veracity. Then again, The Agonist has a great reputation for factual blogging and I trust it's editor when he says that is what happened.

So...what to make of this?

First, one has to notice the weasel-worded way Cornyn states what he would dearly like to be true right now as "wondering". He may think that gets him out of the accusation that he is condoning violence against judges - I do not. It is reprehensible and he should be ashamed of the imputation.

Secondly, the assertion he makes is surely false. Violence against judges recently has stemmed from individual grudges against individual judges and has nothing whatsoever to do with any feelings of generalised anger or angst the Senator may be trying to project from his own psyche onto the public at large.

Lastly, it is pure hypocricy. It's amazing how being on the wrong end of the Judicial decisions over Terry Schiavo has changed the Senator's mind. As recently as last November, Cornyn was writing that “The American people want judges and justices on the bench who will dutifully interpret the law — distinguished legal minds and devoted public servants who will help implement, not make, political decisions, and who knows the difference between personal opinion and professional duty.”

In the same article he charged that liberals who verballyattack Judges Scalia and Thomas were the "same kind of people who believe that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional and that the military should not have the right to sponsor Boy Scout Troops." His words today and the article I have quoted from, entitled 'Injudicious Battles - Is there any stopping the judge madness in the Senate?' may well come back to haunt him and others in the Republican Party who have made such an awful hash of Senate interference in matters judicial. As he says:

"One important lesson learned during this past election year is that the American people want a return to basic American values, and an end to vicious, Michael Moore-style politics. Certainly the last thing Americans want is yet another year of incessant, baseless, and venomous attacks."

Yes, Senator.

UPDATE 5th April The Washington Post has more, and Daily Kos has a round-up of the bigger bloggers thoughts. AmericaBLOG really goes to town on the idiot Senator from San Antonio:

We now have Republican Senators making excuses for terrorists. Explaining why terrorism is understandable. Why terrorists have legitimate concerns. Justifying why the victims of terrorism are really to blame for these heinous crimes. Wonder what Senator Cornyn thinks of rape victims?
This is utterly outrageous. Outrageous. The GOP is now embracing domestic terrorists who are trying to undermine our democracy. And they're doing it so they can take down the judges who "killed" Terri Schiavo, and instead impose some Pat Robertson-like theocracy on our country. This is absolutely utterly beyond contempt. Tell Judge Lefkow in Chicago that her mother and husband are dead because she brought it on herself.

And the ultimate irony is that it is people like John Cornyn who now risk inciting violence against judges by giving aid and comfort to these homicidal maniacs. Cornyn should resign immediately.

That would be fitting but unlikely - the Senator obviously has no shame and no honor.

Shiite Coalition Backs Occupation

To all those liberal pundits who were naively fooling themselves about the prospective Shiite victory in the coming Iraqi elections - I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so. (see my post, Monday 27th December)

In a surprise press conference on Sunday, the International Herald Tribune reports, "leaders of the Shiite-dominated coalition that is expected to prevail in national elections sought to dispel fears that they are under the secret sway of Iran, or have any desire to create an Islamic theocracy."

"They also said that if their coalition gains power it would not demand the immediate withdrawal of American troops, but would wait instead for a stronger Iraqi military."

The press conference was held by the prominent Shiite cleric Abdul Aziz al-Hakim and well known secular Shiite Ahmed Chalabi, who has previously been accused of being a CIA agent.

Chalabi set out the coalitions position very clearly:

: "First, we do not want any interference in the Iraqi elections; second, the alliance is not about an Islamic republic or a theocratic state, it is about democracy and pluralism, and third, we will need American forces to be in Iraq for the foreseeable future."

So...four more years it is then. Can we get over the vain hope that the Shiite's will insist on ending the US' agony in Iraq any sooner than all the major players have obviously agreed they will, now?